| Started to Coos BAY- Alternator/Nichrome wire Incedent [message #223945] |
Sun, 29 September 2013 00:29  |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Gene F. or Anyone who can give some direction;
Started out in the newly re-commissioned 76 Eleganza headed for Coos Bay today- Planned to stop for the night in Ashland and have a nice dinner at Omar's.
About 20 miles from home smoke started coming from under the dash. Killed the engine and coasted to side of I-5.
Pulled some warm tape off the wire bundle and found the ni-chrome stuck to a small melted spot on the lower dash.
I cut the alternator belt, fired up the Onan and jumpered across the boost switch and drove back home.
Top of my list of things to do at Coos Bay was to get Gene F's APC. I know the drill.
I know I can drive to Coos Bay with no alternator by running the Onan and connecting the batt banks. What if the Onan dies along the way? Murphy is my co-pilot.
I have a spare alternator and belt which I can install in the a.m.
Drum roll please!
My question is: Is there some work around that will allow me to safely use the alternator until I can get to the rally and install the APC?
I was told some time ago that (so long ago that I forgot the details- I also didn't pay close attention since I already had an APC on the coach I was driving at the time) a diode can be installed in one of the wires to the alternator and it will prevent the nichrome wire from overheating.
What kind of diode and which wire?
Any one familiar with this concept?
Radio Shack opens at 10:00 tomorrow- I can be on the road again by 10:30 if anyone can tell me what diode to buy and where to install it.
Thanks for all suggestions.
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Started to Coos BAY- Alternator/Nichrome wire Incedent [message #223948 is a reply to message #223945] |
Sun, 29 September 2013 04:14  |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
>
> My question is: Is there some work around that will allow me to safely use
> the alternator until I can get to the rally and install the APC?
>
sorry to say,--it is too late---
the APC, is an "alternator PROTECTION cable", used to prevent just this.
after the event has happened, the JimB answer or the APC, are too late.
we donot know which wires have been melted.
read here (scroll down to "after the wires have been damaged"
http://www.gmcmotorhome.info/engine.html#alternator
this section shows how to replace the nichrome wire, with a 10 ohm- 20watt
resistor.- BUT THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE-
all bets are off at this point, there is no easy answer.
you will have to trace the wire bundle behind the dash (Emory removed the
top of his dash to do this) and look for melted wires.
Breaks my heart to say this, but I would not trust to drive on, without
fixing the wires. and replacing the nichrome resistor.
sorry,
you can call me 925.784.3098
gene
I was told some time ago that (so long ago that I forgot the details- I
> also didn't pay close attention since I already had an APC on the coach I
> was driving at the time) a diode can be installed in one of the wires to
> the alternator and it will prevent the nichrome wire from overheating.
>
> What kind of diode and which wire?
> Any one familiar with this concept?
>
> Radio Shack opens at 10:00 tomorrow- I can be on the road again by 10:30
> if anyone can tell me what diode to buy and where to install it.
>
> Thanks for all suggestions.
> --
> Gene Barrow
> Lake Almanor, Ca.
> 1976 Palm Beach
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: Started to Coos BAY- Alternator/Nichrome wire Incedent [message #223955 is a reply to message #223945] |
Sun, 29 September 2013 08:16 |
GMC Cruse
Messages: 606
Registered: June 2009
Location: SE Michigan
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| gbarrow wrote on Sun, 29 September 2013 01:29 |
Gene F. or Anyone who can give some direction;
Started out in the newly re-commissioned 76 Eleganza headed for Coos Bay today- Planned to stop for the night in Ashland and have a nice dinner at Omar's.
About 20 miles from home smoke started coming from under the dash. Killed the engine and coasted to side of I-5.
Pulled some warm tape off the wire bundle and found the ni-chrome stuck to a small melted spot on the lower dash.
I cut the alternator belt, fired up the Onan and jumpered across the boost switch and drove back home.
Top of my list of things to do at Coos Bay was to get Gene F's APC. I know the drill.
I know I can drive to Coos Bay with no alternator by running the Onan and connecting the batt banks. What if the Onan dies along the way? Murphy is my co-pilot.
I have a spare alternator and belt which I can install in the a.m.
Drum roll please!
My question is: Is there some work around that will allow me to safely use the alternator until I can get to the rally and install the APC?
I was told some time ago that (so long ago that I forgot the details- I also didn't pay close attention since I already had an APC on the coach I was driving at the time) a diode can be installed in one of the wires to the alternator and it will prevent the nichrome wire from overheating.
What kind of diode and which wire?
Any one familiar with this concept?
Radio Shack opens at 10:00 tomorrow- I can be on the road again by 10:30 if anyone can tell me what diode to buy and where to install it.
Thanks for all suggestions.
|
Here is Jim bounds write-up:
http://gmccoop.com/alt__light_circuit_refit.htm
Mike K.
'75 PB
Southeast Michigan
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
