| 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...
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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
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