| [GMCnet] Alternator short life [message #346726] |
Thu, 22 August 2019 10:53  |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
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There have been many posts about short alternator life. Most who experience this phenomenon blame it on cheap or improper rebuilds, especially among those sold by chain auto parts stores. While that may well play a role, the research I have been doing for a talk in early Oct at GMCWS suggests another cause as well.
Our alternators were designed only to recharge lead acid engine starting batteries, a task that normally takes only a short period of time. In coach use the alternator is also pressed into service to recharge our house batteries as well, a process that takes considerably longer. That means the alternator is outputting more current for a longer period of time than it was designed to do. This can quickly overheat the diodes and cause premature failure.
Larger alternators designed for industrial marine, bus and truck applications employ things like oil cooling of the diodes so they can withstand the heat built up from higher duty cycle applications than our GMC alternators could ever tolerate no matter who rebuilt them.
I am now convinced that an alternator duty cycle manager is a must have addition to keep our alternators alive in the high draw application of a coach with an inverter. I will detail the what and how in that presentation that will be released for publication after given.
Jerry
Jerry Work
Kerby, OR
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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