Bel, and Alternator woes

["Graydon D. Stuckey" <graydon@apollo.gmi.edu>]

Guys,

	I installed my new Bel 615R last night.  Wouldn't you know it - 
ever since then, I haven't seen any cops!  I'll let you know when I 
finally get a legitimate test of the unit.

	As for the alternator woes, I had similar problems a couple 
months ago.  You need to completely ignore channel 11 on the HVAC unit.  
It is very misleading.  In the Cadillacs, the voltage stays way above 14 
volts all the time, even under fairly heavy loads.  My channel 11 was 
going down to 10 volts on high blower, which really upset me.  I was 
trying to figure out how to install a 140 amp alternator for a while!  I 
finally strung a long wire from the charging post behind the right 
headlight adn put a Fluke voltmeter on it, and simultaneously put a 
voltmeter directly on the battery (I removed the rear seat for a day.)

	What I found was that even when many of the high-draw accessories 
were on, the alternator was indeed putting out 14 volts!  I found that 
the big wire from the alternator to the battery typically dropped 0.1 
volts, and channel 11 was still reading in the 10s with the blower on.  
The only thing I can figure is that maybe channel 11 reads between the 
blower and ground, so 14 - 10 = 4 volts, would be the voltage drop across 
the blower.

	I had my alternator rebuilt by a reputable local shop for 
$85.00.  I also bought a new battery, but found out that it was faulty, 
so I returned it, and now I am still on the original battery, which I 
also think is worn out, but is working better than the new one I bought.

	Crazy electrons...  I'm glad I'm an ME, not a EE!

Later, ---------------------------------------------------------- 
Graydon D. Stuckey 	'85 Mazda RX7 GS, no toys 
graydon@apollo.gmi.edu 	'86 Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro, has toys
Flint, Michigan USA	'89 Thunderbird SC, lotsa toys