Electrical issue: Battery or Alternator again? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JHZR2 · #1 01-24-2015, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

When I had my alternator issue last sumer, I resolved not to drive without a volt meter as a warning and monitoring system for the alternator and battery. While I ended up incorporating a voltage monitor in my Arduino/Android bluetooth engine monitoring gauge setup, my original thought was to just get one of these
off dBay

....actually, I still may for the other cars.

+1 to this. There are a few brands of these and I do recommend them. For convenience, there are some that have a voltmeter and USB charger in one.

Very useful tool.

OP, the voltage regulators on these cars don't take the battery voltage as high as is desirable, and so that doesn't help. Neither does GA summer heat. 4 years on a battery in a hot climate, if perpetually undercharged, can be condemnation time.

Diesel911 · #2 01-26-2015, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

+1 to this. There are a few brands of these and I do recommend them. For convenience, there are some that have a voltmeter and USB charger in one.

Very useful tool.

OP, the voltage regulators on these cars don't take the battery voltage as high as is desirable, and so that doesn't help. Neither does GA summer heat. 4 years on a battery in a hot climate, if perpetually undercharged, can be condemnation time.

That has the same construction as one of the ones I have.

Bosch Alternator Regulator Modification with diode to increase resistance
http://www.detomaso.nu/~thomast/alternator/
I am not sure the above link still works but there is also a thread some where were one of our Members did the Mod to the Voltage Regulator.

Also the wattage of the Charging Light makes a difference.

When I changed the Chassis to Battery Ground cable my Charging Voltae went up slightly.