What causes voltage surge?
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Registered User
Joined: Jan 2011
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What causes voltage surge?
I've got an '86 Power Ram 150.. used to have a 360... now it has a nice little rebuilt 318 out of a '84 Ram.
Anyway, the lights, etc. worked okay on the old 360, but on the 318 they seem to surge.
I had a good h.d. alternator on the 360 (maybe 120, or 140 amp).. which I kept when I pulled it.
So, is a voltage surge caused by a bad voltage regulator?
And.. if so.. is the regulator built into the alternator? Or is it mounted seperately?
The wiring has been patched together with every colour wire available, and the diagrams in the manuals aren't the greatest.
Any ideas?
Anyway, the lights, etc. worked okay on the old 360, but on the 318 they seem to surge.
I had a good h.d. alternator on the 360 (maybe 120, or 140 amp).. which I kept when I pulled it.
So, is a voltage surge caused by a bad voltage regulator?
And.. if so.. is the regulator built into the alternator? Or is it mounted seperately?
The wiring has been patched together with every colour wire available, and the diagrams in the manuals aren't the greatest.
Any ideas?
Legend
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,025
Likes: 72
From: orangeville ontario
if your truck has a normal voltage regulator it should be mounted on the firewall right behind the air filter. it is possible that if it is not the stock alternator that it could have a built in regulator. if it had a built in regulator i would guess that there would only be 1 or 2 wires leaving it and not 3.
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After spending some time under the hood.. I decided to change out the old alternator and install the heavy duty one I had from the 360.
I kept the old A/C-alternator bracket, and it looks like it should bolt right up. But, I think the belt(s) will hit the front pulley grooves, not the rear.
However, the power steering pump/fan belt runs on one of the front grooves.
I'm also thinking about removing the A/C compressor, condenser, and lines.. since it never worked before, and I removed the refrigerant when I did the swap.
I'm wondering: If I remove the compressor AND install the bigger alternator c/w bracket, should I run 1 big long belt on one of the grooves to hit the alternator/fan/waterpump/power steering pump/crank.... and then a smaller belt to act as a secondary that only runs the alternator/waterpump/crank?
Any ideas?
I kept the old A/C-alternator bracket, and it looks like it should bolt right up. But, I think the belt(s) will hit the front pulley grooves, not the rear.
However, the power steering pump/fan belt runs on one of the front grooves.
I'm also thinking about removing the A/C compressor, condenser, and lines.. since it never worked before, and I removed the refrigerant when I did the swap.
I'm wondering: If I remove the compressor AND install the bigger alternator c/w bracket, should I run 1 big long belt on one of the grooves to hit the alternator/fan/waterpump/power steering pump/crank.... and then a smaller belt to act as a secondary that only runs the alternator/waterpump/crank?
Any ideas?
Champion
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 4
From: Bent Mountain Va
Changing the alternator may or may not be the solution. I would first figure out the problem with the charging system on the 318 that is not allowing a proper charge to the battery. If the battery is fully charging and not over charging there should be no surge to the lights. Most chain parts stores will check your charging system for free. Once you solve the existing problem if you still want the HD alternator you can modify the mounts so that the belts fit properly or buy a HD alternator that fits the 318 brackets.
