Hey guys,
I have a 1996 ram 2500 5.9 gas job. I use it for plowing and when i am driving the truck during the day its fine and my dash guage reads 14 volts. At night when i have the heater going, lights on and plow lights on I am down to around 12 volts. Once I hit the lever for my plow to adjust it I get almost 9 volts and everything dims unless I rev the motor.

My battery was just load tested and fine. I feel like my alt is shot and I need a larger one. Would a 160 bolt up? Also should I run 3 batteries aswell?

Thanks anthony.

 

Do you currently have a 90 amp alt? Go to the bone yard and pick up a 136 amp alt. There only about $25 compared to $150 for a new one. For the most part, they are in these following dodge's:

1997-1998 Dodge B.Series Van
1997-1998 Dodge Dakota
1998 Dodge Durango
1997-1998 Dodge Ram Pickup
1997-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Part number: OEM 56027913

 

I might i will check and let you know its the 2500 with a 360 so i assume it would be larger amp. Would a 160 amp fit? I plan to have my buddy who does electrical rewire the whole truck with 2 guage and possibly dual batteries so a 160 would be ideal.

 

Two batteries isn't going to alleviate the issue. You need a larger alternator. And why would to rewire the "whole truck"? Your electrical system is only as powerful as its smallest point. Google the "Big 3 Mod". That will help immensely.

 

This might be stupid but. Run the park lights on the truck when plowing and traveling.

 

Not stupid at all...makes sense.

 

Do you have strobes? They are a huge power draw.

 

Make sure your (+) & (-) are going directly to the battery for your plow, and the (-) is not grounding to the frame. To be honest I can't see why your dropping volts... amps yeah, volts no if you did a load check on the battery. You could also check to see if your alternator is working properly by checking the non-running voltage (somewhere round 12), and then the running voltage (some where round 13.8). If everything checks out wiring wise and battery wise, it could be possible that the plow motor is going bad. When they start to go, they do draw a lot of extra power.

Also, guys recommending he upgrades to a larger alternator. Does one actually gain anything when the regulator is set to work at the lower amp alt?

 

i have the smae problem when i have my subs on, headlights, heater going, every time it bumps the volts go from 16 to 14, but if i am on the gas, she stays at about 16-17.

i solved it by keeping the heater on a lower setting, and lowering the bass on the amp one notch.

so cut power to something you dont need to gain back the extra power.

 

It makes total sense. On my old Prerunner I had 4 Hella 9000's on the Roof, and two Kragen HID's on the bumper, a rear facing dust lamp, plus a race radio and intercom. Before I put a larger alternator in, if I turned everything on the voltage would dip from 14, to 11.5 at idle, simply because I was pulling more amps than the alternator could provide. The power had to come from somewhere, so it started pulling from the battery.