Truck randomly dies. Please help, pulling my hair out, and loosing sleep!

[wh82]

1 hour ago, Mopar1973Man said:

I've got lights too but don't even draw a full 10A for all of the lights. Look toward energy efficiency. Still in all a massive 270A alternator is going to draw down more horsepower. I'd rather reduce loads than adding bigger alternator.

This is where I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you... squeezing 270A out of a small case, maybe (bearings and heat), but a properly designed large case alternator is not going to drag that much. It's waaay more efficient especially at smaller loads. I had one on my Dakota, going from 136A to an alternator that puts out up to 180A at idle and 270A max made that truck have way more power! Why? Well, 1) more power available for spark (yeah yeah diesel doesnt have that) 2)more power to run the things like the 2 AC fans (inside/outside) but 3) LESS DRAG at said load. My truck went from the AC blower inside dogging down at stop lights to blowing really strong, could bump my stereo as loud as I wanted (yes I love my music) and could burn the tires. Now that that alternator went back for repair (don't EVER disconnect the battery lead on a PCM controlled alternator, did it by mistake and the PCM full-fielded it frying everything) my replacement from the box store just isn't able to keep that truck running and I'm back to charging the battery every damn night. GRRRR

I don't have near the amount of toys on the diesel that I do on the Dakota, but still a good upgrade (maybe not for my wallet). And on both trucks I have 100% LED everything except headlights on the RAM

Anyway, what I'm saying is that increased load increases the drag, and a bigger alternator designed right will have less drag at the same amount of current. Did you know if everyone turned on everything in their houses we could actually stop water flow through a dam... well, in theory, we pop other components of the grid first... (don't come at me for over-simplification)

 

It's all about the load you actually put on the alternator, not the mere presence of the higher capability alternator, it actually goes the other way.

 

Anyway, what would a mid-life crisis engineer who missed the same damn ground 6 times know? LOL

 

Edited July 29, 2021 by wh82

[Mopar1973Man]

That's fine to disagree...  I just look from a different angle.