3 days, 2 alternators, 1 rib and many vicodin! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dazza · 03-09-2008, 10:24 PM

...I think I figured out why it wasn't charging... PO camper wiring?!!

--The Good:
* Cleaned up the under dash wiring, including the back of the ignition switch which had (at some point over the years) slightly melted.
* Cleaned all the contacts on the cluster.
* Upgraded to the internal voltage regulator with a new alternator (much quieter now!)

--The Bad:
* While wrenching away at my alternator, the small step ladder I was standing on decided to run away, causing all my body weight to fall onto the fender, at which time I felt something pop out, then back in, near the bottom of my rib cage. Doc says I either fractured it or rotated it. stupid, stupid, stupid. ouch, ouch, ouch. vicodin, vicodin, vicodin. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME... LEAVE IT TO US PROFESSIONALS!
* I found the part of the wiring for the winch comes from the thing pictured below and goes back to the bed of the truck where the wire was bare and shorted out. I think it is camper wiring, but it's big, like 8 or 10 gauge. Anyways, it seems to have taken this (pictured below) out.

What is this, a rectifier? Do you know where I can get one?

Thanks

dwaite72lnghrn · 03-10-2008, 01:40 AM

It looks like a battery isolator. It keeps 1 battery from draining the other. Any RV/camper supply should have 1.

dazza · 03-10-2008, 03:49 AM

I only have one battery.

The 3 connections from this (isolator?):

* One from the battery
* One to the alternator
* One was spilt, going to ground at the core support, then back to the bare wire in the bed. ?? Maybe PO had a camper on there with an additional battery?

As you can see in the above photo, I've disconnected the one going to ground and put the other two together on the one post.

Can isolators be blown?

Wrenchbender Ret · 03-10-2008, 04:39 AM

It is an isolator. It charges both batteries but will not let the main battery drain back to the camper. They can go bad but if you only have one battery you can bypass it like in the photo. I believe the alt. should be connected to the center term. The black wires with the 4 amp fuses go to the amp. meter on the dash.

dazza · 03-10-2008, 04:45 AM

Thanks.
I originally thought this was part of the winch wiring, but since it's not, I can pull it and clean things up a bit.

03-09-2008, 10:24 PM	#1
dazza Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: California Posts: 971	3 days, 2 alternators, 1 rib and many vicodin! ...I think I figured out why it wasn't charging... PO camper wiring?!! --The Good: * Cleaned up the under dash wiring, including the back of the ignition switch which had (at some point over the years) slightly melted. * Cleaned all the contacts on the cluster. * Upgraded to the internal voltage regulator with a new alternator (much quieter now!) --The Bad: * While wrenching away at my alternator, the small step ladder I was standing on decided to run away, causing all my body weight to fall onto the fender, at which time I felt something pop out, then back in, near the bottom of my rib cage. Doc says I either fractured it or rotated it. stupid, stupid, stupid. ouch, ouch, ouch. vicodin, vicodin, vicodin. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME... LEAVE IT TO US PROFESSIONALS! * I found the part of the wiring for the winch comes from the thing pictured below and goes back to the bed of the truck where the wire was bare and shorted out. I think it is camper wiring, but it's big, like 8 or 10 gauge. Anyways, it seems to have taken this (pictured below) out. What is this, a rectifier? Do you know where I can get one? Thanks Attached Images __________________ --------------------------------------------------------- I'm not crazy, I'm chosen, there's a difference. ---------------------------- '72 K10 SWB, 350, sm465/np205 ---- ---- Last edited by dazza; 03-10-2008 at 03:41 AM.

03-10-2008, 01:40 AM	#2
dwaite72lnghrn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: central pa Posts: 1,525	Re: 3 days, 2 alternators, 1 rib and many vicodin! It looks like a battery isolator. It keeps 1 battery from draining the other. Any RV/camper supply should have 1. __________________ 72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne

03-10-2008, 03:49 AM	#3
dazza Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: California Posts: 971	Re: 3 days, 2 alternators, 1 rib and many vicodin! I only have one battery. The 3 connections from this (isolator?): * One from the battery * One to the alternator * One was spilt, going to ground at the core support, then back to the bare wire in the bed. ?? Maybe PO had a camper on there with an additional battery? As you can see in the above photo, I've disconnected the one going to ground and put the other two together on the one post. Can isolators be blown? Attached Images __________________ --------------------------------------------------------- I'm not crazy, I'm chosen, there's a difference. ---------------------------- '72 K10 SWB, 350, sm465/np205 ---- ---- Last edited by dazza; 03-10-2008 at 04:43 AM.

03-10-2008, 04:39 AM	#4
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,229	Re: 3 days, 2 alternators, 1 rib and many vicodin! It is an isolator. It charges both batteries but will not let the main battery drain back to the camper. They can go bad but if you only have one battery you can bypass it like in the photo. I believe the alt. should be connected to the center term. The black wires with the 4 amp fuses go to the amp. meter on the dash.

03-10-2008, 04:45 AM	#5
dazza Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: California Posts: 971	Re: 3 days, 2 alternators, 1 rib and many vicodin! Thanks. I originally thought this was part of the winch wiring, but since it's not, I can pull it and clean things up a bit. __________________ --------------------------------------------------------- I'm not crazy, I'm chosen, there's a difference. ---------------------------- '72 K10 SWB, 350, sm465/np205 ---- ----



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