Voltage drop on 24V system

[skinny]

Not to highjack here but I have a related question. In a previous post it was stated that green on the wire is bad ( I know it is Oxidation). So if I sea green on my ground wire from the block to the frame I should replace it?? I ask as I am having a very similar porblem with my truck, and I have already replaced the batteries.

I will see my voltage sitting below 20 then suddenly after about 3 minutes it will jump up to normal (well past the time the glow plugs have shutdown). In the winter it is much worse, almost like I have a loose ground or somethng and then when the wires heat up they seem to make contact.

Thanks,
Todd

 

[brownbear]

Not to highjack here but I have a related question. In a previous post it was stated that green on the wire is bad ( I know it is Oxidation). So if I sea green on my ground wire from the block to the frame I should replace it?? I ask as I am having a very similar porblem with my truck, and I have already replaced the batteries.

I will see my voltage sitting below 20 then suddenly after about 3 minutes it will jump up to normal (well past the time the glow plugs have shutdown). In the winter it is much worse, almost like I have a loose ground or somethng and then when the wires heat up they seem to make contact.

Thanks,
Todd

You will always see some oxidation on the wires if they are bare. But if it goes all the way thru the wire, yes it needs to be replaced.

If it is green all the way thru the wire will be very loose feeling. If you need something to compare, go to napa/cnd tire and feel a new 4 gauge wire( I think thats stock size).

You superglow system will long long after the light goes out. Just check the fsm for how long it stays on. It is variable.

 

[skinny]

Thanks! I will feel my wires and check my connections first as that will take a few minutes.

My issues all started one day when my slave went and I was waiting for a tow. IT was about -40 out so I had left the truck running for heat and hadmy 4 ways on. I heard a loud pop, whcih I would out was from my trailer light converter, and my display went dim. I then turn off all my light and turned off the 4 ways. Anyway I have removed my trailer ligth converter and I still have an issue some where I have checked all my fuses and my battery cables appear to be ok, however my ground cable from frame to block is green on the outside, which I assumed was fine however I better take a closer look. Becasue of the issue described above I am leaning towards an electrical issue.

I will also check your other suggestions.

Thanks,
Todd

 

[kim]

<i>I heard a loud pop, whcih I would out was from my trailer light converter, and my display went dim. I then turn off all my light and turned off the 4 ways.</i>

Were you towing when this happened?

With 24-12V converters, the trailer cannot differentiate between 'brake' lights and 4 ways as they send signal down the same wire. I would also check to make sure that you do not have a 5 wire to 4 wire trailer converter (maybe installed by a previous owner). You should also check to see if your brake switch is not burnt out, I had trouble with that.

All of the above is only if you were pulling a trailer with trailer brakes.

 

[kim]

I may have been a little too quick with my responce above.

Your truck is 12V for everything except start, right?

 

[skinny]

Hey Kim,

sorry fo rth delay in responding, I don't get to look lurk around here as much as I would like to.

To answer you questions, I was not towing a trailer at the time. The trailer light converter I was referring to was a 5 to 4 wire converter. My truck is 24 volt all the way around. The converter I was was designed for 12 volts ( I am assuming), however I know some people my LC club that run these converters without issue. In fact I towed a trailer from Ottawa to Newfoundland and back last summer without incedent, then 6 months after I installed it it the converter decided to blow???

I have bought the parts to make a "proper trailer light converter" from Stones design he has posted a while back. However I still need to sort out what is draining my batteries so much, or I say my it appears as though my batteries are draining so much as I am pretty sure I have a ground issue. Just need to find it.

Todd