Sorry the added definition makes no sense. With everything disconnected and time for all stray voyages to be gone. The alternator and the engine battery are shorted which is what the voltages when indicate. The house battery to the alternator diode checked as it supposed to. I guess one diode is shorted. So I guess I need to replace the isolator?
Art
>
> Art,
>
> Are you SURE about the information below?
>
> house battery 13.09 lower left terminal
> engine battery 14.55 upper terminal
> alternator 14.55 lower right terminal
>
> If the alternator is connected to an "outside" terminal rather than the
> center terminal, as you indicate, then it cannot charge ANYTHING because
> its output is blocked by the diode which only allows current to flow FROM
> the center terminal -- NOT toward it. And if that's not bad enough, the
> alternator is expecting feedback from the engine battery (which is now
> completely isolated from the alternator) to tell the alternator when it's
> providing enough voltage to that battery. The alternator, sitting there
> fat, dumb, and happy, keeps getting the feedback from the engine battery
> saying "my voltage is low, give me some more". And the alternator
> complies, increasing its output to AT LEAST 18 VDC -- perhaps 28+ VDC if
> the regulator doesn't have the 18 VDC internal limiter. Yes, that can
> destroy an alternator without ever helping a battery at all.
>
> Connect the alternator output to the CENTER terminal on the isolator, the
> house battery to one of the outside terminals, and the chassis battery to
> the other outside terminal. THEN check the voltage at each of the 3
> terminals, without, and then with the engine running.
>
> Without the engine running you should measure 0 VDC at the center terminal
> and whatever each of the batteries is at the outer terminals. With the
> engine running, you should read a voltage at the center terminal which is
> approximately 0.7 VDC greater than what you read at the engine terminal.
> What the voltages on the chassis (engine) and house batteries are will
> depend upon their current state of charge. When they're fully charged, you
> should read something on the order of 13.8 VDC on each of them and about
> 14.5 VDC on the alternator (center) terminal -- all dependent slightly on
> numerous factors.
>
> HTH,
>
> Ken H.
> Americus, GA
> '76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
> Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, etc., etc., etc.
>
www.gmcwipersetc.com
>
>
>> Motor running. House power off. Both batteries hooked up.
>>
>> house battery 13.09 lower left terminal
>> engine battery 14.55 upper terminal
>> alternator 14.55 lower right terminal
>>
>> Motor not running everything off
>> house battery 12.85
>> engine battery 12.42
>> alternator 12.42
>>
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