| Author | Message | ||
     Garrett (Rover7592) Senior Member Username: Rover7592 Post Number: 301 Registered: 03-2003 |
I know it's got to be coming soon. What's the limit on the amount of electrical shit you can run before your alternator goes out? Recently i've purchased a Warn XD9000i, 4 Hella Rallye 3000's, a rear Hella work lamp, am/fm radio + 6 disc cd changer, and a sound system with an amp pushing 1200 watts. To my suprise it's working outstandingly, but how much longer can it hold up? The battery is the original factory battery from '98, and to my suprise it is still working accordingly. Is that too much stuff to be running on the alternator and 1 battery? | ||
| Zach Jaggers (Mountenn) Senior Member Username: Mountenn Post Number: 337 Registered: 03-2003 |
Congrats--I haven't even hooked up a winch yet, and I'm about to have to replace my alternator. Have you noticed your speedo or tach jumping? If so, it's time. Besides, this is a good excuse for you to get those dual optima batteries and that mean green alternator. | ||
| Bill Howell (Billh13) Member Username: Billh13 Post Number: 166 Registered: 03-2003 |
You can make you alt. last longer if you get as big a battery that will fit in your disco. The more amps the battery the less work on the alt. If you have space you may want to think about dual batteries. | ||
| marc olivares (Pugs) Member Username: Pugs Post Number: 140 Registered: 12-2002 |
bill, that's a pretty broad generalization. the alt. actually works off supply and demand. more current demand= more alt. work. regardless what amp rating/size your battery is. if there is a sufficient load the alt will continue to work to keep the battery up to operating charge. which is why most people who run lots of accessories use a dual battery w/ an isolator setup as opposed to one large battery. garret- even if you plan to run all of these accessories at the same time, your alt. will be fine, but a stock 98' battery is definately questionable. and for the record, there is typically no warning signs on these vehicles when the batteries go out. one minute fine, next click, click, click and the alarms go gooofy. keep the alt, plan to get a battery in the near future. with regular winch use, i'd look a a deep cycle full discharge type like the optima yellow top. marc | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 242 Registered: 11-2002 |
When you're tachometer sarts acting weird, then that is when you need the alt is going bad. The reason for this is that the tach runs off of the alternator. So, by deduction, if the tach starts going crazy then the alt is dying. As for batteries, a dual battery setup is always good. A new battery is probably not a bad idea either. Max T. | ||
| Garrett (Rover7592) Senior Member Username: Rover7592 Post Number: 303 Registered: 03-2003 |
Marc, I noticed that you said the alarms go goofy. For a while now i can push the right alarm key to lock all doors and everything, but occasionally the alarm starts to panic and go off. Like it's supposed to do, the side markers and everything blink 3 times and everything is fine. Sometimes as soon as i push the button everything goes crazy and alarm goes off, and i turn it off....turn it back on and the lights fail to blink, but the doors lock and half an hour later the alarm goes off by itself. I didn't know if that was a problem related to the alternator, or if it was signaling that the keyless entry's batteries were weakening. Thanks for all the advice everyone. If anyone can answer the alarm situation please help. | ||
| marc olivares (Pugs) Member Username: Pugs Post Number: 143 Registered: 12-2002 |
garret, i have just recently experienced 3 dead batteries in (3) 99' D1. in all three cases, the alarms were slow to respond, signal lighting intermitant just prior to the battery going flat. no other signs were noticed, and the vehicles ran fine. but beware when they go south, it's a joke just getting the things unlocked, electric locks and all. to play it safe, take your truck to a pepboys or any auto parts store that can load test the battery. that will tell you how much life there is left in the battery (think of it as like the little test strips on the duracell batteries). but honestly if it is truly the original battery your on barrowed time. marc | ||
| Bazzle (Bazzle) New Member Username: Bazzle Post Number: 2 Registered: 09-2003 |
The tach also goes funny when the terminals are bad on back of alt. Worn brushes can also do the same. Easy fix for both. Bazzle | ||
| Gary Sherman (Sbts1) New Member Username: Sbts1 Post Number: 22 Registered: 03-2003 |
It has to be a miracle that you can still have a battery from 98. These puppies go through batteries with regularity. My experience is that it is worth buying one with a lifetime warranty. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 654 Registered: 08-2002 |
I had the stock battery in my Disco for 6 years. Not anymore... Depends on where you live for the first 5 years of my disco's life it was in CA, no cold so it was absolutely fine. First time out in CO at -18F and I was lucky to get it started. | ||
| Garrett (Rover7592) Senior Member Username: Rover7592 Post Number: 306 Registered: 03-2003 |
what would be the best battery to get in everyones opinion? I've heard both good and bad things about optima's, good things about interstate, and nothing about an everstart. I know if i pay over $100.00 for an optima that it had better last from here on out. what kind of batteries, and what kind of price? Does anyone know why the alarm sets sometimes, and other times it just starts beeping and honking? It's not that slow to respond, just doesn't work properly at all times. Has anyone replaced the alarm with an aftermarket system? |
