Electric problem

[Arno]

Hi guys,


I’m driving a 1969 Bluebird travellodge at the moment.
An absolute pleasure to use and tour with.
I’m having some electrical issues and was hoping some of you can help me.


The bus keeps cutting out and it’s an electric problem.
At first we jumpstart it and it will go again.
We charged it overnight and the batteries were back at 12.6 etc.
This week while driving and it goes under the 1000rpm it will cut out.
Indicators not work, plug ins all don’t work.
We charged the whole system again.
It started and off we went on another road trip with 2 other vans.
Along the way we had to jumpstart the bus a few times if rpms were too low.
The starter seems fine, alternator seems fine (we know after a few tests we did)


We went to a Midas autocentre and the guys there said it might be the voltmeter regulator.
So i bought a new one and replaced it myself.


We charged the whole system a few nights.
Now today we charged it with The Solarpower system of my buddy.
Checked the batteries with voltage meter.
They were 11.8. It started straight away.
10mins later, tried starting it.
Batteries back at 10.6. Only 10mins later.
Not knowing what drains the batteries that quick stationary. Nothing is running on it.


Batteries are about 2 years old.
Starter is only few months old.
Alternator and new wiring are only 1 year old with 4000 miles on it.


Any ideas of what could be the issue?


Thank you!!

[Captain Fred]

It is not charging while running. Static battery voltage should be 12.8 volts and running voltage should be 13.8 volts to 14.2 volts. How did you test the alt ? If alt is putting out then there is a problem between it and the batteries.

[Randy Dupree]

put new batteries in it.

[78bbird]

ARNO call me (209)9667402, The front battery on the left (drivers side) runs the electrical for the house and dash (ING). The battery on the right go to the starter windings only, I had a jumper to connect the RT & LT batteries at the battery isolater, Jump the 2 outside terminals to get it started. It sounds like the left battery is bad, remove it and load test it, or the battery isolater is bad. The center terminal is the ALT check for more then 12 volts when running, then check the 2 outside terminals for more then 12 volts each. If it is good then the LT battery is bad.