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hg2
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« on: November 16, 2008, 07:44:10 am » |
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I took my longest trip running hho system on my truck yesterday.The jobsite was almost a 6 1/2 hr. drive oneway that I drove almost 5 hrs. before stopping to get a bite to eat.I was in the resturant about 45 min. and when I went to start truck the battery was low and when it fired off it bottomed out the high limit on the tach(INTAKE AND FILTER BOX WAS FLOODED WITH HYDROXY) without me touching the gas pedal.I looked at the volt gauge and saw that it was low,so thinking I had alternator trouble I left the truck running and switched the generator off and then the volts were slowly coming back up as it idled.So I drove to the jobsite with no hho running and the battery charged back up.After doing the job I stopped to get gas and also to take a look to see what went wrong.With the ignition off I flipped the breaker back on and noticed the generator was pumping away.Come to find out my 60 amp relay burned up and left it switched to on(GRRRRRRRRRR gonna take a week to get another from wiring products).On the return trip I noticed the volts were running lower than it does with generator running.The factory gauge doesn't show exactly how many volts but it was running lower per the idiot gauge(not light LOL).
My electricians hat isn't a large one so if any of you vehicle charging systems experts can tell why this is so I'd appreciate the help.I'm puzzled why it would run at a higher voltage with the hho generator on.
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Btw the new relay I bought is the bosch 75 heavy duty with 75 switching capabilities the 60 amp one that fried had only 40amp switching cap.So I think this will be the last time I have to deal with a failed relay.Only problem is having to wait a flippin week to get the generator back up and running.
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candyman55
Full Member
Posts: 117
Custom Cabinet Maker
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« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2008, 08:48:47 am » |
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I'm not sure why that happens, but when I run my generator at 90 to 100 amps my voltabe will sometimes drop from the normal 13.8 to the high 11's.
When I drive and keep the RPM at 1500 t0 1800 it will hang around 12.8 to 13.2.
Good question I was wondering myself
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hg2
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« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2008, 10:29:49 am » |
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Yeah my cell when drawing its usual 40 amps will drop the voltage if I have on the a/c,lights ect when I stop for a traffic light.Until I get rolling again with the additional accessories drawing it will just continue to fall. I noticed the lower voltage after driving a few hours on the return trip yesterday and I knew the battery was charged back up but couldn't figure out why the voltage was lower not running the cell.
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Manta
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« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2008, 10:49:33 am » |
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candyman,
re,
...but when I run my generator at 90 to 100 amps my voltabe will sometimes drop from the normal 13.8 to the high 11's. ...
I suspect it's because you are drawing power near to the limit of the alternator, thus pulling down the voltage. Could be wrong though.
Manta
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Good questions have a sting in the tail.
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candyman55
Full Member
Posts: 117
Custom Cabinet Maker
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« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2008, 11:03:51 am » |
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You are probably right about that. I am trying to work another power source but I don't have the funds to complete. Even if we can come up with a supplement source. I like the the Idea of Thermoelectric generators possibly applied to the exhaust and run in series to make power.
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Manta
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« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2008, 11:14:24 am » |
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Candyman,
Never heard of that idea. Let us know how it goes if you decide to go that route.
I have to admit to not being convinced that big amps are really required. I can't pin it down yet, but somehow, despite the way people are going, I'm not sure. My hydroxy measuring device (two lemonade bottles) is nearing completion so I'll soon be able to make some objective measurements.
A variation on Randy's idea seems the way to go.
Manta
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Good questions have a sting in the tail.
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candyman55
Full Member
Posts: 117
Custom Cabinet Maker
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« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2008, 11:24:12 am » |
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the most common thermoelectric generators only produce small amounts of electricity that is why you have to run them in series. So my theory is with the TEG's installed one could run the generator independent of the vehicle electrical system all together.
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randy
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« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2008, 11:49:05 am » |
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hg2; you got lucky, when I first installed a generator on my truck I just hooked it to a switch on the dash thinking I'd remember to turn it off when I parked, used one of those switches with a light in it so it'd be staring me in the face so I'd notice, well I missed it one time but since I'd only been in the store for a few minutes I hit the key, fortunately I just got a poof instead of a boom, the cell had filled the intake and crankcase via the pcv valve, blew every vacuum hose off, also blew the half seal out of the valve cover, pop off cap from the bubbler was on the ground under the truck. OOPS since then I've got everything hooked to relays and have LEDs that burn off residual charge to stop production of gas faster after shutdown.
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hg2
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« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2008, 03:41:33 pm » |
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Lucky is right Randy,even having all the bases covered using a relay,breaker and connected to the fuel pump cut off,I still had a near miss of what would've been disaster.There was no way anyone would've known that their relay had fused to the power on position.I'm now a firm believer that there's no such thing as overkill when installing an hho system.
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numberonekiwi
Jr. Member
Posts: 59
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« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2008, 04:37:18 pm » |
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With your voltage being low at times when you are idling it is because the Amp draw is slightly higher than the alternator can produce at low RPMs most alternaters only really start to output oround 2000 RPMs or higher take a look at bosch.com for an idea
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hg2
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« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2008, 07:06:41 pm » |
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I agree No.1 Kiwi my cell draws around 40 amps..And the new alternator I installed recently is 160 amp(stock one was 136) but the voltage still falls when stopped at a traffic light over a couple minutes.
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Bob
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« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2008, 07:49:15 pm » |
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So raise the Idle a bit !
that ain't hard to do and will help when your running everything !
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when You run all the electrics and the battery goes dead the Altenator is not keeping up with the demand... maybe you need a bigger altenator ?
sounds like your taxing the system to its limits...and thats not good ...it will fail on you if you run it to max all the time !
...
Bob.........
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"Mother always told me "Son the Imposable is only a little bit harder"...and You know ... She WAS RIGHT!"
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hg2
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« Reply #12 on: November 17, 2008, 05:39:15 am » |
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I think it'll be okay it's been over a year installed and the only time it does it is when everything is on the a/c and the headlights mainly.It doesn't drop much but enough to see on the trucks voltmeter.It got better after I replaced the 136 amp with the 160 amp alternator,it only takes a few hundred rpm to bring it back up to normal voltage,and I've never had it completely kill the battery.
What almost killed the battery on Saturday was the melted relay allowing the generator to run after the truck was turned off,and it ran for almost 45 min. before draining the battery drawing around 40 amps.I'd say it faired pretty well despite the circumstances.
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