• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

 

MEP-803A Alternator Issues?

TheAlfredo

Member
165
10
18
Location
Miami, FL
So I recently purchased a 803a and had it delivered to panama City, Florida after the hurricane. I was told the genset didn't have batteries, so I purchase 2 new ones. Hooked them up, genset started right up. Later that day I was told the genset would not restart. Went to look at it and the battery/ies were dead. We jump started and it worked great. I checked the FU-1 and it was fine. We swapped out the batteries with 2 older ones off another working genset and started right up.

Next day same thing happened, so we decided to get two battery chargers and leave them plugged into each battery and plugged into the convenience receptacle. That got my cousin's through until they got utility power back several weeks later.

Now I have the genset back in Miami. Today I went to start it, and as expected, it wouldn't start. Took out my multimeter and checked at the slave receptacle and got around 12v. So I checked each battery individually. One was dead and one was charged. I put a jump pack an the dead one and the genset started right up. Turned off the jump pack and disconnected it...genset continued to run.

Went to run a load on the genset using a load bank, and wasn't getting any power at the lugs...even though I had 120 at the convenience Receptacle. K-1 didn't appear to be closing. I'm guessing because it doesn't have the 24volts to close?

While running I checked voltage at the Slave Receptacle and it was NOT over 24volts. (can't remember right now...but it was I think 17volts.) I used the meter on the back of the alternator and got the same reading. I'm guessing the alternator is bad?

But what has me puzzled is that one battery was drained but the other wasn't. I'm charging the batteries overnight and tomorrow I plan on trouble shooting again. Any Pointers would be appreciated.
 

rhurey

Member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
737
13
18
Location
Bothell, WA
1) What's the charging meter showing when the set is running? Should be showing charging when the set is first started, then taper down to 0, but always a bit positive.

2) Physic debugging: Bad alternator diodes. Just because that's what failed on mine. Easy rebuild if that's it.
 

Guyfang

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
15,686
21,628
113
Location
Burgkunstadt, Germany
Can you jump the set off using the slave receptacle? If so, disconnect the battery's. Tape off the leads, or isolate them. Jump off the set. Remove the jumper cable. Will the set contine to run? If so, measure the output of the alternator. Should be about 27 volts.

But if the set stops running as soon ar the slave cable is removed, the alternator is bad. Or if the output is low, the maybe the regulator is bad.

Any time you put charged battery's in and they are dead in the morning, it points to the alternator. And if you do it more then twice, you are wasting time. It sounds like diodes to me.
 

dav5

Active member
396
181
43
Location
Mono, Ontario
Look up Prestolite Leece Neville 24V alternator on Ebay. There is one there for around $68 that is brand new. The NSN is in one of the photos. Check it before ordering. The one I got for a spare is identical to the OEM alternator on my 803A. See Green Mountain for an explanation of the differences between 8MR3005c and 8MR3005ca alternators.
 
Last edited:

TheAlfredo

Member
165
10
18
Location
Miami, FL
Thank you

Can you jump the set off using the slave receptacle? If so, disconnect the battery's. Tape off the leads, or isolate them. Jump off the set. Remove the jumper cable. Will the set contine to run? If so, measure the output of the alternator. Should be about 27 volts.

But if the set stops running as soon ar the slave cable is removed, the alternator is bad. Or if the output is low, the maybe the regulator is bad.

Any time you put charged battery's in and they are dead in the morning, it points to the alternator. And if you do it more then twice, you are wasting time. It sounds like diodes to me.
The generator shuts off immediately when the Slave cable is removed.
 

Bmxenbrett

Member
602
29
18
Location
NY
Yes you need to check the alternator output. You didnt do this in any of the previous tests...but you did run the set with battery chargers charging the batterys. Thats a bad charging circuit almost every time. At this point your lucky if you only have one dead battery.

I believe you need proper 24+v to close relays and contactors in the set. This is prob why your not getting power 120/240v
 

csheath

Active member
713
196
43
Location
FL
Kudos for the creative approach using two chargers on the convience recepticle. Way to get by in a pinch!
 
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks