Electrical Repair Did I mess up?

[stationjj]

Last weekend I got stranded because of low battery.

I have 2 new batteries less than 6 months old. The volt meter is reading between yellow and green.
I did some simple testing at the battery. With engine running I get 12.43 V from Front battery. Back Battery 14.57. I haven't done testing with the 2 plug exciter wire as outlined in Barrmans post on Alternator Diag and fix

I decided to some simple cleanup of electrical connections first.

I cleaned the all connections on the 24 volt Bus on driver side, and everything was good.

I then noticed my wiring from Gen 1 as dirty and the diamond shaped 12 volt thing on drivers side.

I cleaned and sanded the 2 post. I noticed the red 8 guage wire from Gen 1 was spliced together. I ran new wire I got from Home depot.

In the attached picture it show 2 wire coming together in a single ring.

The red / Blue went to Gen 1.

I cut the 2 wires and created 2 separate ring connectors, Another wire looked dirty and had a thick black rubber about 1 inch long. I put a new connector on it.

The Post was getting crowded and to make sure I got a good tight connections.
I tighten a few connectors with a nut, and placed another connector over the nut and tighten it down with another nut.

I drove the truck today with 4 stops with no issues starting.

I am new to auto electrical work. After some research tonight concerning my Gen 1 problem, I am having some doubts on my work.

I wanted to verify I didn't do something wrong that could come back and bite me one day?

Thank You,

Stationjj

 

[doghead]

Did your front battery voltage increase(running) after the work you did? 12.43 is too low.

The black rubber thing about an inch long, is a fusible link. You need to replace it with a new fusible link(not a piece of wire), or you will have no protection and could have a major failure(possible fire).

 

[stationjj]

Doghead,

Thank You. Yes, 12.43 is too low. After my cleaning the voltage stayed the same. The cleaning needed to be done.

I have been running this way for 6 months now thinking I was doing pretty good. HAHA!!

The SHTF when I placed a load on it Heater on high and lights. I figure Gen 1 wasn't able to keep up?

I did replace the 2 plug exciter wires a month ago. I need to check my connections and run some more testing.

You did confirm I took out a fusible link. I will correct this mess up.

After my testing if I got questions? I will report back.

Thank You

stationjj

 

[doghead]

Yes, your other thread showed a fusible link.

 

[stationjj]

So are you saying that the splice connectors in my photo are fusible links?

Did I mistaken these as splice connectors? They are really fusible links?

I know I cut one rubber fusible link out. Are there more?

I need to check the TM's for the fusible links. I should find it in the -34?

Let me ask you. The Gen 1 dash light doesn't come on at all. Should I be concerned about this?
I also will replace the heater switch as well for $10 it won't hurt. Since it is tied to Gen 1 exciter wire fuse. Right?

Thank You Much for your input.

stationjj

 

[doghead]

So are you saying that the splice connectors in my photo are fusible links?

No

Did I mistaken these as splice connectors? They are really fusible links?

No

I know I cut one rubber fusible link out. Are there more?

Yes

I need to check the TM's for the fusible links. I should find it in the -34?

Yes, in the back

Let me ask you. The Gen 1 dash light doesn't come on at all. Should I be concerned about this?

Yes, it must function to allow your alternator to function. I would start with a bulb check and carefully clean the contact points of the flexible circuit on the rear of the gauge cluster. Next possible bad connection could be where the wire harness plugs into the flexible circuit on the back of the gauge cluster.

Next would be troubleshooting the alternator. This should be in the -20. Warthog has also posted numerous times how to do this, as well.
I also will replace the heater switch as well for $10 it won't hurt. Since it is tied to Gen 1 exciter wire fuse. Right?

 

[Warthog]

The black barrel connectors are just plastic covers. The fusible link is the 6 inch wire that is connected to the black thing.

While it is possible to replace the 6 inches of fusible link wire with something from HOme Depot, you just removed the protection the fusible link provided. Now it is just a wire.

Check out the Fusible Links 101 sticky or read about them in Wikipedia or elsewhere.