Need electrical help again

[chrisgarrett]

Original problem was that the battery would not hold a charge.  I replaced the alternator and the battery and same problem.  After driving around a short while, the radio went off, then the wide-band.  I looked at the voltage on the Scanmaster, and I could see it dropping.  Just made it to the shoulder of the road and got towed home.

 I charged the battery, and it showed 12.8 volts.  There was 12.2 at the alternator.  When I started the car, the voltage went down to 11.8 at both alt and battery.  As I let the car idle, the volts continued to drop until about 9, when the car died out. Cable to battery/alt. looks good.  Grounds are solid.  
Any ideas?

[daveismissing]

Either a huge drain somewhere or the alt is not working. Likely the latter.

[chrisgarrett]

I fixed it.  It was that damn battery/alt dash bulb.  Why the hell is it designed that way?

[Steve Wood]

might be time to replace it with a resistor, or install John's field fix which is probably a resistor

[Steve Wood]

btw, Chris, one of my Battery Tenders died and I replaced it with a CTEK charger which has a setting for Optima type batteries as well as others.  It works really nicely.

[daveismissing]

I fixed it.

[chrisgarrett]

btw, Chris, one of my Battery Tenders died and I replaced it with a CTEK charger which has a setting for Optima type batteries as well as others.

[chrisgarrett]

That damn bulb cost me a lot of money in towing and battery and alt. replacement.

[Steve Wood]

battery was old so that was not a loss and it may have killed the alternator by forcing it to overcharge...m aybe...but the light did not kill the alternator so don;t feel bad.  

I believe it was the 7002 if that is a legit number

[Charlief1]

How much was it Steve?

[Steve Wood]

the price varies considerably from source to source, but, I recall paying about $100

[daveismissing]

poking around-one of the better prices:
amazon $91.30 free shipp
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-7002-Battery-Charger/dp/B000FRLO9Y

[SuperSix]

THis is for maintaining/keeping a charge on a car battery when the car is driven rarely, correct?

I use one of these - $4.99 on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html

I have this one too - I use it to maintain batteries I store in the garage.
http://www.harborfreight.com/15-amp-three-stage-onboard-battery-charger-maintainer-99857.html

[SuperSix]

Damn. I just noticed the cheap one said "not fir use with AGM batteries". Odd - I have been using it on my ATV for almost 2 years, and the battery is fine. I JUST replaced the battery today - I had no idea how old the old one was, and I would rather spend a few $$$ than get stuck/stranded. (My ATV doesn't have a kick start)

Now I am worried I need to buy an AGM compatible charge for it, even though the old battery didn't seem to mind.

I use one of them on the 87 T too.