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Car idles better with battery disconnect and running off Alternator

 

(@rumrunner78)
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Long time listener first time caller.

I ran into an issue, after I replaced my generator with an alternator, my car seems to idle better when the battery is disconnected and solely running of the ALT. 

It seems to be drawing power from elsewhere not allowing a good spark 

I have a pertronix ignition along with the flame thrower coil. 

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! 

The vehicle is a 1950 Chevy styleline Deluxe with a 235 engine

 


   
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Steve Dalphonse
(@steve-d)
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Have you checked the battery condition?.

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(@rumrunner78)
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I thought the same thing, but it's brand new


   
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Tiny
 Tiny
(@tiny)
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I don't have a definitive answer for you but I do know the Pertronix is rather infamous for having issues. I know folks who carry their points distributors in the trunk in case they have to swap to get home after the Pertronix failed. When one makes several changes at a time and something's different, it can be difficult to narrow down the cause. Have you considered putting the points distributor back in and running the car? I can't picture putting an alternator on a vehicle causing it to run poorly. I put alternators on both my 38 and 53 with no issues at all. I'm still running the stock points systems. My 38 is still 6v.

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Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet
1938 Master Business Coupe
1953 210 Sedan


   
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Steve Dalphonse
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@rumrunner78 A new battery will most likely need charging before using. An alternator is designed to MAINTAIN the battery and it puts a strain on it if the battery is not fully charged when it's installed.

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Stovblt
(@ole-olson)
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@steve-d 

Actually...

and with all due respect...

both a generator and especially an alternator will charge a completely dead battery (in a vehicle that has been jump started) to full charge if driven long enough.

I know this to be true because I've done it so many times myself.

Most alternators will put out as many amps (and volts) as most battery chargers, and there is nothing special about the electons that come out of a battery charger.

When I took a 2 year farm machinery mechanics course I too was taught that a battery had to be topped up with a battery charger to be fully charged.

I can now unequivocally state that that was wrong.

An alternator IS a battery charger.

It just happens to be driven by a belt.  🙂

Ole S Olson
Saskatoon, Sask, Canada
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Steve Dalphonse
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@ole-olson Sorry Ole but I have to disagree. Working in a truck parts dept. I sold hundreds of batteries and always reminded the customer to fully charge them before installing. Yes the alternator will eventually charge the battery but it is much better if it's done with a charger. That is what they are designed for. Do an internet search and you will find several such as the following."An alternator is primarily designed to maintain a battery's charge, not fully charge it from a completely depleted state; it continuously supplies power to the battery while the engine is running, keeping it at a near-full level and powering the vehicle's electrical systems. " I did not write it I only copied and pasted here. I did not attend any farm machinery courses but I did get a diploma in automotive technology from a two year vocational school where I got to butt heads with the professor as he was a retired Ford guy. We skipped the chapter on electronic ignition as he said: "it's a fad and won't be around long". Check out this on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSev2Wq4Q8s

 

 
 

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Tiny
 Tiny
(@tiny)
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OK guys, this is a discussion for another thread. A discussion of the abilities or limitations of an alternator, unless that's a possible cause of the OP's issue, doesn't help solve the problem.

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Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet
1938 Master Business Coupe
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(@rumrunner78)
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Thank you guys for all the advice.

I'm trying to eliminate all possibilities,  I charged the battery, loosened the fan belt just a little since it was cinched pretty tight, changed the ballest resistor, also made sure all connections were tight.

The next step will be changing the horn relay, I'm not sure if that will help but at least it'll be new. Lol

I'd really like to get more input, since I know I'm probably not the first one to have this issue 


 


   
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Steve Dalphonse
(@steve-d)
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@rumrunner78 Do you have a single or double wire alternator?

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(@rumrunner78)
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@steve-d  double wire


   
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Steve Dalphonse
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I have a friend who retired from a restoration shop and was their electrical/mechanical guru and he advised the two wire is the better setup. When i explained the issue he mentioned putting it on an oscilloscope due to all the electronic items in play. He is familiar with the pertronix/flame thrower set up. I 'll give him a call in the AM .

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(@rumrunner78)
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Once again thanks fellas,  I figured it out.

I just bypassed the ballest resistor and wired it straight, since it's no longer needed to convert from 6v - 12v

I'll be sure to reach out again if I any other issues,  which I know I will. Lol


   
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Stovblt
(@ole-olson)
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@rumrunner78 

Glad to hear you figured it out!  👍

Ole S Olson
Saskatoon, Sask, Canada
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