| Author |
Message |
    
Heavy_d_aka_277
New member
Username: Heavy_d_aka_277
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 7:28 pm: | 
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I have an 89 Chevrolet Astro Van. The radio is a MAGNUM 257 I also have a 2 pill box with 2 2879 Transistors. Anyhow Sometimes when I key the Microphone the Voltage meter on my dash Goes UP REAL HIGH headlights get Really Bright Also it happens more often with the amp on but also happens with just the radio What causes this and How can I correct it PLEASE HELP |
Gravedigger162
Junior Member
Username: Gravedigger162
Post Number: 14
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 8:26 pm: |
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Thats wierd, I've heard and experianced the lights dimming, and voltage meter going down because I was pulling more power than my Altinator was producing. Never heard or experianced that!
How do you Have the Radio, and Amp Connected? Battery, Cig. lighter plug, ect... |
Tech548
Moderator
Username: Tech548
Post Number: 290
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 9:07 pm: |
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Yes, good question Gravedigger. And I'm curious to know if a magnetic antenna is being used.
This sounds like a grounding problem to me along with the possiblity of some serious RF getting into the computer system.
All connections, including the radio, should go directly to the battery. Also, if you have an 'ungrounded' antenna system (magnetic), that too can also cause weird things to happen with a vehicles electrical system especially when a RF amplifier is used.
Everything "MUST" be grounded.
Jeff
Tech548 |
Heavy_d_aka_277
New member
Username: Heavy_d_aka_277
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 8:57 pm: |
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Radio and Amp positive + Directly to battery. Radio and Amp negative - Directly to body ground. |
Heavy_d_aka_277
New member
Username: Heavy_d_aka_277
Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 9:48 pm: |
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Wilson 1000 Roof Mount (drilled hole) |
Patzerozero
Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 92
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 11:19 pm: |
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have never rec'd definitive answers re:computer controlled vehicles & lots of watts. as opposed to a radio/amp/antenna ground problem, maybe it is an alternator ground or voltage regulator problem. check ground from battery to alt and/or bracket and then to engine block, frame and body. keep 'em all short as possible. also check alt/voltage regulator. had a custom made alternator burn up the regulator w/dx1600 and multiple batteries. 1st giveaway to trouble was overpowering smell of acid cooking out of batteries, looked at volt meter and it was pegged. being 60 miles from home and daytime, i was assured all 4 batteries were well charged, so i removed alternator belts, which fortunately went around power steering and not water pump, disconnected 3 aux batteries and drove home figuring if a battery died, i had 3 more. made it on 1. had another 1 wire alt w/more hd diodes, super hd regulator, etc built. 8 yrs later w/ same amp setup still going strong. BTW this also was a chevy-1984 blazer, don't know what's in astrovan, but just maybe.... |
Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 274
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 11:57 pm: |
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sounds like the voltage regulator inside the altenator is breaking down if the lights go real bright, General Motors has an internal voltage regulator. Real easy to replace and Auto Zone carries them, and the people at the store need to look at your altenator to see which one you have and also they will load test your charging system free of charge.
73, Carl CEF-357 |
