My coach has a HEHR Powerline alternator with an external regulator. It uses a Ford voltage regulator. I was told by the pevious owner that the alternator was upgraded to 200 amps and I replaced the NAPA regulator with a genuine Motorcraft unit. I've noticed a voltage fluctuation issue with this. It bounces between 13 and 14 volts. I was told by Monaco to consider upgrading it to a Leece Neville alternator. I wouldn't mind putting a Ford alternator in it. :p

Check and double check all connections between alternator, regulator and source of "voltage sense". And, if voltage is sensed on the battery side of a diode-based isolator, be sure to check the isolator as well.

vacuumbed wrote:My coach has a HEHR Powerline alternator with an external regulator. It uses a Ford voltage regulator. I was told by the pevious owner that the alternator was upgraded to 200 amps and I replaced the NAPA regulator with a genuine Motorcraft unit. I've noticed a voltage fluctuation issue with this. It bounces between 13 and 14 volts. I was told by Monaco to consider upgrading it to a Leece Neville alternator. I wouldn't mind putting a Ford alternator in it. :pWe had a Leece Neville in a rescue truck at the fire department and that thing was a piece of S*$^ . It was being removed every 3 months or so cause the regulator would fail.

On my 1978 Pace Arrow I mounted a Ford 3G alternator on that Dodge 440. It bolted right on, just used some washers to correct spacing. The alternator was from a 1997 Ford Taurus.Now if I could just do that to my Cummins.

Ranger Smith wrote:vacuumbed wrote:My coach has a HEHR Powerline alternator with an external regulator. It uses a Ford voltage regulator. I was told by the pevious owner that the alternator was upgraded to 200 amps and I replaced the NAPA regulator with a genuine Motorcraft unit. I've noticed a voltage fluctuation issue with this. It bounces between 13 and 14 volts. I was told by Monaco to consider upgrading it to a Leece Neville alternator. I wouldn't mind putting a Ford alternator in it. :pWe had a Leece Neville in a rescue truck at the fire department and that thing was a piece of S*$^ . It was being removed every 3 months or so cause the regulator would fail.Mine is 19 years old with the orginial regulator, but I don't have anywhere as much draw that a FD rescue truck would have.

The biggest problem with mounting a Ford 3G alternator on my Cummins is the mounting bracket. The cummins alternator has two ears on the pivot side while the Ford alternator case uses a long boss that a long bolt goes through.

Let's talk DP Alternators! | Good Sam Community

bluwtr49
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2013
Powerlines are great alternator but it sounds like your regulator might be the culprit and it's just cutting in and out. It's also possible that a bad connection at the battery could be an issue.
vacuumbed
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
I have verified the fluctuation with my voltmeter. The batteries stay charges, but it causes the dash lights to oscillate between dim and bright and it bothers me.
JimM68
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
vacuumbed wrote:
My coach has a HEHR Powerline alternator with an external regulator. It uses a Ford voltage regulator. I was told by the pevious owner that the alternator was upgraded to 200 amps and I replaced the NAPA regulator with a genuine Motorcraft unit.

I've noticed a voltage fluctuation issue with this. It bounces between 13 and 14 volts.

I was told by Monaco to consider upgrading it to a Leece Neville alternator. I wouldn't mind putting a Ford alternator in it. :p

Have you verified this independently, with a separate digital voltmeter?
Are your batteries staying properly charged?
Is your alternator causing you any specific problems?

is no to any, particularly the last, what are you worried about?
vacuumbed
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
Ford

Cummins
vacuumbed
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
The biggest problem with mounting a Ford 3G alternator on my Cummins is the mounting bracket.

The cummins alternator has two ears on the pivot side while the Ford alternator case uses a long boss that a long bolt goes through.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
Ranger Smith wrote:
vacuumbed wrote:
My coach has a HEHR Powerline alternator with an external regulator. It uses a Ford voltage regulator. I was told by the pevious owner that the alternator was upgraded to 200 amps and I replaced the NAPA regulator with a genuine Motorcraft unit.

I've noticed a voltage fluctuation issue with this. It bounces between 13 and 14 volts.

I was told by Monaco to consider upgrading it to a Leece Neville alternator. I wouldn't mind putting a Ford alternator in it. :p

We had a Leece Neville in a rescue truck at the fire department and that thing was a piece of S*$^ . It was being removed every 3 months or so cause the regulator would fail.
Mine is 19 years old with the orginial regulator, but I don't have anywhere as much draw that a FD rescue truck would have.
vacuumbed
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
On my 1978 Pace Arrow I mounted a Ford 3G alternator on that Dodge 440. It bolted right on, just used some washers to correct spacing. The alternator was from a 1997 Ford Taurus.

Now if I could just do that to my Cummins.
Ranger_Smith
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
vacuumbed wrote:
My coach has a HEHR Powerline alternator with an external regulator. It uses a Ford voltage regulator. I was told by the pevious owner that the alternator was upgraded to 200 amps and I replaced the NAPA regulator with a genuine Motorcraft unit.

I've noticed a voltage fluctuation issue with this. It bounces between 13 and 14 volts.

I was told by Monaco to consider upgrading it to a Leece Neville alternator. I wouldn't mind putting a Ford alternator in it. :p

We had a Leece Neville in a rescue truck at the fire department and that thing was a piece of S*$^ . It was being removed every 3 months or so cause the regulator would fail.
wolfe10
Explorer
Jul 25, 2013
Check and double check all connections between alternator, regulator and source of "voltage sense".

And, if voltage is sensed on the battery side of a diode-based isolator, be sure to check the isolator as well.

Forum Discussion

Let's talk DP Alternators!

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Let’s talk biscuits

Let's talk air bags...

Let's talk dirt

Let's talk generators - again.

Let's talk Dana 80 axle temps