Ric
Well-known member
I have had a sterling alternator regulator on my VP MD2020 for ten years of reliable service.
Recently the alternator alarm started sporadically sounding at anything below around 2000 rpm. If I increased the revs, the alarm would stop, then I could usually reduce back down to idle without it sounding again. I immediately guessed that the alternator belt needed tigthening so did so - but problem persisted.
I then noticed on my NASA battery monitor that the Sterling regulator was not doing its job - the volts and charging amps on the NASA were just normal alternator regulator performance. On checking the Sterling, all the lights were flashing showing that it was in failure mode.
So I shutdown engine and restarted - everything went back to normal - engine could run at idle without alarm, and the Sterling started up its ramp start. But as soon as it ended its ramp start, the lights started flashing again and alternator alarm sounded again.
Any suggestions before I don the hard hat and write to Mr Sterling?
Recently the alternator alarm started sporadically sounding at anything below around 2000 rpm. If I increased the revs, the alarm would stop, then I could usually reduce back down to idle without it sounding again. I immediately guessed that the alternator belt needed tigthening so did so - but problem persisted.
I then noticed on my NASA battery monitor that the Sterling regulator was not doing its job - the volts and charging amps on the NASA were just normal alternator regulator performance. On checking the Sterling, all the lights were flashing showing that it was in failure mode.
So I shutdown engine and restarted - everything went back to normal - engine could run at idle without alarm, and the Sterling started up its ramp start. But as soon as it ended its ramp start, the lights started flashing again and alternator alarm sounded again.
Any suggestions before I don the hard hat and write to Mr Sterling?