Plow Vs. CPU

[DieselBuzz]

I hooked up my electric over hydrolic plow and my problems started. I think I might have fried the voltage regulator in the CPU(AKA electic brain). The battery meter just kept on dropping and then when I lifted the plow all the guages responded. The more things I turn on, the more electric things respond and the lower the battery needle goes. Has anyone by passed the computer and used the older bolt on the firewall voltage regulator???? TIA

 

[PToombs]

Yup, people have put the older regulator on their trucks. Lots of posts telling how.

Are you sure you don't have a bad ground? It sure sounds more like that.

 

[Jgolden]

I have a 98RAM (gasser) 2500 with an electric pump meyers plow. At times if I don't put the plow control to neutral (stop holding the lever up or left/ right) the draw on the system is more than the alt can replace. I will get a check engine light caused by the power drain.



This year I have a bigger Batt that seems to help but have only had to plow one time so far, and then I ran off the edge of my road and got stuck totally. Not a good test drive.



The factory plow set up comes with a larger Alt.

Also a two batt system is a common soloution.



As Peter noted ( it snows year round where he lives) check all your connections. Pump solenoid may also be dragging.

 

[DieselBuzz]

Thanks

I went out and cleaned the battery connections and things are back to normal. I just need to relearn, one more time, not to get excited and think rationally. Thanks for the help.

 

[PToombs]

No problem. Glad it was simple for ya.



Joe, all year 'round? You know it quits for a couple weeks in August! :-laf

 

[DieselBuzz]

Thought I had it

Things were fine when the truck was sitting in the driveway while I wrote my last post. I went out to get the mail and it started with the same old stuff. I looked at again and found that the ground screw in rad. support just in front of the negative post was just a little loose. Tightened it back up and every thing's back to normal. Wow, it's amazing all the ideas that little loose screw made me think. Usually I would have thrown some money at it too. Thanks again!

 

[Jgolden]

No problem. Glad it was simple for ya.



Joe, all year 'round? You know it quits for a couple weeks in August! :-laf

True, then the Monsoon season starts.

 

[Jgolden]

After thought.

Good site for Snow Plow info. PlowSite.com™ - Snow Plowing & Ice Management Forum Powered by Moose River Media - Powered by vBulletin.



Meyers web site also (if thats what you have) has online manual info,

 

[AVerHage]

I had the same problem witha 92 W350 with 360 V8 about 6 years ago, I chased gremlins all winter and finally put a new battery, alternator, all new cables (battery, alternator, plow pump. ) sanded all the contacts to bare metal, and it worked, the funny thing is it was only the front blade that killed it the back blade never drained electricity and I used that as much as my front.

 

[JLight]

SEE Diesel We All got a screw loose somewhere! I had a problem with my truck and pete said it was the loose nut behind the wheel! Glad to see that it was a easy fix. Plow on dude!

 

[BGore]

Got a Boss plow on my truck, and even though I didn't really like the idea of plowing with it (would rather have the ole' 92 in "retirement" mode) it sure does a great job.

But I too have had the grounding issue. One more thing to check - which was a contributor to my problem. Bad grounds really make a lot of stuff act really strangely.

Make sure your ground connection to the negative side of the battery is AT LEAST as large in gauge as the everything connected to the positive connections. Lots of aftermarket installers (and some dealers) I've run into forget about that ground connection and leave just the original, which it VERY inadequate when you are running currents like a plow draws - may even be inadequate for a truck without a plow!

So don't be afraid to add an extra large gauge ground connection to the chassis at least.