 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > Tapping onto the alternator cable |
 
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731   
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Probably a stupid question, so apologies in advance...
I need to take power from an alternator connection for a wiring loom and I've never delved down there before. As it's fr*gging cold outside so I want to limit my exposure to the elements - is the connection straightforward to get to, or will it involve major surgery? Many thanks for any advice. Cheers, Matt Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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2nd Jan 2014 5:39pm |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610  
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Matt, Happy New Year Fella.....
What do you intend supplying? A single or multiple circuits? What would be the current draw of the utilitie(s)? Easiest method would be to take an auxiliary supply direct off the battery and protect it with a megafuse. Your query is too vague in detail for an effective constructive reply.  If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!
Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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2nd Jan 2014 6:02pm |
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| WelshGas Member Since: 01 Oct 2010 Location: Vale of Glamorgan Posts: 935  
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It involves major surgery. I tried that when I tried wiring in a relay wiring loom for the headlights. In the end I went back to the battery. It was impossible to get to the back of the alternator without basically removing it which meant major dismantling of drive belts etc:.as K9F suggested Direct battery feed.
LANDYWATCH
Neighbourhood Watch for Land Rover Owners http://www.landywatch.co.uk/smf2/index.php |
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2nd Jan 2014 6:06pm |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610
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I also can't see any advantage whatsoever of potentially compromising your alternator wiring as when you connect to the battery you are effectively connecting to the alternator itself in a relatively dry and enclosed area. Also if it's peeing down and your vehicle is outside you can still progress the install inside the vehicle.
If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!
Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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2nd Jan 2014 6:43pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Happy New Year to you all too
WelshGas - that's exactly my intention - headlamp loom (sorry for the vague question).
I'm finally getting round to doing this job, as I've had the loom for a year now without wiring it in properly. Since I already have the HotShot coming off the batteries on a big cable and also finally have a nice "tidy" cable/twin battery setup, I thought using the alternator (suggested in the instructions) would be a neat, sensible solution (it's also nearest the loom). But you are of course right about tampering with the alternator, so I guess I'll just have to run another cable to the battery box, as I cant risk the HotShot conking out the lights... p.s. Mal - I found an old German to weld the bike  cheers  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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2nd Jan 2014 7:39pm |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610
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'Old Germans' in my opinion can be the best. A lot of my relatives are in that category! If you run into any difficulties I have at my disposal 'English Engineering' may not be upto the same standard but will do the job nonetheless. Mustn't undermine the capabilities of my mate Matt he is a proverbial wizard at what he does and that includes castings as well and he's British.
Sorry Matt.   If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!
Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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2nd Jan 2014 10:51pm |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5785 
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Thought you were running led headlights? So why the need to upgrade wiring?
Andy |
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2nd Jan 2014 10:53pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Hi Andy
How are you and yours? You're right about the LEDs and I'm very pleased! However, the story continues, in order of appearance: 1) Bought loom to save headlight switch and rigged it "Heath Robinson" to test it - all okay. 2) Bought LEDs (which are awesome) but found they flicker quite badly for several seconds before and after starting the engine in the cold. I've measured a significant voltage drop (down to 10.8V), then recovery (even with the Odysseys) during this time. Flickering also comes and goes when wiggling the headlight switch and is worse on the RHS. I know I can run the engine for several seconds before switching on the headlights but I don't always want (or remember) to do this and it must be very distracting for oncoming traffic. 3) LR claims they can't find a problem. 4) Tim at Mobile Centre suggested it's a wiring problem so I put the loom back in and it's a lot better. 5) On the Audi, I played around with LED bulb replacements and they get fr*gging hot - so much that they need a fan. I thought LEDs run cool  but I conclude they also draw considerable current.
6) I want to fit the loom permanently. Sorry that's a mouthful
Cheers, Matt p.s. Mal - thanks, as ever, for the offer. My "old German" (actually older than the 1938 tandem) did an okay job, but not exactly a work of art. He used stainless, not particularly hard, but the forks are double-thickness now and with all the anti-turn paraphernalia etc. it should be good enough. Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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3rd Jan 2014 7:37am |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Exactly - voltage drops to 10.8 at the switch then climbs up after several seconds but the lamps might flicker "because they flicker"... i.e. when they come on they cause a voltage drop so they go off etc.
The lighting harness I have is this: https://shop.landreiziger.nl/lichtversterk...elais.html and works very well - as you say, the relay has no problem in the cold, but the combination of standard switch, wiring and LEDs seems to. I should probably try changing the switch but I have the harness already. In fact one of the reasons I was looking forward to installing the twin batteries was to fix this problem Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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3rd Jan 2014 8:46am |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069 
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ah, so there is a problem in the loom between the feed and the switch.
do you have a copy of the electrical connections pdf document from Daniele ? I would start out by checking all the earth connections from the battery to the switch, using the document, you will be able to find all the earthing points. also, double check the voltage at the battery good luck |
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3rd Jan 2014 8:56am |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Cheers - I'll see if I can track down the problem then. It would be nice to find it (even just for academic reasons).
Thanks to all. I think in any event I'll use the "Dutch" relay setup. Putting all the current through a "meltable" headlamp switch is daft to start with so it can't be a bad idea to fit the new harness Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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3rd Jan 2014 10:14am |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816 
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Think you must mean this one from Nakatanenga. I am thinking of buying one of these dedicated headlight wiring harnesses with relay from them, but frankly I am confused by which of the several options I would need for my SVX. Eric http://nakatanenga-tours.de/shop/article_N...-LR-STD%26 You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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3rd Jan 2014 10:43am |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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I like the Dutch version - just pull off the light connectors then reconnect one light connector to the harness. Connect the harness to the lights and to a permanent + and earth. Not very versatile but does the job
Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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3rd Jan 2014 11:23am |
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| WelshGas Member Since: 01 Oct 2010 Location: Vale of Glamorgan Posts: 935
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I agree ZeDefender. The Dutch offering is very well made and basically fits ALL Defenders that have the standard headlamp bulbs. Fitting it to the Puma is a little more difficult as it is impossible to get to the back of the alternator while it is in place, but easily fitted to other models. Also easily removed and revert to original wiring if needed.
LANDYWATCH
Neighbourhood Watch for Land Rover Owners http://www.landywatch.co.uk/smf2/index.php |
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3rd Jan 2014 3:17pm |
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