Excessive ripple?

[Falcon_LS]

Vehicle's a '97 Suburban C2500 with the 454. The voltage reading on the ScanGauge-II would fluctuate between 12.6V - 13.3V, depending on whether or not the lights and air conditioning were turned on, so I decided to have it tested. Here are the results:

The battery is an Optima Red Top, and I'm not sure if the alternator has been replaced before, but I'm lead to believe this has something to do with the diodes in the alternator? Am I looking at a new alternator? Are diodes sold separately?

 

[bdcardinal]

Bad alternator. We see this a ton on Ford's. Excessive ripple can cause havoc on electrical systems.

 

[dishdude]

Yep bad diodes. AC current is getting through and into the electrical system.

 

[cchase]

You can usually replace the diodes but sourcing them can be very difficult.

 

[cmorr]

Apologies in advance for taking the thread off topic but when I saw the subject line I immediately thought of Fred Sanford (Champipple anyone)

Back to the subject at hand

 

[SatinSilver]

I want a glass of purple ripple from Fred.

 

[NHGUY]

Flat Ripple,thats Flapple.

 

[JetStar]

Back in the old days I used to replace internal components in Delcotrons. Can you even dis-assemble alternators nowadays?

 

[Pavlov]

Generally alternators can be dismantled and overhauled. Some easily, some a lot harder.
Before you rip into one, make sure you can get components like diode packs (bunch of diodes on heat sinks), bearings, brushes.
I prefer to do them myself, but if parts aren't available I go for a recon one. Variable product though, had one short out soon after installing and it's replacement was assembled wrongly so the main mounting point didn't line up. Pain in the *BEEP*. Worth checking warranty on a recon.

Good you found the ripple output problem though, before it created other hard-to-trace electronic problems.

 

[Colt45ws]

alternatorparts dot com
I was gonna rebuild the used police 200A unit I bought, but it was in too poor of shape to do anything with.

 

[Thax]

Yep bad Alternator. Is there alternator/starter rebuild shops in Kuwait? That might be one option if the cost for a reman parts store or dealership unit is prohibitively expensive. What is the Parts industry like in Kuwait anyways ??