Starting and charging systems check, this was my main focus this last week. I was very sick the better part of the school week and wasn't able to attend class. So what I did do was watch countless videos on YouTube of people performing starting and charging system checks on various types of vehicles, tractors, heavy equipment etc. When I finally felt better, I decided to practice what I had been watching. I spent some time on Saturday at my moms house performing starting and charging systems checks on 2 Honda accords a Mazda 626 and  a Toyota camry.

This picture shows me testing the battery prior to any other tests to make sure I have a battery that is in a good state. As you can see the reading on my volt meter 12.98v is telling me that the battery is in a good state of charge.

This shows the one of the leads going to the pos. side of the alternator as I test the voltage drop across the pos. cable.

This picture along with the the one to the right show me testing the voltage drop between the pos. battery post to the pos. post on the alternator. Again I had a very except-able reading on the volt meter of .166v.

 This picture shows the reading I got while testing the voltage drop on neg. side of the starter and battery connection.Once again the reading on the volt meter of .024v is good.













Where are my gloves......

This picture shows the reading given while testing the charging voltage at the battery. 14.14v is again good.











I got to say by the end of the day on Saturday, I was feeling pretty damn confident in being able to test smaller vehicles starting and charging systems. However I haven't done a starting and charging systems check on a Heavy Truck, this will be my task for this next week.

Another thing I happen to do was take a 25 question pretest on Air brakes. I DID NOT PASS. 15 out of 25. So what did I learn? That I need to spend a little time in the books and on the web and figure out some of the things I don't understand about air brake systems. I can already tell that what I do know is only the tip of the what I don't know iceberg.






Week 2
Hours 14ish

It is nice too finally be back in class, summer quarter was fast and not a whole lot of hands on. So yes it nice to be back in class and listen to discussions and put my hands to work rather then just my brain.

In the first week of class there was a lot of discussion on doing voltage drop testing and finding parasitic loads using a volt meter and amp clamp. We also where shown how to do starting and charging system testing using a volt meter and amp clamp. after watching a few videos and watching Jeff show the whole class on a test board, I was feeling comfortable enough to go home and do a little testing on my roomates 1954 VW baha bug. Everything seemed to be in order except for the green death.

We also went over wire gauge sizes and looked at several different types of connectors and terminals. Below is a picture of some Weather Pack and Deutsch terminal testing leads I made in class. I was also able to practice crimping some battery cable ends.

I really enjoyed watching Jeff re-solder a circuit board for another students BMW. I have soldered many things but never a circuit board. Needless to say I think this is something I would like too and need to try.

Week 1
Hours 20