[Sledge]

Tru, Boudy, Frank, Cashburn:

Thank you for the responses and ideas. I really do like this forum because of the people willing to help others.

The alternator is simply going off line occasionally, then coming back on.

I've checked the wiring out and found loose, corroded, poor-contact-making wire terminations at the battery terminal of the starter solonoid, which is where the charge wire from the alternator goes. We also found a loose wire at the battery switch. In spite of cleaning/tightening/fixing the terminals, the volt meter (confirmed by a separate volt meter) showed the alternator would come on line, then go off line, then come back on line again. Independent of fans, lights, etc.

I also installed a new (gel) battery because I wanted to anyway, seemed like a good time to do so. No change to the on-again, off-again charge output from the alternator.

I talked to Powermaster today and they say this is definitely not what this alternator should be doing--once on it should stay on without cycling. I've taken some pictures of the alternator and installation and have forwarded them to Powermaster (per their request) and will be talking with them some more tomorrow. Unless they come up with something I haven't seen (easy enough to do since I'm both stupid and blind) I may have had a couple of bad alternators in addition to or because of the wire terminations.

I haven't taken the alternator in yet to confirm the fault, but that appears to be the next likely step. And then a new alternator.

Hope this helps someone else, and thanks again for the responses.

Bill