Figured out how to keep steady voltage

[NathanJax]

on the 07+ we have this regulating system (Regulated Voltage Control or RVC) that basically controls the alternator when it sees more/less drain on the battery.

Being that I have a decent sized stereo as well as HIDs (with the relay harness) on my truck, I looked for a way to turn the RVC off. There would be points while driving that my HIDs would start to flicker because the ballast weren't getting 12 volts. I thought it was the ballast and swapped sides and even purchased new ballast with the same results.

Well, there is a wire connection on the negative side of the battery that controls this system. If you unplug it, your alternator will continue to charge and will stay around 14v while driving. I've had this unplugged for almost a month now with no issues what so ever. No more stereo drain, no more flashing of my HIDs, nothing. I haven't seen any consequences of disconnecting it either.


Here's a few pics you can see the plug and the wiring to disconnect. I put some electrical tape over the connections so they don't rust or get corroded or anything.

 

[shundal]

Awesome! I'm going to do this when I get home tonight. I experience some slight flickering as well when I have everything running and my stereo up


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[bacin87]

I am planing to install a second (900a) alternator so would this matter if I didn't disconnect this?

 

[NathanJax]

I am planing to install a second (900a) alternator so would this matter if I didn't disconnect this?

IF the second alternator's power is only going to your second battery and then to your amps, then no. There will be nothing to stop your 2nd alternator from charging like there is on the main one since the main one is hooked up through the computer.

 

[bacin87]

thanks

 

[Yukon_Joey]

Could possibly overcharge your battery which in the best case scenario kills just the battery....Worst case...it kills you..... I had a battery pop on me a few years ago after being on a charger over night. Luckily it was just minor skin burns and some spots in the paint on the car next to it. Could have been a lot worse.

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[Leedogg]

still no issues Nathan?(or did you trade the truck?) My lights will 'blink' from time to time. I drive mostly at night- and it does erk me when it happens.

 

[NathanJax]

still no issues Nathan?(or did you trade the truck?) My lights will 'blink' from time to time. I drive mostly at night- and it does erk me when it happens.

I still have issues every once in a while. But mine come from my air ride compressors coming on at the same time my truck starts and that's the same time my auto-headlights come on. That's just so much strain on the electrical system at the beginning and all at once.

As long as my compressors aren't on, there's no issues at all

 

[tuckerm]

Nathan,

I do Fire & EMS with my 08 Chevy Truck and have been having a lot of issues with this system while attempting to transmit on my radio. Today I finally researched this and found this thread. I unplugged the sensor and it appears to be working perfectly for me. I realize this thread is two years old...but have you had any issues with it being unplugged?

 

[NathanJax]

Nathan,

I do Fire & EMS with my 08 Chevy Truck and have been having a lot of issues with this system while attempting to transmit on my radio. Today I finally researched this and found this thread. I unplugged the sensor and it appears to be working perfectly for me. I realize this thread is two years old...but have you had any issues with it being unplugged?

Never had any issues with it at all while I had my Yukon

 

[tuckerm]

Never had any issues with it at all while I had my Yukon

Thank you very much. You've been a great help.

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

I am planing to install a second (900a) alternator so would this matter if I didn't disconnect this?

okay 900 amp alternator?

 

[Chetrick87]

This is interesting im definitely going to di this. And where the hell do you get a 900a alternator?

 

[drakon543]

Lol thats where you rip the guts out of a large generator stick it in the middle where your seats used to be with a hole in the floor. Spin it off the driveshaft. Need to power the amp and his stealth rail gun.

 

[dross99_si]

Thanks for the tip!
After dealing with a dead battery the other day I paid very close attention to the battery gauge yesterday on a 400 mile round trip to San Diego to meet Black Bear Justin. The gauge would fluctuate between 12v and 14v and it was starting to worry me as I thought the battery might have died due to a bad alternator. Is it normal for the gauge to fluctuate like that while driving? I was under the impression that it was always supposed to be around 14v while the truck is running.

 

[tuckerm]

Mine always alternated between 11-14

 

[chopperwalker]

The fluctuation is on purpose. From what I understand this is for highway fuel economy. The alternator cuts off so the fuel economy goes up, but your battery drops. It then kicks back in when its low and charges it back up.

 

[NathanJax]

The fluctuation is on purpose. From what I understand this is for highway fuel economy. The alternator cuts off so the fuel economy goes up, but your battery drops. It then kicks back in when its low and charges it back up.

That's correct. However, for those of us that don't care about the small fuel economy hit, and are more worried about getting steady voltage to electronics, this is an easy fix...

 

[iamdub]

I like to believe that my engine makes enough torque that turning the alternator isn't gonna load it down so much to affect the fuel consumption. I'd rather keep as close to 14V as possible going to the higher-amperage parts, namely the fuel pump and cooling fans. Lower voltage to an electrical motor results in it pulling more amps which results in higher heat which results in shortened life. Getting .001 fewer MPG is far easier to deal with than replacing a fuel pump.

Thanks for posting this. I unplugged mine last Sunday.

 

[dross99_si]

No problems reported so far with this mod?