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2015 Chevy Sonic/Wall/4 15's/10K/Lithium/Large Case Hairpin US Alts


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Been fighting "charging system" problems for a few weeks now.  Long story short, I had the 2 wires come loose inside the PCM plug that connects to the alternator.  Made it seem like the regulator was failing.  

Heres a measurement showing high resistance, and if i touch the wire, the value changes or goes open circuit.

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I did not find that out immediately.  Wouldve saved a fuck ton of time if I had noticed that early on.

Now rewind to Friday night... Here's how to change a regulator on a Denso large case unit for a new GM RVC (PCM) charging system:

Remove the two screws holding the brush on

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Heat up the solder connection with a hot iron and then remove two more bolts to remove the regulator.

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Now bolt the regulator in loosely so that the two tabs can be soldered in place at the correct location

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Carefully heat the tabs with a solder-wetted hot iron so that solder wicks onto the tabs.  Dont over heat, but make sure you dont have a cold weld.

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Remove the screws to do a pull-test

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These brushes touch the two slip rings on the rotor to supply voltage to the rotor via the regulator.

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Use a 1/16" drill bit or paperclip to hold the brushes back

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I softly scuffed the surface of the slip rings with 1000 grit sand paper.  This is probably overkill but at this point I wanted to rule out any problems.

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The screwdriver is touching the positive terminal from the regulator that supplies voltage to the rotor (via the brush)

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Better view

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All back together

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Cover plate

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Also, added an engine-chassis ground (on teh left).  On the right side, I added a copper bus to the original engine-chassis and chassis-battery grounds location for better contact

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At this point, I still had some alternator whine.  But then I added this chassis-battery ground in the rear and muted ALL alternator whine.  

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Measuring DC amperage, the rear chassis-battery ground flows about 80% of the current back to the alternator while the 4/0 battery-battery ground carries about 20%.  Crazy difference with just 18" of cable.

EDIT: Let me also say Dan at US Alts is the FUCKING MAN for helping me diagnose my issues over the phone.  Talk about customer service.  This issue was clearly NOT the alternator's fault.  I went thru a bunch of measurements with him on the phone proving all other components are intact.  Phase to phase continuity, ensuring left and right phase-bank separation, positive and negative rectifier plates/diodes, rotor resistance, etc.

Chevy Sonic Wall (4) 15's on 10k Build Log

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/209412-2015-chevy-sonicwall4-15s10klithiumlarge-case-hairpin-us-alts/

(4) Fi SP4 15's | (2) Ampere 5Ks | Active! | Arc KS600.2 & KS125.2mini | CDT Silk Domes | Silver Flute 8s | 240Ah JY | US Alts

Jeep Wrangler JK (4) 8's in a 4th Order Build Log

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/209841-shadow-2016-jeep-wrangler-jk4th-order4-8sdc-35klarge-case-hairpin-us-alts/

IG @walledsonic

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  • 2 weeks later...

Time for some adult subs

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Proper crating

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SP415V2 

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That long pole piece, damn.  Cooling shouldnt be a problem any longer

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Fat spider on the Ti basket should help Sonic move some air.

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Backside

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This thing is almost 4" longer than my current subs.  

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Chevy Sonic Wall (4) 15's on 10k Build Log

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/209412-2015-chevy-sonicwall4-15s10klithiumlarge-case-hairpin-us-alts/

(4) Fi SP4 15's | (2) Ampere 5Ks | Active! | Arc KS600.2 & KS125.2mini | CDT Silk Domes | Silver Flute 8s | 240Ah JY | US Alts

Jeep Wrangler JK (4) 8's in a 4th Order Build Log

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/209841-shadow-2016-jeep-wrangler-jk4th-order4-8sdc-35klarge-case-hairpin-us-alts/

IG @walledsonic

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Beautiful sub

I had to do the same to one of my old alts due to the plug messing up. 

Pioneer 80PRS

4 Scan Speak discovery 4" full rage

2 Ampere Audio 6.5 Comp sets

3 Singer 370 Hairpin's

1 Odyssey g78/34-P1500

6 DieHard Platinum Marine g31

4 XS D3100's

DC 175.4

DC 90.4

4 DC 5k's

4 m3 lvl 5 15's

Soundrive RCA's

Lots of welding lead & SkyHigh

Team DC AUDIO

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7 minutes ago, DavidClark said:

Beautiful sub

I had to do the same to one of my old alts due to the plug messing up. 

Thanks man!

Just got my new PCM plug connected last night.  I drove around to get the PCM cycling on my Singer alt and its working like stock again.  Gonna get my state inspection done and then plug in the new Mechman that self-excites at 14.2-15.0.  Downside is that I'll have a battery light on the cluster.  Upside is 200+A at idle and 320+ full tilt.

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Chevy Sonic Wall (4) 15's on 10k Build Log

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/209412-2015-chevy-sonicwall4-15s10klithiumlarge-case-hairpin-us-alts/

(4) Fi SP4 15's | (2) Ampere 5Ks | Active! | Arc KS600.2 & KS125.2mini | CDT Silk Domes | Silver Flute 8s | 240Ah JY | US Alts

Jeep Wrangler JK (4) 8's in a 4th Order Build Log

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/209841-shadow-2016-jeep-wrangler-jk4th-order4-8sdc-35klarge-case-hairpin-us-alts/

IG @walledsonic

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21 minutes ago, Wishuponasub said:

I Like the look of SP4s. I hope you dig them.

Theyre gonna look great thru the polycarb windows on the side of the box!

Probably going to be a few weeks before I get them loaded though.  I still need to take full AMM-1 impedance measurements on full power for the Impedance Rise thread.  I am trying to determine how much impedance rise (port/power compression) Im getting around tuning frequency.  

Chevy Sonic Wall (4) 15's on 10k Build Log

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/209412-2015-chevy-sonicwall4-15s10klithiumlarge-case-hairpin-us-alts/

(4) Fi SP4 15's | (2) Ampere 5Ks | Active! | Arc KS600.2 & KS125.2mini | CDT Silk Domes | Silver Flute 8s | 240Ah JY | US Alts

Jeep Wrangler JK (4) 8's in a 4th Order Build Log

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/209841-shadow-2016-jeep-wrangler-jk4th-order4-8sdc-35klarge-case-hairpin-us-alts/

IG @walledsonic

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Very nice bud..... ;)  Digging it. Well done. Dan is a great dude. Got him on speed dial. Good stuff,. if those v2s perform anything like the v1s i used for years, your gonna love em. I may say, my favorite driver ive ever ran. And ive ran a few, hell, a few just Fi subs lol. From bls, to teams (v1s) neo , and all in between. Great job dude .... great job. This,... this is a build log :)

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