Battery is drained even while driving

[mwpe]

If your alternator is overheating, is the cooling duct clear. Over the years they can get blocked with leaves.

 

[Rudyrov]

If the alternator is getting hot then that heat comes from somewhere. Maybe friction. But maybe a short circuit inside that's turning the alternator into a heating element that consumes electricity.

The rectifier in an alternator turns the AC current generated by the alternator into DC current. This is done by running the AC through a Diode pack that in effect blocks AC and lets through DC. Like all DC electrical circuits, there is a positive side and a negative side. A failed diode on the negative side could in effect shunt the generated current to ground directly and that would cause the alternator to not generate much DC and get very hot as the generated current is being shunted to ground.

https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-8808007b1adcd45866d9f13f1d35abe5

 

[danielfb]

Thanks for all your answers.
With the new alternator, the battery light gets on at start time, and battery seems to charge fine. We could ride it all time long.
Mystery solved!

 

[t-tony]

Good to hear Daniel.

Tony.