The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Generator output 60 Chevy

I have read numerous threads on the site and have read the Service manual for generator repair and adjustment. I have a 60 Chevy, does anyone know max amp output of the stock generator? I am considering adding A/C to it next year and want to know if it will keep up. Do I simply need to adjust the voltage regulator for more amps? In the manual it made a statement to adjust for 20 amp output.
Thanks for any insight.
Phil

Tudorman,

Although I haven't attempted it, I have heard adjusting the regulator takes some skill and special tools. Some folks on this site have jumped right in and had success doing it.

Many different generators were manufactured, all with different output capacities. Voltage regulators were matched to the needs of the vehicle they were installed on...cars usually had more accessories than a truck, so their current relay would be set higher.

Your generator must have adequate capacity to supply your system. If you set your voltage regulator to cutout at 50 amps and you only have a 30 generator, you haven't accomplished much.

My thought would be to ID the generator somehow and verify it had the capability to give you the output you wanted. Then it would be a matter of adjusting the voltage regulator to control the system without going up in flames.

Stuart

If you are going to add A/c you should change over to an alternator. You cannot adjust the voltage to get more amps. The voltage must run between 14-14.5 volts. The amp. cutout on the regulator can be adjusted but if you go more then the rating of the gen. it will be short lived. Most gens. are rated at 30-35 amps. Some in the late 50,s early 60,s had 40 amps & used a special regulator. Gens. don,t charge at idle & if you get in heavy traffic you could be in trouble.

Thanks guys!
Phil

I drove a 1960 Chevy 48 pass school bus for several years. It had all the lights you expect to find on a bus, as well as 3 big heater motors and the flashing over head lights. It was a 261 6 with a generator system. I never had a problem with it not charging. Even driving with every light in and on the bus on in the winter with the heaters running. It was a route bus when I was driving it, so it idled a lot. But it would also start in the coldest weather when nothing else on the school grounds would go.

I would agree with Roy Rodgers...my '54 Motor's Manual shows a 12 volt generator with a 80 amp output.

Stuart

There were special generators and regulators for buses and delivery vans etc. The cutout moved at a lower RPM to charge at the lower speeds. I can post 6 Volt specs from the GM document if anyone is interested. I was lucky to pick up the Service Update manual at a swapmeet and learned some interesting things. One of the things I learned is that you could have a generator good for continuous operation at 20 amps while the regulator protected at 35 Amps!

My point was that if someone wanted to keep the original look of the generator, they might look at the heavier trucks of the time to see what might keep up with the electrical demands of air conditioning. Don't know if it would work or not, but might be something to look at.