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| | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 122 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 122 | Those of you who visit the VCCA forum will find that I have posted this topic on that board as well.
I went out yesterday morning to start the truck ('53 3100 1/2 ton truck) and the battery, a new 6 volt AGM, was dead; the VOM showed 0.75 volts. With all wires disconnected from my 6-volt Delco generator I get the following readings:
From Field terminal to ground 0.2 ohm
From Armature terminal to ground 1.5 ohm
My best guess is that the cutout in the voltage regulator stayed closed and back-fed power from the battery to the generator, maybe leading to a short inside the generator. Am I right on this? I imagine the voltage regulator is not repairable. Have I fried my new battery and/or my generator? Any help greatly appreciated. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,749 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,749 | Making resistance readings on a generator is pointless- - - -it will always read close to a dead short, good or bad. That's why there's a cutout relay. Take the generator to a rebuilding shop where they know how to check it out, NOT a big box place like Auto Zone. It will need to be dismantled and checked on some special equipment, including a growler.
Recharge the battery over several days at a low amperage (10-15 amps) until the specific gravity of the electrolyte is 1.265 or above on all the cells- - - -it will probably be OK.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 122 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 122 | Thanks Jerry, I'll pull the generator and get it tested on Monday. Good to know the resistance readings don't necessarily indicate a problem. I've got the battery on a slow charge (about 1 amp - it's the only AGM charger I have for 6-volts) so it should be back to charge by Labor Day. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,749 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,749 | I have charged 6 volt batteries with a 12 volt charger by wiring a sealed beam headlight bulb in series with the battery to limit the voltage applied to the battery by the charger. Works well!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | There is a procedure for charging AGM batteries on the Optima website. The headlight trick may work well on a lead acid battery but I wouldn't try it on an AGM. | | |
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