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#1202996 02/05/2017 5:58 AM
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'Bolter
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Hello all,
I did a frame off resto on my 1957 3100 Chevy truck. The truck is bone stock and has a new wire harness installed.
The battery is not charging. I have 11 volts at the battery and 14 at the voltage regulator and generator. Where could the problem be and why the battery is not charging? Could it be at the starter or amp gauge? Can I bypass the gauge and see if the gauge is the problem? How do I do that? There is two red wires at the gauge and one black wire.
Thanks


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Which terminal at the regulator has the 14V? If the "Bat." terminal is showing that voltage the problem is between the regulator and the battery, possibly an internal open circuit at the ammeter. Temporarily, remove all the wires from the ammeter and bolt them together. If the voltage rises at the battery terminals, replace the ammeter.

There are several other possibilities. You really need to find someone who can do a detailed circuit trace, as it's almost impossible to cover all the possible problems long distance unless you have an extensive background doing electrical work.
The "new wire harness" concerns me- - - -there are a lot of ways to get a wrong connection.
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!
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First try polarizing the gen. Touch a piece or wire from the bat term. to the arm. term. at the regulator. If that doesn't do it put a test wire between the bat. term. on the regulator to the pos. post on the bat. If it works then you have an open in the circuit which could be the amp. meter. Test the amp. meter like HRL said. Another test is to ground the field term at the gen. or reg. & try it.
George


They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing.
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'Bolter
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Thank you guys.
Forgot to mention the gen has been rebuilt and new volt reg. I did polorize. When I sent the gauge cluster out to be rebuilt I wonder if they used cheap China parts for the gauges.
Will bypass the amp gauge and see what I get.

Thank you.


1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton Truck
In the Stovebolt Gallery
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The coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!!
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Make sure the grd. . & fld. wires from the reg. to the gen. are not crossed. It's easy to do.

Last edited by Wrenchbender Ret.; 02/07/2017 5:55 PM.

They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing.
1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne Super
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'Bolter
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Hi guys,
I removed all three wires from the back of the amp gauge. Still showing 11.3 volts at the battery. 14V at volt regulator and generator. Could it be the wire coming from the BAT wire on the regulator?


1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton Truck
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix

The coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,792
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You still haven't told us WHICH wire at the regulator has the 14 volts. If it's only the ARM wire, you have a bad regulator. If the BAT wire at the regulator is showing 14V you have an open circuit between the regulator and the back of the ammeter. Try running a temporary 10 gauge jumper wire from the BAT terminal of the regulator to the battery cable attached to the starter and then check the battery terminal voltage with the engine at fast idle.
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: Jun 2008
Posts: 714
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'Bolter
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Thank you Jerry,
Sorry about that. There is 14V at the BAT and at ARM. I ran a wire from the BAT side of the volt reg to the starter. There is 14V at the wire I ran but when I attach to the starter and check the battery it is still showing 11 volts.


1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton Truck
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix

The coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 714
U
'Bolter
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Problem fixed. Voltage regulator not grounded.


1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton Truck
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix

The coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!!

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