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| | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 59 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 59 | I recently switched over to 12v, I replaced the regulator, had the generator built to 12v and the battery. But it's not wanting to charge the battery. ANy advice on what I might be causing this | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 | Have you put an amp meter to the generator? If so what is it putting out?
~Jim
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | ryanb790,
As BIG CHEVY mentioned, how sure are you that the system isn't charging? A voltmeter on the battery is a good test. The in-dash ammeter is accurate if it's hooked up properly too.
Have you polarized the generator yet. With the truck OFF, momentarily jump the BATT terminal of the regulator to the GEN (or ARM) terminal of the regulator. This is done with a small jumper wire and should produce a small spark.
Your statement about have int eh generator built to a 12 volt configuration is interesting. Did the folks that worked on it have a history of doing this retrofit...you are confident that pulled it off properly.
You can perform a full field output test on your generator by grounding the field terminal to a good ground. Doing this for a moment will kick the generator into high gear. If you watch the voltage at the battery, you should see it climb into the high 13 or maybe low 14 volt range.
Dink around with it and see what develops. At night your headlights should go brighter as you rev the engine a bit. This shows the generator is doing at least some charging.
A functioning in-dash ammeter will tell you almost all you need to know about the health of the generator.
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 461 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 461 | When polarizing the generator as Stuart described, it is good practice to ground the generator field terminal as well. That way you don't risk damage to the current and voltage limiter contacts in the voltage regulator. The possiblity of regulator damage is small, but since it is unclear what is going on with your system, the extra step may save you trouble. Grounding the field terminal with the engine running should give you full generator output, limited only by the battery and the resistance of the armature windings- which isn't much. So don't leave it that way very long.
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