The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay How much voltage

I recently converted from 6 volts to 12 volts on my '52AD using a generator I had on hand and a new regulator from my FLAPS---now I'm seeing approximately 15.5 volts which seems a little high. I was thinking 14.5 volts should be about maximum. Will this cause a problem? I removed the cover on the new regulator and it is a "non-adjustable" type, so, if I do need to reduce the voltage, how do I do that?

Thanks,
Dave

You've got a defective regulater. It shouldn't run any higher than 14.5. 15.5 will destroy the battery by boiling it over.

The only non-adjustable regulators I've seen have some sort of electronic control built in. If it's got spring-closed points, it can be adjusted by changing the spring tension, either by bending the spring anchor or turning an anchor screw. The points behind the "F" terminal control the voltage, the ones behind the "A" terminal regulate current flow into a low battery. The top voltage should be 14.7 against a fully-charged battery, with a charge current of 10 amps or less. If you can figure out a way to reduce the spring tension on the voltage regulator points, you can lower the voltage. Be sure to do the final check with the cover installed, as the setting will be reduced a little with the cover on due to better magnetic conduction. If the "F" terminal on the generator gets grounded some way, like a frayed wire touching the frame or body metal, the generator will go to full output with no control by the regulator.
Jerry

Thanks Hotrod, that is exactly what I needed to know. By "non-adjustable" I meant it isn't adjustable by simply turning a screw like on the old 6 volt regulator that I took out. I assumed I was going to have to manually do some bending of the spring attachment since there are no adjustment screws but didn't know which way to go to reduce voltage. Thanks again, I'll let you know how it turns out. By the way, how much current/voltage can one of these old generators put out if unregulated, such as with the grounded "F" as you pointed out?

Dave

Most of the Delco generators are regulated at either 25 or 35 amps, but they will produce considerably more for a short time if the field gets grounded. Excessive current usually burns the brushes, or melts the solder where the armature windings are attached to the commutator, which ruins the armature. The voltage also goes out of sight, increasing without limit as the speed increases. I've seen 20+ volts at times, and current output of 50 amps or so. That's rough on wiring, batteries, headlights, points, etc.
Jerry

Success! By just slightly tweaking the spring attachment I could manipulate the voltage up or down....got it settled on 14.3 volts and called it good. Thanks, Jerry!

Dave

"I love it when a plan comes together!" Did you recheck the voltage with the cover installed? It usually drops slightly due to better magnetic conduction when the steel cover goes on.
Jerry

Yes I did. I initially got it set to 14.5 with the cover off knowing that setting would work with the cover on.
Thanks again!