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#88672 09/26/2004 2:14 PM | Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 390 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 390 | What is the cause of my light flicker on a 12 volt generated systmn?
1942 1\2 Ton 1951 1\2 Ton 55 willys cj-5 1954 and 59 Cushman Scooter 1960 Biscayne Sedan 1965 G/10 panel van 1966 C/30 Grizzly Motorhome You know you're a 'Bolter when your daily driver is older than you are... My progress pics | | |
#88673 09/26/2004 4:07 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,742 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,742 | You're using a generator, not an alternator, right? There's a possibility you've got an open leg or two in the armature wiring of the generator. Is the battery staying charged OK? If you can dismantle the generator and check out the armature, look for burned spots on the leading edge of some of the commutator bars, indicating a short in the windings attached to that bar. A "growler" test will confirm any armature problems, open circuits, shorts, or grounds. The trick is finding a shop that still has a growler, and knows how to use it!
Other problems might be dirty points in the voltage regulator, or an incorrect voltage adjustment.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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#88674 09/26/2004 11:32 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 | Are your lights grounded to the body or to the frame. If their grounded to the body rather than the frame the gound might not be so good when your moving. | | |
#88675 09/27/2004 4:56 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 1,271 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2003 Posts: 1,271 | Poor grounds will definitely do that ... or a lose wire -- if your wiring is old, you could have lose connections BIG time.
~~ Alan Horvath 1954 Chevy PickupSinging his praises in thePassing Lane | | |
#88676 09/28/2004 12:13 AM | Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 390 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 390 | Well i had the generator rebuilt and tested on a growler a yeAr ago.It charges the battery ok.In fact its charged up good sinse i left the lights on the other day and had to jump it. :p Ill have to check the shed to see if any of my spare regulators are 12 volt or pick one up at a bone yard and try that.I dont think the wires are bad but ill check those too.Thanks guys.Ron
1942 1\2 Ton 1951 1\2 Ton 55 willys cj-5 1954 and 59 Cushman Scooter 1960 Biscayne Sedan 1965 G/10 panel van 1966 C/30 Grizzly Motorhome You know you're a 'Bolter when your daily driver is older than you are... My progress pics | | |
#88677 09/28/2004 3:27 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 734 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 734 | Have you checked your switch? I had a loose terminal on my Pontiac light switch that caused my lights to flicker. I soldered it and all's good. | | |
#88678 09/28/2004 10:57 PM | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | Hook a volt meter up to the bat. & run the engine
around 1200-1500 rpm. You should have about 14volts steady reading. If the voltage is not
steady you should clean the contacts in the
regulator or replace it.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | |
#88679 09/29/2004 3:19 AM | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 124 Member | | Member Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 124 | A lot of possibilities here - the previous posts all make sense.
A few questions...
- Is the flicker rate pretty darn constant, or does it change with rpm, or is it somewhat random?
- Which lights flicker?
- Do the lights flicker only when driving?
- Do you see a flicker with the lights on and the motor NOT running? | | |
#88680 09/30/2004 12:05 AM | Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 390 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 390 | A BIG THANKS TO ALL YOU FELLOWS FOR JUMPING IN AND OFFERING HELP!!!!! It turned out to be a very loose ground wire.I didnt know where to begin looking but onse aqain you guys set me on the right path.A very large THANK YOU TO YOU ALL. Ron
1942 1\2 Ton 1951 1\2 Ton 55 willys cj-5 1954 and 59 Cushman Scooter 1960 Biscayne Sedan 1965 G/10 panel van 1966 C/30 Grizzly Motorhome You know you're a 'Bolter when your daily driver is older than you are... My progress pics | | |
#88681 09/30/2004 2:04 AM | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 124 Member | | Member Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 124 | That's certainly a common failure mode on these old cars. Often the push-in style lamp sockets lose the ground connection from surface oxidation for example. A little twist often gets these working agaion.
Glad to hear you got it fixed! | | |
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