Edited on 2011-08-29 13:56:14

Howdy,

I just installed a rebuilt generator on my 64 S-Type. The battery has been on a trickle charger and shows float. The car starts fine and the generator is cold to touch. On start up the needle on the AMP meter in the dash shows a 20% toward discharge. The needle goes to full discharge when I turn on the headlights. The needle does not move when I increase the RPMs. So I am assuming that the recent rebuilt generator is generating and the battery is fully charged. Which leaves the regulator.

Should I check the volts on the battery with the engine off (12 volts). Then start up the car and increase the RPMs to see the volts go up to 13 or so ? Would this confirm the the regulator and the generator are working ?

How do I check the volts coming out of the generator ?

How do I check the volst coming out of the regulator ?

The car is setup for neg ground.

Can't tell if the previous owner had miss wired the regulator. Is there a simple way to check ?

Jim

Submitted by NE40-47762 on Tue, 10/11/2011 - 10:00

Edited on 2011-10-11 10:07:23

Update:

I ran a 10 gauge wire from the F to the G posts on the generator. I measured the power and found 17 volts ! So the gererator is working fine. I measured the power from the wire connected to the B post and found 12.65 volts. So I am getting connectivity to the battery. Next I cut open the wiring harness between the generator and the voltage regulator. And vola.. found the F wire was broken ! I created a new F connector from 10 Gauge auto spec wire. Reran the new connector and we have volts !!. I can even run the headlights at 1000 RPMs !

Thanks for all of the help .. Your advise to review the sections in the manual were right on the mark. The manual has extensive info on the regulator and generator.

Jim

Submitted by bonnettoboot@e… on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 22:10

This is a little confusing, George i think it can be polarised without being on the car BUT he says 17+ volts at 1500 rpm! If so it is overcharging as a result the light will come on due to difference in volts, The ammeter connections may never have been changed so is reading backwards. If he gets 3.17 Volts from the Gen disconnected then the generator is good. James, check the battery voltage with the engine off then start it and tell us what the voltage now reads.

Submitted by NE40-47762 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 20:01

Edited on 2011-08-29 20:05:13

Yep,

I ran a wire from the battery positive post to the small post on the generator and touched the post a couple of times. Then removed the wire and started the car but it did not make a difference.

With the car running I measured the volts from the generator by placing the red connector on the volt meter on the big post on the generator and the black connector of volt meter on the body/ground and got 3.17 at 2000 RPMS. The ignition light stays on.

Jim

Submitted by NE40-47762 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 18:18

The rebuilder of the generator fielded it for neg ground.

Battery voltage 12.65 with ignition off
Generator voltage at 1500 rpm 17.65

The ignition light in the Speedo gauge stays alight no matter the RPMs
The AMP guage stays toward the D at all times and full D with headlights on

I followed the proceedure to jump post B and D on the regulator bt it did not help.

I will check the manal and refield the generator.

Jim