1962 voltage

[Jeremy H.]

My battery gauge is reading 30+, checked my grounds, all is well, have an original rebuilt voltage regulator on it, could that be the problem, or any other ideas?

Thanks
Jeremy Hedges
(31711)

[William C.]

Re: 1962 voltage

What is the voltage at the battery terminals when you are seeing 30A Charge? Should be around 14.5 or more volts to drive that much amps. If battery is fully charged and you are charging at that voltage the regulator is not working. A smack with a piece of wood might bring it to it's senses, or it needs rebuild/replace, regardless of it's pedigree.

[Philip P.]

Re: 1962 voltage

You might try to polarize it. But like Bill said knocking some sense into the regulator may open the contacts. Also if the generator armature is shorted to ground you will get this indication but it will not last long as the armature will go into meltdown so to speak.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1962 voltage

You might try to polarize it. But like Bill said knocking some sense into the regulator may open the contacts. Also if the generator armature is shorted to ground you will get this indication but it will not last long as the armature will go into meltdown so to speak.

Phillip,

That fits with my theory, which is "All shorts eventually become opens!"

Joe

[Terry M.]

Re: 1962 voltage

Phillip,

That fits with my theory, which is "All shorts eventually become opens!"

Joe

Tell that to the folks in the North East in 2003.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_2003

I could post some photos or cite some other instances going back to 1968, but there is no sense beating it to death.

[Jim L.]

Re: 1962 voltage

My battery gauge is reading 30+, checked my grounds, all is well, have an original rebuilt voltage regulator on it, could that be the problem, or any other ideas?

Jeremy,

Disconnect the field terminal wire at the generator and run the engine again.

If the gauge still shows heavy charging, the generator has an internal short. If it doesn't, the Voltage regulator has a problem.

Jim