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generator charge rate?
jjwebb123 - February 27th, 2010 at 10:14 AM

Is there a way i can check my generator charge rate without taking it to the auto sparky.We know that the generator has a bearing issue,but instead of replacing it,if it is charging correctly then we will do the bearings and nothing else.But if it is not we will do a rebuilt on it,eg bushes,Instead of spending money i don't have to get a new one.

So yeah if know of any way to hook a voltmeter up to the gen and check if it is charging right,that would be great.
cheers guys
~Jas~


jjwebb123 - February 27th, 2010 at 09:13 PM

anyone?


jsheppard64 - February 28th, 2010 at 02:26 AM

umm i have a volt meter in the dash and when it's charging i read 13.5+
it's not charging at idle so it's like 12.7 something
but if it doesn't charge u might want to look at the regulator under the back seat aswell
good luck


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 08:38 AM

so its not charging at idle? so it only charges when you are driving it? how the hell am i spose to measure that if i don't have a voltmeter gauge in my dash.:crazy::lol:


bugzla - February 28th, 2010 at 09:16 AM

get someone to control the accelorator and bring the rev range up


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 11:15 AM

arr i see lol,so what should it be? around 13.5+ when at high rev and 12.7 something when at idle.Where do i read that at the battery or at the generator?


matberry - February 28th, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Correct charge voltage is 14.6 for a lead acid car battery, but anywhere over the already mentioned 13.5 is a good place to start. Voltage is only part of the story but all you can check with a voltmeter. Mind you you could check the voltage at the generator ie before the regulator, it should be 15- 15.7V, and you can see the condition of the brushes through the holes in the gen body. If the spring clips are disapearing into the brush holder they are well worn, there should be about6-8mm of brush protruding out of the holder, meaning you have plenty of brush life left.


bugzla - February 28th, 2010 at 11:23 AM

at the genny or at the battery thats upto u hold the revs up around 2500 -3000


matberry - February 28th, 2010 at 11:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bugzla
at the genny or at the battery thats upto u hold the revs up around 2500 -3000

I'm sorry but this is not correct, at the gen is the gen voltage, after the reg is the regulated voltage and at the battery is also the regulated voltage while the revs are up otherwise it's the battery voltage.


bugzla - February 28th, 2010 at 11:43 AM

sorry matt


matberry - February 28th, 2010 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bugzla
sorry matt
Cheers mate, but no need to apologise to me. We all learn stuff every day so I was correcting the mistake. That is all. :tu:


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 12:12 PM

:crazy: so.....

At gen points there should be=15.7volts

:crazy:


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 12:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by matberry
Correct charge voltage is 14.6 for a lead acid car battery, but anywhere over the already mentioned 13.5 is a good place to start. Voltage is only part of the story but all you can check with a voltmeter. Mind you you could check the voltage at the generator ie before the regulator, it should be 15- 15.7V, and you can see the condition of the brushes through the holes in the gen body. If the spring clips are disapearing into the brush holder they are well worn, there should be about6-8mm of brush protruding out of the holder, meaning you have plenty of brush life left.


ok so i just went and did a test.

my battery at idle was around 14.00volts (around)

now this is where i get confused.My generator at idle at the points on the generator was around 7.40 and when i reved it,it got lower,is that supposed to happen,it got to around 4.80.now i dont know if this is right.i had my voltmeter on the DCV-20 part so i think that is right
please help.


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 03:24 PM

bump please


matberry - February 28th, 2010 at 06:11 PM

At the gen you want the meter between D+ and earth.


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 06:31 PM

so D+ is on the gen right? and do you use the earth on the gen or just find an earth?


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 06:35 PM

http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/htm/gen.htm 

like that?


matberry - February 28th, 2010 at 06:45 PM

Yep like that. Earth......on gen or anywhere on clean metal....ASSUMING the gen earth and engine grounds are good, it's all the same.


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 07:09 PM

mate i just did the test recommended on that site.with d+ and ground hooked up at idle was around 22.2 at high rev shot up to 48-50.
and the battery went to 14 like they said.That sounds good doesn't it?


matberry - February 28th, 2010 at 07:20 PM

Ahhh yes , just reread that site and saw that that high voltage reading as the D+ is disconnected, yes all good. If you dont disconnect it you'll only see high 15's by memory, it is stamped on the gen body how much voltage it's capable of.


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 07:38 PM

yeah cool so the gen should be in good nick then ay? um my car only breaks down when it gets hot,could it be the coil?


matberry - February 28th, 2010 at 07:56 PM

That's a hard one, could be coil, fuel pump, fuel tank or line blockage or tappets to name the first things to check for.


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 08:10 PM

its gets hot,starts loosing power ,and after a nurse home stops.
should i post a new topic,maybe someone might know.


matberry - February 28th, 2010 at 09:33 PM

The new post bit is up to you, but still think any of the above problems could be the cause, you can go through them one by one to prove each system, fuel electrics etc.


jjwebb123 - February 28th, 2010 at 09:47 PM

yeah that is what i am doing at the moment process of elimination.thanks