Generator not charging!

[happystang]

I've tried a few different generators, two used and one remanufactured from oreillys.

Even tried building a franken generator out of each of the three (lol)


I have no charging! New voltage regulator as well. For the record it has never charged from the beginning, I bought the car with no engine or transmission.

Now, all the wiring is hooked up and we verified that it was installed correctly. No cuts, breaks, or shorts.

The generator light stays on in the dash regardless of RPM...

Hooked up a volt meter and the voltage stays around 12.45 volts and does not change with RPM either. Maybe goes to 12.46 but goes back down immediately.

I have polarized the system by jumping the field and bat, got a little spark as normal.


Here's the catch:


The generators all came from a V8 car, I can't seem to get an original l6 generator. Therefore I had to reclock the generator main body 180* to fit since the V8 generators are mounted upside down.

I tried polarizing the system with the belt OFF the car. The generator spun like it should, but OPPOSITE of the direction the motor turns. Me thinks clocking the generator has something to do with this?

I'm stumped, and tired of pulling generators in and out of this hot motor

 

[rbohm]

clocking the generator only changes the location of the studs to prevent them from contacting the engine or brackets. it does nothing electrically. it almost sounds like you have the generator wired incorrectly. and for the record when the generator turned backwards, that was the key for me.

 

[happystang]

Would it hurt the generator to swap around the wires?

 

[rbohm]

nope. there is no diode bridge to deal with.

 

[Lazy JW]

... The generator spun like it should, but OPPOSITE of the direction the motor turns...

Generators can run as motors, and motors can run as generators; it is just a matter of how the wiring is arranged.

You need to very carefully trace all of the wiring associated with the generator and regulator.
Joe

 

[chad]

de ol engine vs motor nominclature, eh?
engine moves the vehicle, motor gives it ele...

 

[Lazy JW]

de ol engine vs motor nominclature, eh?
engine moves the vehicle, motor gives it ele...

Ummm... nope.

 

[happystang]

FIXED!

I went to a generator specialist (San Jose Generator) and he confirmed my suspicion about the generator spinning backwards. He told me to switch the field and ground posts internally to reverse it.

Did it and sure enough it charges now!!!

Thanks all for the help!

 

[Lazy JW]

Yup You proved that it CAN be turned into a motor, but they work better when wired as a generator.