Re: Don’s 1937 (120) 138CD Deluxe Touring Limo
Posted by Don B On 2024/4/7 20:59:17
Here’s where I’m at with my generator/regulator/ammeter.
I believe the ammeter is fine. The bouncing around occurs when the current regulator relay and cutout relay operate.
Starting with fully charged battery at 6.35V. When I start the car (low idle), it drops to 6.28V. I can see the ammeter reading slightly negative and can make it go more negative by turning on lights etc… All as expected. When I increase to a fast idle, it does charge. The voltage goes up to close to 6.8V and the ammeter goes positive as it should. But, if I increase the idle more, as will happen when driving, the ammeter will suddenly bounce hard negative back to positive etc.. It will do this for a short while. I can hear a coil on the regulator operating. I assume that is the current regulator operating. That would make sense and I believe would result in a discharge state until the cutout coil opens. But, I don’t know if the extent of this chattering” is normal. Eventually, the ammeter just settles out to about zero and is very steady. I assume that is because the battery is fully charged at that point. Is this normal? Once in a while, it bounces hard enough negative that it pegs the ammeter and the ammeter sticks. A slight tap on it gets it going again. That’s understandable after 87 years. I need a nudge every now and then, too.
The only issue I have with the ammeter is that the scale is off center just a bit. Here is a picture with everything off. The needle is straight up, but the scale is off center. I’m sure that is an easy fix.
I believe the ammeter is fine. The bouncing around occurs when the current regulator relay and cutout relay operate.
Starting with fully charged battery at 6.35V. When I start the car (low idle), it drops to 6.28V. I can see the ammeter reading slightly negative and can make it go more negative by turning on lights etc… All as expected. When I increase to a fast idle, it does charge. The voltage goes up to close to 6.8V and the ammeter goes positive as it should. But, if I increase the idle more, as will happen when driving, the ammeter will suddenly bounce hard negative back to positive etc.. It will do this for a short while. I can hear a coil on the regulator operating. I assume that is the current regulator operating. That would make sense and I believe would result in a discharge state until the cutout coil opens. But, I don’t know if the extent of this chattering” is normal. Eventually, the ammeter just settles out to about zero and is very steady. I assume that is because the battery is fully charged at that point. Is this normal? Once in a while, it bounces hard enough negative that it pegs the ammeter and the ammeter sticks. A slight tap on it gets it going again. That’s understandable after 87 years. I need a nudge every now and then, too.
The only issue I have with the ammeter is that the scale is off center just a bit. Here is a picture with everything off. The needle is straight up, but the scale is off center. I’m sure that is an easy fix.
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