Re: Electrical System Frustration
Posted by Fish'n Jim On 2017/8/4 19:46:43
Always check the battery first, put in a known good one or have tested with a drawdown/ampdraw tester. Any parts store that sells batteries should be able to check. It may not be taking a charge.
Wiring, since it was removed, could be incorrectly hooked up, so run down/check against the schematic.
Once battery and wiring confirms, then start and measure the voltage but put the headlights on, and see if V goes down(lights will dim) or starts to charge(lights will go brighter). If it doesn't charge, and generator is good, suspect the regulator is not working/not hooked up right. (to me most likely cause but battery has to be good) It easy to fry the points on one.
Lastly, but not as likely, there maybe an amp gauge or charge/discharge on the dash. It may or may not be working but maybe in series in the charge circuit and causing issues. It can be bypassed to check as a cause if all else checks.
A battery's voltage will recover to a point on sitting, once the amp draw is removed, if it's been pulled down and not recharged, but eventually draws down. Amps are what counts here.
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