Re: Packard Generator 1955 400

Posted by Craig the Clipper Man On 2016/11/7 11:22:16

Boy, is this feed striking close to home! Whereas your 400 has a voltage indicator, my Clipper has an idiot light and someone in the past inadvertently rigged the generator light to the brake light and (I assume) vice versa.

Although I did not get a clear indication of a problem, my battery kept running down, so I decided to have the generator checked. Turns out it was shot and had to be rebuilt. The company that did it also checked the voltage regulator as well, which was OK.

The wires coming off the generator were discolored and I had to guess which wad which when I reattached them to the regulator. I polarized the generator and thought everything was copacetic, but I found out the hard was how wrong I was. After checking the wiring again, everything is OK and the battery is getting charged as it should.

I had a talk with Ross Miller in Maryland about switching to an alternator. He told me there is nothing wrong with a generator and unless you are trying to power an air conditioner or some other high-power accessory, a generator should just fine. When everything is set up the way it should be, you shouldn't have any more trouble. As for your gauges, I heard there are aftermarket meters that correctly indicate voltage.