Re: polarizing the generator?

Posted by Tim Cole On 2012/2/3 20:06:30
Hi folks

Before everybody starts poking around their voltage regulator and manually closing contacts let's look at what is actually going on with this polarization stuff.

Firstly, if the cutout is closed with the motor off the ammeter needle will be buried or the the Gen light will be on so you don't have to take the cover off the regulator.
In either case not disconnecting the battery will result in a fire. Sticking regulator cutouts on old regualtors are one of the reasons disconnect switches became popular

What polarize means is to momentarily feed battery voltage to the generator armature. That is A - armature and B - battery. The field terminal (F) is a pulse modulated ground and should not be used.

This procedure is highlighted in the Delco Manual, but they don't say what it actually does other than to say that not polarizing the generator after the battery is disconnected can result in "severe damage". This is of course contrary to mass experience because, were it true, every car with a disconnect switch would burn up.

Usually what happens is that the generator doesn't charge until it is properly polarized.

So just what is Polarize? The regulator has dual windings around a soft iron core. When battery voltage is manually applied to the armature the north and south poles of these soft iron cores are established which allows generator voltage to close the cutout.

Hope this helps

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