Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Well I got the light to the gauge for few days but now it is gone and car is not charging.I guess the ground wire has fallen off.Is it with plug on the end or just wire ?

It just a single wire socket. It grounds via the socket casing to guage cluster itself. Pretty much all the dash bulbs are the same.

I would suggest verifying the bulb is the correct number and replacing it just to be sure it was not a bad or incorrect bulb. Also check the condition of the socket to make sure the bulb is getting a good connection. If it still does not light or only lasts a few days again then I would look into the charging system and particularly the condition of brushes in the generator.

Kev is correct that most of the bulbs at the cluster are in single wire sockets but on all models with the BAT and OIL lights, those are dual wire sockets. 51-2 has a single wire turn signal bulb socket but from 53 onward, in addition to the oil and bat lights both turn signal indicators are also 2 wire sockets. In 53-6 models with the bat and oil lights there are 4 bulbs that do not get ground thru the cluster.

In the case of the 55 Clipper GEN light, power is provided on one wire and is coming from the instrument fuse located on the under dash fuse block. An end connection after it goes thru splices and the ign switch is the BAT terminal on the regulator. The other wire is connected via other splices in the loom ultimately to the GEN terminal on the regulator.

The way bulb lights is when the engine is not running but key is on, power is supplied to one side of the bulb via the roundabout route finally connecting to the BAT terminal on the regulator. Ground gets to the other side by virtue of being ultimately connected to the regulator ARM terminal and going thru the coils in the generator armature to connect to ground via a grounded brush in the generator. Since the generator is "off" a good solid ground is provided.

When the engine starts and generator begins producing voltage the cutout relay in the regulator closes which then connects the BAT and GEN regulator terminals together. The same voltage now appears on both sides of the bulb and without the difference in potential since there is no longer a solid ground, the bulb goes out.

If the generator stops producing the specified charging voltage the regulator cutout relay opens. Without that connection between the BAT and GEN terminals provided by the cutout contacts, there is potential across the bulb again and it lights -- how brightly depends on other conditions. If a voltage is still being produced by the generator but it is not at the same level the battery is providing -- like when the engine is at idle -- there may be a dim light or the common flickering as the cutout contacts open and close. If the generator stops producing entirely (and providing both brushes are good and making contact with the armature), a good solid ground is present again and the light will be bright.

Here is a condensed basic version of the GEN light circuit. It does not show all the splices and the 55 fuse.

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Ok but in my car the generator is gone and altenator now with relay included

I must have skipped over information about an alternator being installed. There are different type alternators and ways they could be connected. Most alternators being used today are the self exciting single wire models with nothing else involved. You mention a relay (which might actually be a voltage regulator) used with yours so without knowing more details on the alternator or any other components in your car, hard to guess where the bulb is in the circuit or what might be going on. Looking at a few common wiring diagrams of alternators with external regulators I see 3 different ways a bulb could be in the circuit.

If it's a GM style alternator, it usually internally regulated and will either be a 3 wire, or a 1 wire.

3 wire ones are setup to use a charging light by design. 1 wire one require extra hoops to jump through. Some alternators especially older Chrysler ones have an external regualtors.

True. GM alternator conversions in one of their flavors is by far the most common done over here today but in addition to Chrysler, Ford has theirs. Add to that if you have an older conversion, I know of at least one Packard that was converted in the 60s to use the same Prestolite alternator and regulator setup that Studebaker used. If your conversion was done in Iceland there are several European brands which could have been used and may be different from a US brand.

Another consideration is if you replaced the first burned out bulb with the number given on the forum which was for the stock Packard bulb used with a generator, it is possible the alternator needs a different bulb.

This conversion was done here in Iceland in the '90 and the altenator is from Delco Remy

Sounds like a GM alternator. Can you post a picture or find a part number?

Here it is

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