Charging question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 652
From: Richmond VA
Charging question
While driving today I noticed I was charging at about 30 amp according to the gauge, I didn't think too much about it as the car hadn't been driven much and I figured the battary was very low. The system continued to charge at 30 amps for about 35 miles although it would drop to 15 amp charge if I turned on the lights. After the 35 miles of steady high charge the gauge went to discharge and continued to discharge until I got home , another 35 miles. The generator was rebuilt about 3000 miles back so I am thinking it may be the regulator. How do I determine where the problem is? How do I test a regular?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
I have mentioned this quite a few times on the forum. A great tool to own for checking your battery and charging is a Milton Battery Tester. You have 2 leads coming from it one positive and one negative. To use it to check if your alternator and regulator are charging your battery properly just connect the 2 leads with your car running and it will show you in a color coded section of the gauge exactly how much you are putting back into the battery. This tool also has a load test switch so that you can tell if your battery is good or bad. This needs to be done with the car igition off and the battery fully charged. Once you do a load test you will know right away if your battery is still good. No messing around with a battery hydrometer. Harbor freight has a China made copy that looks similiar to the Milton Battery Tester for alot less then you will pay for a Milton Tester if you are looking to go cheap. I never tried one so I can't tell you how well it works but they could be purchased for under $20.00 but if purchasing a Milton like I own expect to pay somewhere between $55-$65 and it will last a lifetime.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 315
From: Scottsdale AZ
Generator testing
Take generator to nearest large body of water, toss in, if it floats it must be good, so fish it out. If not, go to local auto store and buy alternator and install. A shunt across the amp guage is a good idea also, keeps you from sending all the current through the guage. guage will still read pretty accurate. See the man at Madelectrical.com
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
Dunno if the replace with alt advice is helpful if your tach is driven off your generator.
Wouldn't an alternator with a tach drive on the back be great?
If you don't have test equipment, you may be able to get Autozone or some such store test the regulator for you.
Wouldn't an alternator with a tach drive on the back be great?
If you don't have test equipment, you may be able to get Autozone or some such store test the regulator for you.
