Pilot Dan

Here's a question I'd like to throw out there to all the C-1 guys, at what engine idle speed will your Generator produce enough juice to show a charge with all the lights ect... on (under load) assuming you have a healthy electrical system?????

I have been running some tests with the newly converted Solid State Voltage regulator and it seems I need a minimum of 850 RPM with the lights on and 700 RPM (daytime) no load to keep the Ammeter at "0". At 1000 RPM, I can run everything the car has and show a positive charge until the battery tops off.

Also, according to the specs, they call for 450RPM idle speed which I have NEVER been able to achieve a decent rate of charge at. Does anyone know why that number is so low??? Did GM mean for these cars to run at a discharge at idle?? Pilot Dan

1snake

I'm using the old mechanical regulator and mine performs just like yours. Mine idles at 750RPM and will show a slight dis-charge if I turn on the lights but will show a charge with just a slight increase in idle speed. It's been this way for 35+ years.

Jim

Pilot Dan

That was pretty much how I remember my original mechanical voltage regulator working in the past. I had read that resistance in a circuit (like a bad ground or battery drain when off) can also contribute to low charge at slow engine speeds. Don't think that is the case here though since I replaced all the wiring. Thanks for the reply.

Frankie the Fink

I may be the first adopter of the solid-state generator-based V/R in a C1...the gentleman that does them hadn't done one for an early vette before my conversion. Mine acts exactly as you describe and that includes running a 600W Kenwood stereo amp.

Seems that's perfectly normal behavior to me...of course my original 270HP '61 will NEVER idle at 450RPM...

Pilot Dan

Frankie, according to Bob and others I put this question to, it appears that these cars were NOT meant to charge at idle and relied on Battery power. Some have changed their pulley to a smaller diameter to get the Generator to spin faster, but then the Tach is off (Generator driven models). Maybe some others will chime in to support or refute this conclusion.

As far as the VR conversion, I like what I see so far. Hope it will be trouble free for a good long while. No question, it works much better once the Generator spins fast enough to supply the power.

Frankie the Fink

Pretty much my experience having driven generator cars of all types for quite a few years. The cars weren't intended to idle until the battery is discharged...

Pilot Dan

No other opinions either way guys??? OK, let me pose this a different way, do the current restoration T-3 headlights (LL Wagner conversions) have the same resistance as the original T-3's??? I am wondering if the restoration headlamps could be drawing more power and therefore contributing to the negative charge at low idle setting. Thoughts????

narlee

Not sure what you're driving at. All the old generator cars I drove did not charge at idle. All you had to do was bring the RPM's up a little and you were fine. You would discharge with the "old " T-3 headlights at idle.

MikeM

There's not much more to say. Generator cars won't charge at low idle speeds. As the electrical load on a cars charging system increased, this became a problem and that's why alternators became standard equipment.

Pilot Dan

OK thanks guys, I thought I had read somewhere that the newer headlamps used more juice but also in turn are brighter.

MikeM

I believe the newer headlights use more juice but even with the original OEM bulbs, when the engine would slow to idle, the headlights would dim. The engine speeds up and the headlights brighten.

That's pretty much a thing of the past with alternators.

rustylugnuts

Charging output depends on the diameter of your generator pulley, engine speed "RPM's", condition of the generator, correct adjustments to the voltage regulator, condition and size of wiring. Here is a link that may help: http://www.42fordgpw.com/voltage.html

rustylugnuts