Amp meter not charging
Parts Nerd Extraordinaire
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,367
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From: Western NY
Regulator adjustment is covered across multiple pages in Part 3, Chapter 1, Section 1 of the typical shop manual with pictures and whatnot... you should double check your adjustment against that process to ensure you are not overcharging and whatnot which could cause issues in the future.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 130
Likes: 61
Regulator adjustment is covered across multiple pages in Part 3, Chapter 1, Section 1 of the typical shop manual with pictures and whatnot... you should double check your adjustment against that process to ensure you are not overcharging and whatnot which could cause issues in the future.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
A friend of mine is an electrical engineer and professor at WPI Colledge in Worcester, Ma. He did a tone of research and we tried a little test on the truck last night and found that we could make a slight adjustment on the armature side of the regulator.. He just cracked it open a little bit more and it made a ton of difference. That brought the generator up to the right output
Regulator adjustment is covered across multiple pages in Part 3, Chapter 1, Section 1 of the typical shop manual with pictures and whatnot... you should double check your adjustment against that process to ensure you are not overcharging and whatnot which could cause issues in the future.
But you could try to charge the battery completely up, start and drive the truck for 30 mins. Then measure the battery voltage. Rev the engine up around 1500 RPM and see if its around 7.5 volts. If that is what you have then in my opinion it's good!
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 130
Likes: 61
Sounds like he adjusted the voltage limiter contacts which are the first set of contacts wired across the Armature terminal in the voltage regulator itself. The tighter the contact spring, the longer they stay closed, the higher the voltage. This brings us to the information from bmoran4:
I agree with him that these should be checked over. There can be a difference of voltage regulator settings with the cover on and off.
But you could try to charge the battery completely up, start and drive the truck for 30 mins. Then measure the battery voltage. Rev the engine up around 1500 RPM and see if its around 7.5 volts. If that is what you have then in my opinion it's good!
I agree with him that these should be checked over. There can be a difference of voltage regulator settings with the cover on and off.
But you could try to charge the battery completely up, start and drive the truck for 30 mins. Then measure the battery voltage. Rev the engine up around 1500 RPM and see if its around 7.5 volts. If that is what you have then in my opinion it's good!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
Usually when adjusting Voltage Regulators, you have to make very small spring tension adjustments, put the cover on, and see what the voltage at the battery is. Too high? The cover is removed, another small adjustment is made, cover goes back on, read voltage again etc. Lots of back and forth and patience.
Glad to hear your friend nailed it!
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 130
Likes: 61
If your getting 7.5 volts at the battery, engine running at around 1500ish RPMs then I would say you are good! Myself I wouldn't tweak it anymore.
Usually when adjusting Voltage Regulators, you have to make very small spring tension adjustments, put the cover on, and see what the voltage at the battery is. Too high? The cover is removed, another small adjustment is made, cover goes back on, read voltage again etc. Lots of back and forth and patience.
Glad to hear your friend nailed it!
Usually when adjusting Voltage Regulators, you have to make very small spring tension adjustments, put the cover on, and see what the voltage at the battery is. Too high? The cover is removed, another small adjustment is made, cover goes back on, read voltage again etc. Lots of back and forth and patience.
Glad to hear your friend nailed it!
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