Ammeter Question
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 282
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From: Nanaimo, BC
Ammeter Question
I am having trouble figuring out a charging issue on my truck. After swapping in a known "good" used alternator and regulator from a parts truck and confirming continuity between the field and stator posts on the alternator to the regulator, I still cannot get more than 12.5 volts coming out of the alternator. I have checked continuity between the ground post of the alternator and the frame ground and found it to be good. Is it possible the ammeter is the culprit? It is a crappy Eqqus wal/Kmart type, but does show a discharge when you turn the lights on.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: Nanaimo, BC
The belt is definitely tight, I have had three different alternators and three different regulators and the combinations of all of them, on and off all day, it is starting to get me beat down. Must be some electrical issue maybe not energizing the field of the alternator? Maybe something where continuity may be present but not enough to flow current, I don't know. I will have to keep digging and try to find out what the testing criteria should be at each of the regulator terminals.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: Nanaimo, BC
It turns out there were two different schematics for energizing the field, on idiot light equipped trucks, it is energized through that circuit, on the trucks with ammeters it was wired differently to the stator side of the regulator. The PO had installed an ammeter in the truck which was originally idiot light equipped, and upon investigating the previous wiring, I found a bad connection. Another vote to those lucky enough to find an original truck that hasn't been fooled with!
