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Old 05-14-2016, 10:12 AM   #4
Tom Wesenberg
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: Smoking generator

Remove the field ground from the case, then use an ohm meter or continuity tester to make sure the field windings aren't grounded to the case. Then reconnect the ground and connect a battery charger + to the case and - to the field wire that goes to the adjustable brush. The battery charger (6 volt) should show about 4 to 5 amps draw. This will tell you the field windings are OK, but you need a growler to check the armature.

Most likely the generator was putting out very high voltage due to a bad connection between the generator and battery. If you use an electronic voltage regulator, a bad connection isn't going to smoke the generator, but without an EVR the generator will run wild without the battery to control the voltage.
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