The Ford Barn

Leyland · 01-09-2022, 02:04 PM

Hi all, have read many posts regarding polarizing generator but still concerned i may have been unsuccessful. Just changed my car to 12v, with NEGATIVE ground now. I have installed new wiring with fuses, new 12v bulbs, and all seems to be working beautifully. However I have NOT connected my generator yet, as I wanted to ensure proper polarity to avoid issues. I have jumpered/shorted between both contacts on my generator cut out switch (no spark observed), however when I start my car and test the gen with a multi-meter, my multi meter reads -17v between case of gen and batt terminal on regulator cut out. If I reverse my multimeter leads (now using red for positive now going to the gen case as a ground and the black from multimeter now going to bat terminal on cut out as positive) it reads +17 v on multimeter…

Have shorted the regulator multiple times with same outcome. I feel like the generator is still polarized for a positive ground system?

Am I doing the re-polarizing technique wrong?

01-09-2022, 02:04 PM	#1
Leyland Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 24	Generator polarizing question Hi all, have read many posts regarding polarizing generator but still concerned i may have been unsuccessful. Just changed my car to 12v, with NEGATIVE ground now. I have installed new wiring with fuses, new 12v bulbs, and all seems to be working beautifully. However I have NOT connected my generator yet, as I wanted to ensure proper polarity to avoid issues. I have jumpered/shorted between both contacts on my generator cut out switch (no spark observed), however when I start my car and test the gen with a multi-meter, my multi meter reads -17v between case of gen and batt terminal on regulator cut out. If I reverse my multimeter leads (now using red for positive now going to the gen case as a ground and the black from multimeter now going to bat terminal on cut out as positive) it reads +17 v on multimeter… Have shorted the regulator multiple times with same outcome. I feel like the generator is still polarized for a positive ground system? Am I doing the re-polarizing technique wrong? Last edited by Leyland; 01-09-2022 at 07:58 PM.