The Ford Barn

koates · 10-07-2018, 05:34 PM

Hi there Glen...…..Your voltage reading at the regulator battery terminal should be approx. 14.2 volts with the engine revs at plus 1000 RPM. Generators do not charge at engine idle speed. A fully charged battery at rest should read approx 12.6 volts. For a Ford system test the generator output first by removing the field wire from the regulator and connecting it across to the ARM terminal. Rev engine up to approx. 2000 RPM and generator should be charging quite high at around 30 amps on your ammeter because the voltage regulator is bypassed except for the cutout contacts which should be closed. If you still have no charge and the cutout contacts are not closing then the generator is most likely at fault and would have to be removed and opened up for repairs. Because your generator has been converted to 12 volts I am assuming the field coils are connected as per the original Ford system which controls the field windings to the Armature connection through the regulator. The other system controls the field windings to ground through the regulator. Do the test and report back. Regards, Kevin.

10-07-2018, 05:34 PM	#2
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,185	Re: Charging help needed please Hi there Glen...…..Your voltage reading at the regulator battery terminal should be approx. 14.2 volts with the engine revs at plus 1000 RPM. Generators do not charge at engine idle speed. A fully charged battery at rest should read approx 12.6 volts. For a Ford system test the generator output first by removing the field wire from the regulator and connecting it across to the ARM terminal. Rev engine up to approx. 2000 RPM and generator should be charging quite high at around 30 amps on your ammeter because the voltage regulator is bypassed except for the cutout contacts which should be closed. If you still have no charge and the cutout contacts are not closing then the generator is most likely at fault and would have to be removed and opened up for repairs. Because your generator has been converted to 12 volts I am assuming the field coils are connected as per the original Ford system which controls the field windings to the Armature connection through the regulator. The other system controls the field windings to ground through the regulator. Do the test and report back. Regards, Kevin.