Ammeter wiring and operation

[Simon Lait]

Thanks, that’s a great exposition of the fundamentals of auto electrics. Working from first principles is the surest way to get things right.

[Z320]

Hi,

this is the new issue 04/2023 of the TR-IG Südwest Club magazin.

With RobB's article and illustartions

OK, showing a (voltage) flash on an article about an amperemeter is not really suitable, but the taste of the editor, he didn't ask me.

Ciao, Marco

[Lebro]

Great to see it, well done all.

Bob

[RobH]

Thanks for posting  Marco - very classy presentation ! 

[stuart]

Thats good, well done for spreading the word.

Stuart.

[Waldi]

With Rob’s permission, his excellent explanation of the Amps-meter was translated and published in the Dutch TRCH magazine. Thank’s again Rob!

Cheers,
Waldi

Edited December 22, 2023 by Waldi
Senior moment: added piccies.

[RobH]

Great!  Thanks Waldi. 

Vrolijk kerstfeest 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by RobH

[phil Dean]

I followed one of Robs diagrams drawings when I converted from dynamo to alternator and it works perfectly.

 

Phil

 

[Crawfie]

On 12/22/2023 at 4:24 PM, RobH said:

Great!  Thanks Waldi. 

Vrolijk kerstfeest 

 

 

Can I get your autograph ?

seeing as you’re a “ published author “. !!

[My Dads Car]

On 9/17/2023 at 7:41 AM, RobH said:

If a charge continues to be shown after some time it  may be the generator is producing too high a voltage or the battery is not charging properly.

Am I correct in assuming this points to a regulator being set too high and needs to be adjusted down a bit? I have a new control box and, using a variable DC power supply, was able to get both the regulator and cut out to operating specs on the bench. However, when installed in the car my ammeter is running about 15 amps in the positive at around 2,000 rpm and zero charge at idle. Also, this is on a new Lucas dynamo and a new battery. 

-Jamie

[RobH]

If the ammeter supplies only the battery and nothing else, there should not be a continuous charge shown once the battery is fully charged.  Normal operation sees a large charge immediately after starting,  which tails off over a few minutes to zero as the battery voltage recovers.    If it continues to show high current ( and 15A is very high ) , the regulator voltage setting is wrong.   

 Which procedure did you follow to do the RB106 setting?  This is the Lucas way:

https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/books/pdf/Lucas_Generator_and_Control_Box_Tests.pdf

You can certainly set the cut-out with a DC source but I don't understand how you could set the regulator voltage output 'on the bench' without connecting it to an operating dynamo.  The regulator contact is not a static switch. It is cycling on and off at somewhere about 100Hz to modulate the field current so you can't set it using normal DC measurement and without the dynamo operating.