Proper charging rate?

mstover

mstover

Member
I just purchased a 1930 Standard Coupe which wasn't running when I purchased it. I now have it running but I'm questioning whether an adjustment to the generator is needed. When the engine is revved, the ammeter is pegged to the right. Is this too high? What is the proper charging rate?

Thanks for any help you can offer. - Mike
 
Mike,
Lots of info. on gen. settings in the search area. If the needle is truely pegged or buried sounds like a short though. High end shouldn't be any higher than 8-12 I've been told.
Pete
 
Does it really stay pegged, or does it bounce up there and stick until you tap it with your finger? A short would peg it on the discharge side--then, by the time you've tapped it a few times, you're starting to smell the smoke.

With a stock setup, the generator should put out just enough to keep up with your headlights when you're going down the road--maybe a few amps more. If it is set up to overcharge, a temporary fix is to just drive with your headlights on. Otherwise, you'll cook either the battery or the generator, which ever comes first.

Steve
 
The proper charging rater is determined by your use ----if you do alot of night driving it needs to be higher, if you only drive daylight long trips it would need to be lower.

For my needs on my car I use 14-15 amps, I use direct fit Halogen headlight bulbs, I use the headlights as a regulator, I have never used a "maintainer", so far my Optima battery has gone 14 years, if I am going on a drive of 100 miles I will turn on the headlights about 60 miles into the drive, the 14 amps is enough to have a +1 amp with the lights on.

If I only drove in daylight I would set my rate about 6-10 amps, but I drive about 50% at night.

The only time I had mine set to peg the ammeter all the way was when I was using 50cp regular bulbs ---18-20 amps is too high for long generator life but it was the only way they were bright enough to see.

Having the proper charging rate doesn't mean that you will show a + charge all the time, most likely your proper setting will mean that you will run with a - charge with the lights on, the idea is that on average a little more is put in than you take out.

When the cars were in everyday use if the battery used too much water your charge rate was too high, if the battery got weak the charge rate was too low---read battery charge and adjust.

If you want to take the guesswork out of it a voltage regulator might be for you ---Tom makes a good one, he will probably add his comments soon.
 
Lets start at the beginning.. If you turn on the lights or step on the brakes, what does the ammeter show?? The lights should almost bury the needle to the left/discharge and the brake switch should deflect it about 10 amps.. If the needle deflects to the right/charge then either the ammeter or battery is probably installed backwards.. System is normally positive ground..
If most of your running during the day then charge rate should be about 4-5 amps, if driving at night then 10-12 works about right.. These generators don't like making more than about 14 amps for very long.. This system also isn't regulated[ unless one has been added]..
 
I would start by making sure the battery is fully charged, because the weaker a battery is the less it will hold back the generator voltage. I mentioned this first because you said the engine wasn't running when you bought it, so I assume you've done a fair amount of cranking to check and fix things. If so you can put a 3 to 6 amp charger on the battery for about 4 to 6 hours to make sure it's fully charged.

You can remove the generator band and move the adjustable brush UP to lower the amps. The adjustable brush will be located toward the outside (away from the engine). Of course the best thing for the battery and charging system is a regulated output by installing an electronic voltage regulator.
 
Thanks for the info guys. It's currently showing about a +14 with the engine revved. A blast of the horn shows a short, quick discharge. Even though I plan on just driving during the day, leaving the lights on might do the trick... plus being a good safety feature.
 
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