SuperA 6v voltage regulator woes

Claven2

Member
The saga continues. The aftermarket VR I put on my Super A is "sort of" working. When the battery dips below about 6v, the generator is coming on and charging the battery. Once it hits about 6.3v, it stops charging. That's all as it's supposed to be.

the challenge is that when the tractor is then turned off, there is an intermittent voltage draw between the negative post of the battery and the cable running to the starter. When I put the voltage meter between these two points, it intermittently reads zero draw, then 2.2v, then zero again.

I'm wondering if it's the cutout relay inside the VR that is acting up. I haven't been able to find any grounds on the negative side that aren't supposed to be there and the 3-position light switch and on/off switch appear to be working just fine.

What do you guys think? Is the VR suspect?

If this keeps up, I'm really starting to lean toward and alternator. Disconnecting the negative terminal after every use is getting old in a big hurry.

I've also rebuilt the original Delco-Remy VR that was on the tractor and may re-install that to test if I've got it working right and whether it improves things or not.
 

As a thought, if I put in a 6v positive ground 1-wire alternator, how else would I have to alter the tractor's waiting? Presumably, I would hook the 1 wire to the existing "BAT" wire. and would no longer need the wire running from the generator A terminal to the VR.

What would I do with the Field and Light wires? Do I just tie off the Field wire and splice the light wire to the BAT wire?
 
(quoted from post at 07:10:34 09/28/15) there is an intermittent voltage draw between the negative post of the battery and the cable running to the starter. When I put the voltage meter between these two points, it intermittently reads zero draw, then 2.2v, then zero again.
Are you saying the alternating happens by itself with you doing nothing that changes it? Off hand, I can't think of a way that would happen if everything is wired correctly. Double check your connections, particularly at the BAT and A terminals of the regulator. If OK, maybe the cut-out relay of the regulator is pulling in at too low a voltage. A little adjustment of that part of the regulator may fix it.
 

Yes, there appears to be an intermittent 2.2v load on the battery when the tractor is off, nothing being manipulated or messed with.

Before I changed the regulator, the old one had gotten water in it and was inoperable. The 2.2v drain was there continuously.

It's the damnedest thing.

I'm not sure these cheap chinese regulators are adjustable(?). The older Delco-Remy one has adjustment screws.
 
I don't know that I have ever looked inside one of the cheap regulators. I assume they are electro-mechanical, no solid state components. The cut-out section works by balancing voltage against a spring. Presumably if there is no adjusting <banned word for threaded object, not nut, not bolt, but . . .> you can change it by carefully bending a bracket.

If all else fails, you could probably rip out the cut-out relay and replace it with a big diode.
 
(quoted from post at 15:07:17 09/28/15) I don't know that I have ever looked inside one of the cheap regulators. I assume they are electro-mechanical, no solid state components. The cut-out section works by balancing voltage against a spring. Presumably if there is no adjusting <banned word for threaded object, not nut, not bolt, but . . .> you can change it by carefully bending a bracket.

If all else fails, you could probably rip out the cut-out relay and replace it with a big diode.

A diode is certainly an interesting idea. Presumably, it would need to be able to handle over 14 volts (max generator output) and over 800 amps (max cranking current?).

I think before I start re-designing the VR, I'd just go alternator though.
 
Cranking current doesn't go through there. It only needs to handle maximum generator output -- 15 amps or so.
 
Yes to this idea. but if you disconnect the VR bat and L wire, does the 2.2 weird drain continue? If so it is likely a wire rubbed raw and touching through rust or? and as it heats, it pulls away. Find the issue then treat the problem. The draw was there and needs to go away. Jim
 
(quoted from post at 21:59:26 09/28/15) Yes to this idea. but if you disconnect the VR bat and L wire, does the 2.2 weird drain continue? If so it is likely a wire rubbed raw and touching through rust or? and as it heats, it pulls away. Find the issue then treat the problem. The draw was there and needs to go away. Jim

I haven't tried that yet. Will check this weekend.
 
Looks like you have a bare wire shorting to ground. I don't know of anything else that would do that. Are you still positive ground?
 
(quoted from post at 09:38:38 09/29/15) Looks like you have a bare wire shorting to ground. I don't know of anything else that would do that. Are you still positive ground?

Yes, still 6v positive ground.
 

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