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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Alternator output question ???

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Way Up Here

09-22-2006 09:48:40




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Got an old piece of vintage iron here that has a 12V alternator conversion on it. I "think" it's probably an early GM alternator, the only ID on it appears to be "Delco-Remy" from what I can see of it, some of it is hidden. It has two side-by-side male tab terminals recessed into the case (marked R and F) and it also has a threaded ground post coming out of the case. It has an external regulator box mounted away from the alternator. This regulator has two coils inside, one is probably the cutout relay tower and the other has a double point setup, I am guessing this controls voltage or amperage. The regulator box has four tabs coming out of the bottom, one is marked F and the remaining ones are marked 2, 3, and 4. The 4th one is used in a circuit through an electric oil pressure switch unit mounted near the oil lines on the oil filter assembly, I assume this is used to prevent battery discharge when the tractor engine is shut down. This tractor has a magneto ignition system so none of this affets the ignition system. All the above mentioned terminals are hooked up so something/somewhere, nothing is left unhooked (so I will assume that whoever wired this thing knew what he was doing). Sound OK so far? Can anyone guess as to what era of GM vehicles this setup came from?

Now to my question, everything seems to work good, as a matter of fact it seems to work too good. It pins the amp meter right to the end at +20 amps and the battery voltage reads about 17-18 volts across it's terminals when the tractor is running.

Can anyone tell me what's wrong here (assuming something is wrong). Any siggestions as to how to remedy the situation. Is that second tower in the regulator box controlling voltage or amperage?

Thanks for the help.

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Jon Hagen

09-22-2006 13:10:59




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 Re: Alternator output question ??? in reply to Way Up Here, 09-22-2006 09:48:40  
Make sure the regulator has a good ground from the alternator case to a regulator mounting bolt.
Without a good ground,the regulator will not correctly"sense" system voltage and will charges in excess of the normal max of 15 volt. If you really want to keep that old external regulator setup,there are many companies selling a bolt on solid state regulator that is very accurate and reliable to replace the old mechanical unit. If not,for very little more money than a regulator will cost, you can convert to a internal regulator 10SI Delco with its simple wiring and no external regulator and wires to clutter things up.

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Bus Driver

09-22-2006 10:34:54




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 Re: Alternator output question ??? in reply to Way Up Here, 09-22-2006 09:48:40  
And never disconnect the battery while the engine is running with an alternator. The alternator regulator reads the feedback voltage from the battery and adjusts output accordingly. If the battery is disconnected, the alternator reads that it has no output, tries to create an output, and boosts the internal voltage high enough to damage the diodes. It may go to 120 volts or more under such circumstances.

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Glen in TX

09-22-2006 10:21:46




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 Re: Alternator output question ??? in reply to Way Up Here, 09-22-2006 09:48:40  
Sounds like a Delco 10DN Delcotron. Many of those later 10DN used regulators that had slide on plugs and others didn't. F is field terminal and R is relay terminal hooked to # 2 on some regulators or GEN post on others. When the terminals on regulator are facing you the coil on left is the cut out relay and coil on right is for voltage regulating. It's putting out too much and should only be 12-14.5 V output at battery. Contacts can be cleaned some and see if air gaps are about .020 or less. The screw on right voltage regulating coil can be turned CCW, counter clockwise to decrease voltage setting or CW to increase voltage. Always set the cover back on regulator after adjustments before checking then. You also want to make sure it's polarized and with engine shut off and all connections made connect a jumper lead by flashing it between the Battery terminal of regulator and Armature terminal of generator. This gives a little surge of current thru generator correctly polarizing it. Reverse polarity will cause arcing burning out relay points in regulator and burning brushes and can burn up wiring also.

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Bus Driver

09-22-2006 10:27:49




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 Re: Alternator output question ??? in reply to Glen in TX, 09-22-2006 10:21:46  
It is NEVER necessary NOR POSSIBLE to polarize an alternator. Attempting to do so will cause damage!



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Glen in TX

09-22-2006 12:20:19




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 Re: Alternator output question ??? in reply to Bus Driver, 09-22-2006 10:27:49  
YEAH you wouldn't polarize the 10DN but what would you do with a Delctron generator MR Delco? Sounds like he could have the wrong regulator for it anyway. They only made a half dozen or so different ones for those 10DN and easier to just get rid of whole thing and go with a later 10SI.



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Bus Driver

09-22-2006 10:17:54




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 Re: Alternator output question ??? in reply to Way Up Here, 09-22-2006 09:48:40  
My guess is that the regulator is bad. With that kind of voltage your battery probably is spewing out acid and getting very hot. The wiring for the alternator with internal regulator is considerably different, so you might just buy new regulator for yours. 1963 to 1972 Chevy regulator should work fine.



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