Charging Voltage of D-17 generator

Flewster · Aug 25, 2008

Ok I just installed new voltage regulator and two 6v bats in series just as designed for my D-17.......checked and ohm'ed all wiring......all good........voltage showed 12.71 after installed.........cranked and started motor and read voltage as 12.49.........turned on lights then went and did work with tractor for about an hour.....shut off lights and returned to shop.......shut down and voltage reads 12.70........I put new amp meter in and it never went to the pos side as far as I could tell........showed neg draw when lights were on and of course I could not watch it all the time.............other than waiting to see if bats die after several starts how do I know that the generator is working properly???.........

Bob · Aug 25, 2008

Did you polarize the generator?

You should be seeing a charging voltage of probably 13.8 to 14.5 Volts.

Flewster · Aug 25, 2008

how do you polorize the generator? Book did not say anything about that.

John T · Aug 26, 2008

Flew, it depends on the voltmeter quality/accuracy and the batery condition but Id expect something like 12.6 volts setting but around 13 to 14 and a lil better whens shes running at fast RPM IFFFFFFFF the charging system is working??????? Sure the new ammetr is wired correct??? theres usually but ONE wire on the Supply terminal (to battery/starter) while its other Load terminal wires to BAT on the Voltage Regulator plus feeds hot battery voltage to loads like lights n ignition (switches)

I have a URL Link to my Charging Troubleshooting Procedure which covers most all problems n describes how to polarize, if you work through it the cause can likely be determined.....

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting Procedure

Flewster · Aug 26, 2008

Thank you for the information..........I was looking at archives because i remembered your post that I saw from long time back and I printed it off then came here and you posted it again...........THANK YOU!!!!!..........I will try this this evening when i get home and let you know the results.......sucks when you buy a piece of equipment and the previous owner or owners have did things to keep it running or did not kow what they were doing............this had an automotive bat in it hooked up NEG ground and there were wires clipped underneath..........so I have gotten it back to the 2 6v and POS grounded, new regulator so now I guess I need to polorize the generator............I was looking at your steps and it does not say with engine running or not.........do you do the grounding with running or not running engine?

Flewster · Aug 26, 2008

OK I think I got this figured out......you do the polorization when the tractor is off........then all the other testing when it is running.........is this correct?

Sorry just really new at all this generator stuff!!

John T · Aug 26, 2008

You Polarize NOT running BEFORE you start it to avoid possible VR damage. The other tests in my procedure like field grounding and VR cutout relay by pass are when RUNNING. Motor test, of course, is when NOT running

John T

Flewster · Aug 26, 2008

(quoted from post at 10:48:24 08/26/08) You Polarize NOT running BEFORE you start it to avoid possible VR damage. The other tests in my procedure like field grounding and VR cutout relay by pass are when RUNNING. Motor test, of course, is when NOT running

John T

Thanks........my only concern now is that I damaged my new VR by running it so long with out polorizing the generator.......guees I will see when I get home tonight..........THANKS AGAIN!!!

El Toro · Aug 26, 2008

Should be around 14 volts with the engine at 1/2
throttle or better. Hal

Charging Voltage of D-17 generator

Flewster

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Bob

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Flewster

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John T

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El Toro

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