H Gen

Old Hs had a cut out where you had to select (4 position sw )how much charge you wanted. Those cut outs have been mostly up dated to voltage regulators. Using a voltage regulator and a 4 position switch can give you some control over the charging rate, but I not sure what it gains you.

I run mine on Lo, and it seems to work fine without running the battery dry. Look for Bob M to chime in - he will be able to explain it.

Greg

The full fledged 3 or 4 terminal Voltage Regulator also has its own internal cutout relay so the old 2 wire device is also no longer used.

The generators Field post requires a ground to conduct current, so its just a matter if one uses the older technology only 2 position (dead ground or resistive ground) light switch or a modern voltage regulator which better regulates the field current and resultant electromagnetic field strenght and charge rate. The VR just regulates better and more precise relative to the condition of the battery so the operator doesnt have to choose high or low charge, its done automatically.

Hope this helps explain the difference.

Best wishes n God Bless

John T, retired electrical engineer

With just the regulator, it showed ~15 A charge, all the time, at WOT. On Lo, it runs around 10 A, which seems to be plenty to run the tractor and keep the battery charged.

The real benifit is that there is still some water over the plates in the battery when I remember to check.

How is the voltage controlled ? The generator output on my C is 6.3 V. I"m guessing that there is a set of points that need to be cleaned inside the regulator, but don"t know why.

Thanks

Greg

The battery fully charged and setting is 3 cells of 2.1 volts each for 6.3 volts so if you apply just 6.3 volts she wont charge as theres no net current flow into the battery. Usually the cutout relay dont/cant even latch in till the gens voltage exceeds that of the battery at say 6.5 volts or more, or else the relay is bad or misadjusted or has burned or carboned contacts. The field current control relay points may also be burned or carboned resistive so as not to allow sufficient field current for a good charge. Try to non abrasively clean/buff/polish all the relay contacts (field control and cutout relay) which may help an ailing voltage regulator. Make sure the belt is good n tight also and that the VR has a good frame ground as well as the generator itself !!!!! !!!

John T

Take care, Im headed back to Midwest Country and the Big Joe Polka show on RFD TV, what an exciting Saturday night, I already watched Lawrence Welk.

John T in Indiana

On a Class A charging system, if the external Field post on the Generator IS NOT grounded at all, you only get minimal or no charging cuz theres no Field current to make a strong electromagnetic field in which the Armature rotates.

ON a Class A system, the Field post REQUIRES A GROUND, cuz it receives its input supply voltage via the Armature post (via the 3rd brush if a 3 brush gen) but then MUST HAVE A GROUND RETURN PATH for current to flow through the Filed windings to produce the electromagnetic field.

On a Class B system NOT WHAT YOU HAVE the field is grounded internally and the Voltage Regulator controls what "voltage" the field gets.

Sooooo oooo, on your system if the Field is ALWAYS DEAD GROUNDED shes always at MAX CHARGE. However, what the light switch does is supply a dead ground for the Field for HIGH CHARGE like when lights are on, but a ground via a resistor for LOW CHARGE like when lights are off. If shes always dead grounded, you cant get any LOW charge condition so DONT DEAD GROUND THE FIELD, LET THE LIGHT SWITCH SUPPLY THE DEAD (high charge) OR RESISTIVE GROUND (low charge)

Thats my story n Im stickin to it !!!!! !!!!

John T, retired electrical engineer

John T