Generator?

Vern · Apr 19, 2010

I have a '48 S/A. About 8 months ago the generator belt finally rotted away. I kept a battery maintainer on it & never had any trouble with it.
Today we finally put new fan & gen. belts on it.
A Fluke meter shows that there is more voltage at the battery when it is running than when it is not running but the Ampere meter doesn't move at all like it did before. There is a crack in the glass, do you suppose some water got in there & killed it?

Vern

John T · Apr 20, 2010

Its possible for an ammeter to get a rusted and stuck needle movement especialy if water got in, see if Bob M's method of passing a magnet past its face causes it to deflect which it should unless its indeed stuck.

As long as the battery voltage is rising at fast RPM versus what it is setting (from 6.3 to 6.5 to 7 on a 6 volt system or from 12.6 to 13 and 14 or so on a 12 volt system), shes charging since even a stuck needle ammeter is still a continuous circuit. An "ideal" ammeter would have zero resistance through it, its a passive series device.

You may be able to free up the needle or else you have to get a new ammeter or just live with it as is.

John T

Generator?

Vern

Member

John T

Well-known Member

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