crazy electrical questiion

my super m with generator (converted to 12 volt) with anew regulator sometimes does not want to charge. If I check battery voltage at battery it is around 11.5 when amp guage is reading 0 with engine running. If I check voltage at regulator it shows 13.2 volts. What is this all about? Thanks in advance

Some times a converted generator does not quite put out enough self exciting voltage to latch in the cutout relay. If you try a different VR it might be fine. Did they replace both field and Armature, or just the field windings. If you are very competant, and study a old electrical manual on cutout relay adjustment, you could adjust the latching voltage to make it more reliable. (also be sure the VR has a great ground to the chassis. It is very important for initializing charging). Jim

Are the belts tight?

First of all, Im not sure of your volt meters accuracy or the battery condition, BECAUSE a good batetry thats charged should read in the vicinity of 12.6 volts, unless theres a decent current draw which is dropping the voltage, of course.

Next, just where are you measuring that 13.2 volts on the Regulator, on its ARM/GEN terminal or the BAT terminal?????????? If the ARM/GEN terminal that may not be enough (depends on your meter accuracy and gennys output) to pull in and latch the VR's Cutout Relay in which the genny dont ever get coupled up to the battery (via closed cutout) to charge it and therey raise its voltage to the 13 and 14 volt levels. If that 13.2 is on the BAT terminal that should be enough to put at least some charge (pump current into) in the battery.

THE VOLTAGE THAT MATTERS IS ON THE BATTERY, it should read 12.6 setting but rise to the 13 and 14 levels if coupled to a good working genny. If the genny is actually only reading 13.2 volts open and unloaded (i.e. cutout relay is open unlatched) at fast RPM that dont sound quite high enough to me and the genny itslef may be bad or else theres a severe genny to VR mis match or the VR is bad or not well grounded

YOU NEED TO RUN PARA 5 OF MY TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURE which grounds the gennys FLD to see if non chargign is fault of genny or VR etc. be sure belt is good n tight also

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=farmall&th=665110

John T
John Ts Troubleshooting Procedure

also check battery termainals make sure they are clean at both ends,ground to what ever is clean and tight