Generator Problems?

[Jared]

Battery is not faulty but obviously not being charged during operation. Charge light is constantly on. Any easy solutions or obvious things to check for? Is it possible that the generator needs to be replaced.

'70 Series IIA

[rover_chump]

Battery is not faulty but obviously not being charged during operation. Charge light is constantly on. Any easy solutions or obvious things to check for? Is it possible that the generator needs to be replaced.

'70 Series IIA

A quick generator check (if you have a volt meter) would be:
At the voltage regulator, connect the large wires from the "F" and "D" terminals together and measure between that and ground....with small revs of the engine, you should get around 20 volts.
Peace,
Art

[rovertek]

try exciting the field coils, unplug the center wire plug on regulator marked F use a jumper wire from battery positive and just touch it to the wire enough to see a light spark, plug wire back in and start engine rev engine slightly and the light should go out.

[daveb]

every time I try to get the generator system working during a restoration I spend more $$$ than a declo alternator conversion.

just sayin.

try exciting the field coils, unplug the center wire plug on regulator marked F use a jumper wire from battery positive and just touch it to the wire enough to see a light spark, plug wire back in and start engine rev engine slightly and the light should go out.

[jp-]

I enjoy a good restoration as much as the next guy, but I draw my own line at running a generator. I just don't enjoy hand cranking that much (especially at night). I still run a Lucas alternator so it's ok. I'm legal. It's British.

[rovertek]

i agree with jp even though the delco alternator is great,(for a chevy) i still prefer the lucas alt. for the rover.....

[luckyjoe]

I've never had an issue with the generator, but I have held-off adding electrical accessories. I think the generator's peak output is ~22amps, which will cover all the standard Series systems. The only time I have hand-cranked was with battery issues. Trust me, after a month or two you get pretty good at it! The generator also allows for successful hand-cranking with a flat battery. The alternator needs a little reserve battery juice for successful hand-cranking.

All that said, I will probably convert to a Delco this Fall...

Regards,

Tom P.

[bob7088]

If your battery doesn't show that it's charging using a voltmeter,then you're right, it may be time for a new generator or battery. If it does show that it's taking a charge, then look at the wire that goes to the temp. sensor at the front of the engine. Mine had frayed and was shorting out the gauge and making the charge light glow all the time, regardless of the engine rpm. I replaced the connector and the charge light went out.

Hope it helps, and I agree, if you have to replace the generator, that's a good time to switch to an alternator ( 'course, I haven' t done that yet myself- that thing with the bottom bolt and all....)