Dynamo Problems--what should be output

[davidwinegar]

Hello all, it has been a while since I have asked a question mainly
because my car has been running good all summer. But as soon as you
say that, a problem arises. Now it is a problem with the ignition
light not going off and according to the amp meter no charge going to
the battery. I had the dynamo reconditioned in Feb. of 2005 so I
believe it to be in good condition. I have tried to trace the problem
but need some advice.

When I hook up the voltage meter to the dynamo its output starts at
1.76 and slowly rises at idle. Is this within the range for a good
functioning dynamo? I also checked at the control box and it looks
like the same voltage going in to that. The wiring to the control box
is certainly suspect but should I be looking to the dynamo as the
problem or is the output OK?

Thanks in advance for the help.

David
+2S Helsinki, Finland

[types26/36]

--- In ***@***.***, "david_c_w" <david_c_w@...> wrote:
. The wiring to the control box

Here is a link that you might find usefull.
http://freespace.virgin.net/tommy.sandham/dynamo.htm
Brian.
64Elan/72Sprint/Birkin T.C.Seven

[davidwinegar]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the link--looks useful but I am having trouble with the
instructions--can you, or someone help?


Connect one lead from the meter to the chassis or body-work. Ensure a
good electrical connection is made.



Connect the other lead of the test meter to BOTH terminals on the
dynamo. You might need to twist a bit of wire around both terminals
before connecting the lead from the test meter.


wire first?

Start the engine and let it tick over. Connect the multi- meter's
negative cable to the dynamo. Connect the meter's positive terminal to
earth (somewhere on the car bodywork).


Either I am totally missing something or some mistake is in these
instructions--can someone enlighten me?

[Billmack]

Disconnect the field (small) wire from the back of the dynamo.Apply 12 volts
to the terminal on the unit.With the engine running the output should be
considerably more than 12 volts at the big terminal.The way the generator works is
that it can essentially be turned on or off by applying voltage to the field
coils via that small terminal.The regulator does a smoother job than just an
on/off switch but that is essentially all it does.
Bill Mack
PS with the belt off you can "motorize"the generator by applying voltage as
above.It should spin on it's own,though not particularly fast.This is a quick
and dirty junkyard test.