3.5 amp electrical leak
14 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Hi folks
I have a 1965 negative earth elan with a single wire alternator. I am reading about 3.5 amp electrial load with all systems switched off. After doing some checking I noticed that the load seemed to be going through the wire to the single wire alternator.
I disconnected the wire and could no longer measure any amperage. If I check the voltage from the fitting on the wire to the frame measure 12 + volts. If I do the same to the terminal on the alternator I also measure 12 volts.
I am not sure why the terminal on the alternator is grounded and I assume that this is the cause of the electrical leak.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
robb
I have a 1965 negative earth elan with a single wire alternator. I am reading about 3.5 amp electrial load with all systems switched off. After doing some checking I noticed that the load seemed to be going through the wire to the single wire alternator.
I disconnected the wire and could no longer measure any amperage. If I check the voltage from the fitting on the wire to the frame measure 12 + volts. If I do the same to the terminal on the alternator I also measure 12 volts.
I am not sure why the terminal on the alternator is grounded and I assume that this is the cause of the electrical leak.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
robb
dumb current owner
1965 S2
1965 S2
- robb4100
- Second Gear
- Posts: 145
- Joined: 08 Jul 2004
Hi Robb,
Is this the same problem you had 5 years ago......
lotus-electrical-f38/voltage-leak-alternator-t17403.html
Is this the same problem you had 5 years ago......
lotus-electrical-f38/voltage-leak-alternator-t17403.html
The problem was a bad voltage regulator- been replaced and am good to go
Roger
S4 DHC
S4 DHC
- oldelanman
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1930
- Joined: 02 Jan 2008
Oldelanman,
If I recall correctly, when I first put in the alternator I was using the old voltage regulator as a junction box since it was no longer needed ( with the internal regulator within the alternator) - When I removed that the issue went away.
Now it is back again. I am thinking it has to be some sort of short in the alternator.
R
If I recall correctly, when I first put in the alternator I was using the old voltage regulator as a junction box since it was no longer needed ( with the internal regulator within the alternator) - When I removed that the issue went away.
Now it is back again. I am thinking it has to be some sort of short in the alternator.
R
dumb current owner
1965 S2
1965 S2
- robb4100
- Second Gear
- Posts: 145
- Joined: 08 Jul 2004
It's clear that your alternator has broken, nothing else is involved. It's probable that it isn't regulating properly either so you are risking the battery if you continue using it.
Meg
26/4088 1965 S1½ Old and scruffy but in perfect working order; the car too.
________________Put your money where your mouse is, click on "Support LotusElan.net" below.
26/4088 1965 S1½ Old and scruffy but in perfect working order; the car too.
________________Put your money where your mouse is, click on "Support LotusElan.net" below.
-
Quart Meg Miles - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1170
- Joined: 03 Oct 2012
Thanks guys,
I will take it down and have it checked.
Ok this is where I get to admit that I do not know anything and do not have any memory left!
I completely forgot that two years ago a local auto electrician did replace the voltage regulator in nipon denso alternator
This has now failed again. So I think maybe I am doing something wrong that is causing the failure.
In addition to the single wire there are three other poles on the alternator. Since this is supposedly a one wire are they even active? how can I tell? I do not have any of them connected - could this have anything to do with the repeated failures?
I will take it down and have it checked.
Ok this is where I get to admit that I do not know anything and do not have any memory left!
I completely forgot that two years ago a local auto electrician did replace the voltage regulator in nipon denso alternator
This has now failed again. So I think maybe I am doing something wrong that is causing the failure.
In addition to the single wire there are three other poles on the alternator. Since this is supposedly a one wire are they even active? how can I tell? I do not have any of them connected - could this have anything to do with the repeated failures?
dumb current owner
1965 S2
1965 S2
- robb4100
- Second Gear
- Posts: 145
- Joined: 08 Jul 2004
That doesn't sound right. I can't work out what you mean there.
Here is the Lucas Fault Finding manual
www.atcc.org.nz/tcc/LucasFault.pdf?
See also some recent discussion about Alternators:
lotus-electrical-f38/new-alternator-not-charging-batt-light-stays-t28734.html
lotus-electrical-f38/ignition-light-not-t28756.html
Here is the Lucas Fault Finding manual
www.atcc.org.nz/tcc/LucasFault.pdf?
See also some recent discussion about Alternators:
lotus-electrical-f38/new-alternator-not-charging-batt-light-stays-t28734.html
lotus-electrical-f38/ignition-light-not-t28756.html
Bill Williams
36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
- billwill
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 4417
- Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Thanks Bill
Sorry for the confusion Hopefully the picture uploads properly.
the only connection that I am using is the one labeled B in the attached photo.
My car is not fitted with neither an ingnition light nor alternator light.
Robb
Sorry for the confusion Hopefully the picture uploads properly.
the only connection that I am using is the one labeled B in the attached photo.
My car is not fitted with neither an ingnition light nor alternator light.
Robb
dumb current owner
1965 S2
1965 S2
- robb4100
- Second Gear
- Posts: 145
- Joined: 08 Jul 2004
robb4100 wrote:Thanks Bill
Sorry for the confusion Hopefully the picture uploads properly.
the only connection that I am using is the one labeled B in the attached photo.
My car is not fitted with neither an ingnition light nor alternator light.
Robb
Interesting. I have a similar alternator, furnished by Gustafson Machine. It's origins are a 91 Suzuki Samurai. The harness for my alternator had the two parallel spade terminals in the circular socket jumpered to a 18gauge wire lead that connected to the old Lucas control box. The control box now functions as a terminal strip for the electrical system. I will see if I can scan the instruction sheet and post it.
Regards,
Dan
There is no cure for Lotus, only treatment.
-
StressCraxx - Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 1279
- Joined: 26 Sep 2003
All I can suggest at this stage is read off any manufacturer name & type codes and use Google to search for instruction sheets or manuals and repair guides.
Perhaps Dan's one will do the trick.
But as said above the most likely thing is a failure of the diode pack inside or the internal voltage regulator.
My attitude on such alternator failures is that if a pack fails, the rest of the alternator could probably due with a good clean-up and service too, so I might as well change it for a refurbished/rebuilt one & let the specialists sort it out with all the right tools, parts and test gear.
Perhaps Dan's one will do the trick.
But as said above the most likely thing is a failure of the diode pack inside or the internal voltage regulator.
My attitude on such alternator failures is that if a pack fails, the rest of the alternator could probably due with a good clean-up and service too, so I might as well change it for a refurbished/rebuilt one & let the specialists sort it out with all the right tools, parts and test gear.
Bill Williams
36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
- billwill
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 4417
- Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Here's a page I found with alternators with the same pinout as yours
http://westfield-world.com/daihatsu_alternator.html
but there are two conflicting wiring diagrams. !!!
Reading other stuff it would appear that if you look carefully inside that 3 pin socket you should see that one pin is labeled IG (for ignition switch) and another labelled L (for light) and the third may be labelled D for dummy.
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/s ... php?t=5741
None of which account for the problem in your original post. Which still looks as if something has failed inside.
http://westfield-world.com/daihatsu_alternator.html
but there are two conflicting wiring diagrams. !!!
Reading other stuff it would appear that if you look carefully inside that 3 pin socket you should see that one pin is labeled IG (for ignition switch) and another labelled L (for light) and the third may be labelled D for dummy.
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/s ... php?t=5741
None of which account for the problem in your original post. Which still looks as if something has failed inside.
Bill Williams
36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
- billwill
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 4417
- Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Another interesting page:
http://diagramandwiring.blogspot.co.uk/ ... -work.html
Still more good stuff.
http://alternatorparts.com/FAQ.htm
http://diagramandwiring.blogspot.co.uk/ ... -work.html
Still more good stuff.
http://alternatorparts.com/FAQ.htm
Bill Williams
36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
36/6725 S3 Coupe OGU108E Yellow over Black.
- billwill
- Coveted Fifth Gear
- Posts: 4417
- Joined: 19 Apr 2008
14 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Total Online:
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 52 guests