Expert: Brad Sears - 9/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: The generator light came on and won't go off.  I tried a different generator and it didn't help.  I inherited a voltage meter but have no idea how to use it.  The belt is tight and the battery is less than a year old.  Any suggestions would be great.  Thank you.

ANSWER: lets take this in stages. First what kind of voltmeter do you have, a digital, or a swing needle kind? We will use the voltmeter when you test the generator and voltage regulator. Let me know and we will go to step two.
Brad

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have  both kinds.  The main thing I want to do is check the voltage regulator to see if it is working.  Thank you.

Answer
Ok, take one of your voltmeters and connect it across the battery. Set the scale at 20 to 40 volts whichever you have DC. Then disconnect the feild wire at the voltage regulator. Jump the wire that you disconnected from the field terminal to the B, for battery, terminal at the voltage regulator. Bring the engine speed up to about 1500 RPM and watch the voltmeter. It should climb to about 14 volts. If not, the generator is defectove. If it does and the but will not charge with the field wire connected to its proper terminal, then the voltage regulator is defective.
Brad