Testing a generator with a voltmeter

If your meter is a digital.. it will be virtually useless to check a genny output.

I like using a headlamp as a load device.. I clip one terminal tot he armature, and the other to ground, and then start her up, with the vr connected.. etc.

What did you do to polarize?

8n's are a-circuit, and polarize by jumping arm and bat.

naa+ are b-circuit and poalrize bu jumping field and bat.

Have you tried a motor test?

slip belt off, disconnect vr completely, and hook bat to arm.

if a-citcuit, then ground field.

if b-circuit then hook field to arm.

Genny should motor over ( spin)

most gennies that motor, will charge.. most gennies that charge, will motor.

soundguy

There is nothing wrong with your technique but something is obviously wrong with the results.

You cannot measure 0 volts across a charged 6 volt battery without a fire and/or explosion.

Are you using an analog meter? If not your digital meter may default to a 0 volt reading when it cannot respond to the varying voltage produced by your generator.

Dean

Turns out the voltage was 6.1 VDC with it off and dropped every so slighlty to 6.0 volts when I stared it. Not a signifcant change. The battery is only a few months old and I've only run the tractor for about 10 hours on it.

Do you think the generator it's working?

Rod