Voltage regulator problem?

Give your report of "low battery water", I'd say you were "over charging" your battery. Unfortunately, now a days, you can't get a voltage regulator bench checked, its just cheeper to replace rather than check 'em.

Be certain to "polarize" your generator/regulator, follow the VR instructions. I always have to look it up, so I will tell you to do the same, look it up.

Hope this helps..... ...Dell

Generators ARE polarized.

Stay out of trouble.

Elvy

You may be correct, but I was always under the impression that one of the electormagnet soft iron cores inside the voltage regulator needed to be north/south positive/negative "polarized" too. To respond properly to the direction of current flow.

Respectfully..... ...Dell

The three sets of points in a regulator are operated by simple electromagnets which are NOT polarity sensitive. Each set of points is single-pole-single-throw and are opened by spring tension - not reverse polarity.

HOWEVER

The points themselves are made of different materials to reduce particle migration across the vibrating gaps - and longer life. That is why a positive ground regulator should NOT be used on a negative ground system, and visa versa.

The pole shoes for the field windings in a generator, when originally installed - and sometimes after sitting idle for long periods, have no/not enough magnetic field and must be polarized such that the small amount of residual magnetism remaining will start the generator charging in the correct polarity. A generator should always be polarized when re-installed just to make sure that it's polarity is correct.

Polarizing a generator is done simply by touching battery hot to the field terminal - with the case grounded. The armature does not require polarization.

However a general, overall check of a generator can be made by jumpering the field and armature to battery and seeing if the armature turns. If it does, it is probably a good generator.With new bearings/bushings, a small turn by hand might be required to get it started. Do not continue for long. Generators make poor motors and can be smoked by this method.

Toodle & Ooo

Elvy

The three sets of points in a regulator are operated by simple electromagnets which are NOT polarity sensitive. Each set of points is single-pole-single-throw and are opened by spring tension - not reverse polarity.

HOWEVER

The points themselves are made of different materials to reduce particle migration across the vibrating gaps - and longer life. That is why a positive ground regulator should NOT be used on a negative ground system, and visa versa.

The pole shoes for the field windings in a generator, when originally installed - and sometimes after sitting idle for long periods, have no/not enough magnetic field and must be polarized such that the small amount of residual magnetism remaining will start the generator charging in the correct polarity. A generator should always be polarized when re-installed just to make sure that it's polarity is correct.

Polarizing a generator is done simply by touching battery hot to the field terminal - with the case grounded. The armature does not require polarization.

However a general, overall check of a generator can be made by jumpering the field and armature to battery and seeing if the armature turns. If it does, it is probably a good generator.With new bearings/bushings, a small turn by hand might be required to get it started. Do not continue for long. Generators make poor motors and can be smoked by this method.

Toodle & Ooo

Elvy

The three sets of points in a regulator are operated by simple electromagnets which are NOT polarity sensitive. Each set of points is single-pole-single-throw and are opened by spring tension - not reverse polarity.

HOWEVER

The points themselves are made of different materials to reduce particle migration across the vibrating gaps - and longer life. That is why a positive ground regulator should NOT be used on a negative ground system, and visa versa.

The pole shoes for the field windings in a generator, when originally installed - and sometimes after sitting idle for long periods, have no/not enough magnetic field and must be polarized such that the small amount of residual magnetism remaining will start the generator charging in the correct polarity. A generator should always be polarized when re-installed just to make sure that it's polarity is correct.

Polarizing a generator is done simply by touching battery hot to the field terminal - with the case grounded. The armature does not require polarization.

However a general, overall check of a generator can be made by jumpering the field and armature to battery and seeing if the armature turns. If it does, it is probably a good generator.With new bearings/bushings, a small turn by hand might be required to get it started. Do not continue for long. Generators make poor motors and can be smoked by this method.

Toodle & Ooo

Elvy

Elvy

You may be correct, but I was always under the impression that one of the electormagnet soft iron cores inside the voltage regulator needed to be north/south positive/negative "polarized" too. To respond properly to the direction of current flow.

Respectfully..... ...Dell