izzy
Well-known member
running around 1980 ford 302 with external voltage regulator cant seem to get the alt to charge to battery. any help would be great.
getting my but kicked on this wiring on my model a
- Thread starter izzy
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cycledog
A really rusty biker
I like to start out with the easy stuff first. Has the alternator been checked to make sure its good and are the wires connected to the volt reg correctly. IE Field to Field, Bat to Bat and ground to ground.
darkk
Well-known member
While you're getting it checked, ask if they can make it a one wire self exciting....makes life so much easier....
dyce51
Well-known member
Hey Izzy where you located? anywhere near Cleveland Ohio?
dyce51
Well-known member
here are a diagram :
An easy way to check if your alternator is bad..start the engine...disconnect the battery while the engine is running. If the engine dies then chances are you alt is bad. if it stays running then you have a wiring issue or a regulator problem.
An easy way to check if your alternator is bad..start the engine...disconnect the battery while the engine is running. If the engine dies then chances are you alt is bad. if it stays running then you have a wiring issue or a regulator problem.
Sniper
Canadian Rust Bucket
here are a diagram :
An easy way to check if your alternator is bad..start the engine...disconnect the battery while the engine is running. If the engine dies then chances are you alt is bad. if it stays running then you have a wiring issue or a regulator problem.
The problem with that method is the voltage spike that is created, it can take out the diodes in the the rectifier or trio.
Sniper
Canadian Rust Bucket
If everything is wired correctly, check your voltage at the battery, at rest, make note of what it is. Now check it at idle. If your 13.6 to 14.4 volt, your fine. If you have no more than battery voltage your right, a no charge condition. While at idle, take a jumper wire from the POS battery post and jump it to the field terminal, either at the reg or alt, won't matter. The alt should put out full charge of around 16 volts, only need to do this briefly as a test. If that was your result the reg is likely bad, or a bad connection. On the other hand, if there is no change in the charging rate and it stayed at battery voltage, then the alt is likely bad. All your doing is bypassing the reg and finding out if the alt is capable of charging or not. Just the process of elimination.
donsrods
Well-known member
When I first got my 27 running years ago it wouldn't charge either, and I was also running a 302 with the standard Ford regulator. Took it to an alternator shop and the guy found I had forgotten that little ground wire. Hooked it up and it charged fine. Just a thought.
Don
Don
sgtpontiac
Older, Wiser and Still Buildin'
cantwell.colton
Rat Rod Philosopher
i have an 80 ford and the battery wasnt charging -- decided id nail the problem and replace the battery, the alternator, the battery terminals, and the wires....
well - still didnt charge -- it was the regulator itself-- 16 dollar part lol -- just saying.
sgtpontiac
Older, Wiser and Still Buildin'
Get's expensive
Gets really expensive throwing parts at it..... that's why I always recommend checking the basics... power, ground, connections when it come to electrical issues..... we've all been there, done that!!!
i have an 80 ford and the battery wasnt charging -- decided id nail the problem and replace the battery, the alternator, the battery terminals, and the wires....
well - still didnt charge -- it was the regulator itself-- 16 dollar part lol -- just saying.
Gets really expensive throwing parts at it..... that's why I always recommend checking the basics... power, ground, connections when it come to electrical issues..... we've all been there, done that!!!
cantwell.colton
Rat Rod Philosopher
Gets really expensive throwing parts at it..... that's why I always recommend checking the basics... power, ground, connections when it come to electrical issues..... we've all been there, done that!!!
yea-- but i knew id feel more comfortable driving it everyday if i knew how old they were :/ -- still didnt expect it to be the actual regulator.
sgtpontiac
Older, Wiser and Still Buildin'
As I was always told....
Always expect, the unexpected...... for some reason we all expect it to be the big stuff or hardest areas and find it to be the simplest things you'd never expect..... but you're right.... nice to know what you have and when it was put in/on/fixed.....
Always expect, the unexpected...... for some reason we all expect it to be the big stuff or hardest areas and find it to be the simplest things you'd never expect..... but you're right.... nice to know what you have and when it was put in/on/fixed.....
