Amen,
Gerry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phil Roettjer [SMTP:Phil.Roettjer@quantum.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 11:54 AM
> To: morgans@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: Clarification of ignition warning light question!
>
> Gerry,
> Yes you are correct the generator does provide a grounding path when it is
> not turning or if it is not putting out. That is why the light will come
> on.
> I think you have covered all the possible scenarios in your email and it
> might be that the charging voltage is too high. However I believe a
> constant
> changing rate would be seen in the ammeter if that were the case. So it
> would be good to check the charging voltage. It would also be a good idea
> to
> check out the voltages at the light. First see if one side reads battery
> voltage when the ignition is turned on. And then check to see if the other
> side reads the generator output when running. I would take these
> measurements with the light removed. So the only two explanations are that
> either the generator is putting out a much higher voltage than it should
> or
> the battery side of the light is grounded.
>
> Anyway the light is trying to tell us something and we just need to listen
> to it since something is not correct.
>
> Regards,
> Phil
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Willburn,Gerry [SMTP:gerry.Willburn@vcincorp.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 12:15 PM
> > To: 'Ernest(Chip) Brown'; Phil Roettjer
> > Cc: morgans@autox.team.net
> > Subject: RE: Clarification of ignition warning light question!
> >
> > As was stated, one side of the lamp is connected to the "ignition on"
> > (white
> > wire) side of the ignition switch and the other side of the lamp is
> > connected to the generator output (the "small" yellow wire on the "D"-
> for
> > dynamo- terminal of the regulator). The circuit DOES NOT pass through
> the
> > regulator.
> >
> > When the output of the generator is lower than the voltage of the
> battery,
> > the light will be on. The current path is from the battery through the
> > light, through the generator to ground then back to the other side of
> the
> > battery (the battery is "charging" the generator). When the output of
> the
> > generator rises to the level of the battery, the light goes out.
> >
> > There are two conditions where the light could be on while the generator
> > is
> > working. Both involve the generator output being MUCH higher than the
> > battery voltage.
> >
> > In the first instance the "dropout relay" (inboard coil on the
> regulator)
> > has not picked up. The Open circuit voltage from the generator will
> > generally be in the range of 16V to 18V depending on the setting of the
> > regulator. This is most likely not the case as he says the ammeter
> > indicates the battery is charging.
> >
> > The second instance requires that the charging rate setting of the
> > regulator
> > (outboard relay) be set MUCH too high (or uncontrolled). If there is
> > enough
> > resistance in the charging system the generator output can become enough
> > higher than the battery to cause the light to come on. The charging
> rate
> > should be adjusted on the regulator after swapping battery polarity.
> >
> > There is also, I suppose the possibility that one side of the light is
> > connected to ground and not where it is supposed to be. If the yellow
> > wire
> > is grounded instead of being connected to the generator output, the
> light
> > will come on when the ignition is turned on (as normal) and then will
> get
> > brighter as the generator connects to the battery. This would be
> > exaggerated by a low battery. If the white wire on the lamp is grounded
> > instead of being connected to the ignition switch, the lamp will be out
> > when
> > the ignition is first switched on and then vary in brightness directly
> > with
> > generator output.
> >
> > Assuming the lamp worked properly before the switch to negative ground,
> > and
> > the system seems to be otherwise working, it is most likely the case
> that
> > the charging rate of the regulator is set too high.
> >
> > Gerry
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Ernest(Chip) Brown [SMTP:Chip.Brown@msdw.com]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 8:09 AM
> > > To: Phil Roettjer
> > > Cc: morgans@autox.team.net
> > > Subject: Re: Clarification of ignition warning light question!
> > >
> > > Hey Phil: since I don't have a generator light now, I am reading your
> > > email with great interest. I guess what I don't get (yet) is where's
> the
> > > ground? If the output from the generator is grounded, the generator
> > > won't generate. But if the output from the battery isn't grounded on
> > > the other side of the light, the light won't come on. There has to be
> a
> > > ground that is broken when the generator starts generating. Out of
> > > complete ignorance, that would seem to suggest somewhere in the
> voltage
> > > regulator there's a contact that pops open when the generator is
> > > charging, which shuts the light off. Am I wacko here?
> > >
> > > Chip Brown
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