[Spridgets] generator/regulator

[Michael MacLean]

Dean,
     I do not disagree with what you are saying.  The only cost I incurred to
make my system more reliable was the solid state regulator and even that was
not totally necessary.  I use an Optima battery, the original generator I had
rebuilt in 1999, tach drive (still the original Lucas gear reduction drive)
and still positive ground.  The car keeps running and charging the battery and
will probably still be doing it for the foreseeable future.  I may entertain
switching to an alternator, but that will be when I run out of things to do,
like the ongoing restoration of my BN2.
Mike MacLean

--- On Sun, 4/28/13, Dean Hedin <dlh2001 at comcast.net> wrote:

From: Dean Hedin <dlh2001 at comcast.net>
Subject: RE: [Spridgets] generator/regulator
To: "'Michael MacLean'" <rrengineer.mike at att.net>, spridgets at autox.team.net,
"'Michael Rowe'" <mdrowe at optonline.net>
Date: Sunday, April 28, 2013, 11:48 PM

I disagree Mike,

There are'nt even ball bearings in the original generator setup.  Then the
regulator, adjustment would drift as the points wore,
Or they would fuse together totally if the car sat for any amount of time.
It was a mess.

In my mind, the only reason to run the generator is if your doing it for the
concours aspect and you trailer the car to the shows.

With the early cars a reason often given to stay with the generator is to
preserve the tach drive.

I say that the original mechanical tach is also a liability, and it is
easier & better to locate an aftermarket tach with the same sweep
and transplant it's internals into a junked original tach (which is what I
did) or substitute a later leyland electric tach.

Like Collins, I'm going to post detailed pics of my conversion with the
Honda alternator.  The more "know working options"
the better.

Now, all this being said, it is all because we wish to drive the car without
worry.  But I have kept the original generator
and the tach drive (and a good tach) to hand down to the next owner should
they desire to go back to original.

I would say that converting to an alternator was the best thing I ever did.
I did that back when Frank posted those original
instructions.  I have had zero charging issues since that conversion.  I've
gone through one battery since the conversion.
But I suspect the alternator will out live me.

I seem to recall that there was somebody who was inserting alternator guts
into original Lucas generators housings.
Anybody recall who that is?


-----Original Message-----
From: spridgets-bounces at autox.team.net
[mailto:spridgets-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Michael MacLean
Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 5:45 PM
To: spridgets at autox.team.net; Michael Rowe
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] generator/regulator

You only need to change to an alternator if you are going to put a heavier
load on the electrical system than normal.B  The original system works very
well running what came with the car.B  A solid state regulator makes it work
better.B  Changing to an alternator is a simpler system though.
Mike