[Spridgets] generator/regulator

[derf]

That wire path may indicate an Amp meter at some point in the past.
Abandon it and put the proper 12" wire in place, if you can.
With everything off remove your negative battery terminal and see how many
amps are being drawn between the terminal and the negative battery post
with your meter.  In other words put the meter on amps and in series with
your battery.  Don't try and start it or do anything that requires a lot of
current with the meter in series because everything will be running through
the meter.  I think with everything stock it should read zero amps.  An
aftermarket modern radio might draw some milliamps, for example.  If you
get a reading of 1 amp or something then disconnect one electrical thing at
a time until the reading goes away.  Start by pulling fuses (if you have
them) to eliminate circuits/devices.  I'd look hard at the regulator.
Grounds cause all kinds of problems but they don't drain batteries.
Do you have a regulator that is known to be good?  New from M*$$ is not the
same as known good.
Spridget electrics are not complicated.  You should be able to identify the
power drain pretty easily.


On Wed, May 1, 2013 at 7:48 AM, Michael Rowe <mdrowe at optonline.net> wrote:

> Tell you what. My final thoughts on this...after several beers.
>>
>
> Wait a minute.  I'm the one who is supposed to be soaking my troubles in
> beer.  And I certainly did not want to start a fight with anyone on this
> topic.  I just want my car to run so I can impress the teenaged girls.  Old
> farts don't get a lot of opportunities like this, and time is running out.
> Soon I will be able to get in the car, but will need help getting out - not
> very impressive.
>
> I am now convinced that I have a wiring problem somewhere.  That is, of
> course, after I threw away one multimeter and replaced the generator pulley
> that split in half and fell out in the street.
>
> Example:  I have been tracing wires.  The big brown wire that is supposed
> to go from the regulator to the battery via the starter solenoid, about
> 12", instead goes through the bulkhead to the right interior under the
> dash, crosses left, then exits the interior through another hole by the
> battery. It is a long run and impossible to check as it is all wound in
> black tape. The best I can do is a continuity check end to end.  I have yet
> to find the far end of the ground from the regulator, but it has continuity.
>
> I just went out to check that gound again, because we all know the probems
> with grounds.  The battery has been on a trickle charger all night, as
> reduced charging means I run on the battery alone.  But I apparently forgot
> to turn off the key, so the battery was sucked completely dry while on the
> charger - zero voltage.  I have a parasitic drain somewhere that is greater
> than the input of a trickle charger.  The battery is only a few days old.
>
> Wrath of the Gods,
> Michael Rowe
> The Holy Sprite ------------------------
>
>
> spridgets at autox.team.net
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