> Since I've begun driving my SV again this spring I'm having trouble
>with my charging system.The ammeter reads over 15 to the right, clost to
>30 at high revs and will not level off. I checked the voltage at the
>battery which is 13.3 before I start the car, then goes up to 18 unless
>I load it down by turning on the headlights and radiator fan which
>brings the ammeter close to 0 and voltage to the high 14's.
> Until I determine the problem is it okay to drive like this, or will
>I be damaging something?
> BTW,the voltage regulator is not a 4TR and it has no adjusting pot.
>Has anyone ever come across non-Lucas replacements?
>
>Rob Nanzig
>67SV
Rob,
Something is wrong, bad regulator most likely.
Fix it quick, before you fry the alternator or boil off the
batteries electrolite.
Most regulators have two modes of opperation, plus temperature compensation.
Mode 1 gives a temperature based voltage to charge the battery.
Mode 2 provides a current limit for when the required voltage cannot be
provided.
Looks like mode 1 isnt working in your case, and it is falling into current
limit mode.
Under normal circumstances, (25 deg C and a reasonably charged battery), the
voltage will run about 15.2v with the charging system opperating, and around
13.6v with the engine off.
My advice is to get a new regulator, but if your current regulator is
mechanical,
then it could still be adjusted (even without the conventional adjustment).
Jarrid Gross
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