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Polarizing the Voltage Regulator

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jgodfrey View Drop Down
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    Posted: 22 Jan. 2022 at 11:41am
I was going through pictures before I started my restoration and came across this one.  I replaced the voltage regulator but saw this one the outside of the old one.  Was I supposed to polarize the voltage regulator?

Thanks


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Lee MN View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lee MN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan. 2022 at 11:54am
Only if the new one doesent work!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hamhog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan. 2022 at 12:01pm
If it's not charging properly.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jgodfrey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan. 2022 at 12:26pm
Originally posted by Lee MN Lee MN wrote:

Only if the new one doesn't work!

Lee
Well, I assume mine works, but the ammeter is barely on the + side when it's running.  By a hair.  I assume it would be negative when running if it wasn't working.  Sort of a pass/fail situation.
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Bruce W View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bruce W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan. 2022 at 1:07pm
  Never heard of polarizing a regulator in all my years before coming here. Notice the yellow tag mentions polarizing the generator, not the regulator. I’ve also never needed to polarize a generator more than one time, unless it has an internal problem. 
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SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan. 2022 at 1:13pm
Turn your headlights on with the engine running. You will notice that the ammeter needle jumps up a bit when there is a heavier draw on the charging system. Now turn the headlights off. You will notice the needle drops down a bit. If the engine is off and you turn the lights on you should notice the needle showing a discharge condition. If you would then start the engine the needle would probably jump to the charge reading and then as the battery recharges it would gradually go back down to a very low charging position.

If it does all this, your charging system is probably working just fine.

The ammeter reads the current draw on a system.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cpt logger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan. 2022 at 12:33am
What Bruce said.

It is the cores of the field windings on the generator that may need "flashing". That is momentarily running current through the field windings to magnetize the core, or "pole shoes" of the field windings. This leaves a residual magnetization of these pole shoes, or cores. This residual magnetization is why a generator does not need any charge in the battery to push start a rig with a generator. It just needs a long hill, or a good tow rope. You can not do that with an alternator.

Another reason that one may need to "flash the field" is to change the polarity of the generator. Back in that time automobiles could have either positive or negative ground. Obviously one wants their generator to match the polarity of the rig. So a word to the wise, IF you need to "flash the field" make sure that your battery is installed correctly.

To be clear, if the charging system is working, there is no need to "flash the field".

IHTH, Cpt Logger. 


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