The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Charging System Will Not Work Under A Load

billybronco1 · 11-27-2020, 07:34 AM

Okay I'm going to play with this today, checking connections, belt tension and amp gauge. Right now its putting out about 15 amps at 1000 rpm with no load (too high). The thing I don't understand and sorry if I keep repeating myself but, if I start out with a fully charged battery and the generator is putting out 15 amps with no load, why does the gauge go negative (and stay there) when I put the lights on? If I was to keep driving all day the battery would be dead at some point. Not that this is a huge deal for the short trips I take and from now on I will always put the battery tender on after trips. I can drive without the lights on too, just trying to understand, this does not seem right.

11-27-2020, 07:34 AM	#25
billybronco1 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: MA Posts: 570	Re: Charging System Will Not Work Under A Load Okay I'm going to play with this today, checking connections, belt tension and amp gauge. Right now its putting out about 15 amps at 1000 rpm with no load (too high). The thing I don't understand and sorry if I keep repeating myself but, if I start out with a fully charged battery and the generator is putting out 15 amps with no load, why does the gauge go negative (and stay there) when I put the lights on? If I was to keep driving all day the battery would be dead at some point. Not that this is a huge deal for the short trips I take and from now on I will always put the battery tender on after trips. I can drive without the lights on too, just trying to understand, this does not seem right.