The Ford Barn

jayvee34 · 09-15-2021, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

How old is the battery? If very old it may need replacement. As others have said, after a few minutes the amperage should go to zero as the battery becomes fully charged. The volt meter should be about 7.2 to 7.5 at that point depending on where the regulator is set at.

Thanks, My battery is fully charged, My amp meter reads about 2 amps.,
and my voltage is 7.62 volts.

Thanks again to all who answered. Great Forum of knowledgeable folks.

Badpuppy · 09-15-2021, 11:42 AM

Thanks for the feedback, jayvee. Glad you got in contact with someone who's experienced. I would not have thought that loss of residual magnetism in one of the fields (usually from long disuse) would show those symptoms, and that a reflash would cure it. Very good. I learned something today. Too many times several suggestions are offered and we never hear for sure what the resolution was. Thanks again.

BTW - FSB 11/29 simply says to move the coil wire from the battery side to the generator side of the firewall junction box. The ammeter then reads only battery current.

rotorwrench · 09-15-2021, 03:10 PM

Alternators will generally magnetize the fields the first time the engine is started after a new alternator intallation but only when connected in the original 3-wire configuration with a warning light. Single wire installations don't use the warning and voltage sense wires so they have to self excite off of residual magnetism in the fields. A new or overhauled alternator will need that quick flash for the initial start up but should self excite after that.

Alternators are set up for polarity by design in OEM set ups or by the use of an internal jumper on the positive ground modified units. The flashing is not for polarization on an alternator. It's only for magnetization of the fields in the configuration it is set up for.

09-15-2021, 11:42 AM	#22
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,144	Re: Voltage/Amperage question? Thanks for the feedback, jayvee. Glad you got in contact with someone who's experienced. I would not have thought that loss of residual magnetism in one of the fields (usually from long disuse) would show those symptoms, and that a reflash would cure it. Very good. I learned something today. Too many times several suggestions are offered and we never hear for sure what the resolution was. Thanks again. BTW - FSB 11/29 simply says to move the coil wire from the battery side to the generator side of the firewall junction box. The ammeter then reads only battery current.

09-15-2021, 03:10 PM	#23
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Voltage/Amperage question? Alternators will generally magnetize the fields the first time the engine is started after a new alternator intallation but only when connected in the original 3-wire configuration with a warning light. Single wire installations don't use the warning and voltage sense wires so they have to self excite off of residual magnetism in the fields. A new or overhauled alternator will need that quick flash for the initial start up but should self excite after that. Alternators are set up for polarity by design in OEM set ups or by the use of an internal jumper on the positive ground modified units. The flashing is not for polarization on an alternator. It's only for magnetization of the fields in the configuration it is set up for.