Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-24-2020, 09:56 PM   #1
ford35lh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Upstate; The Real New York
Posts: 441
Default Testing generators

Is it possible to bench test generators ???

I figured out a way to mount one to my Atlas lathe
and mount a correct diameter pulley to a collet.
I think I am headed in the right direction but would need
to know the generator rpm and how to wire it.

Then again I may be just Rube Goldberg'ing it toward failure.
ford35lh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2020, 11:04 PM   #2
31Abone
Senior Member
 
31Abone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Big pine Ca 93513
Posts: 797
Default Re: Testing generators

I rigged up a 1 hp - single phase 115v motor and v belt to generator..worked good enough to get what i wanted to know..can just check with volt meter or can hook up battery and amp meter. if you have lots of energy...speed not to important as long as its fast..Mdl "A" up to 1938+_ gens are third brush so the faster they turn the less they put out..never run it in car not hooked up or wire grounded it will burn out..make sure you spin it in correct direction..One time the showed output on the bench but back in car it would not charge, so back on test stand ,I re-polarized it and that done the trick it worked great thereafter..sc
31Abone is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 05-24-2020, 11:20 PM   #3
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Testing generators

Do you want to check how it performs as in how much it can put out like we do after a rebuild or do you want a quick way to find out if it works at all ?
A known good voltage regulator and a battery works for testing if it is alive...for performance you need a variable load like the old carbon stack testers.
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 07:43 PM   #4
ford35lh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Upstate; The Real New York
Posts: 441
Default Re: Testing generators

I would like to sort out a shelf full of generators and get rid of ones
that have no output. Need to find out the approximate rpm and
a wiring diagram.
ford35lh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 11:46 PM   #5
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Testing generators

The RPM would be anything above a fast idle. Pick a number, say 1500 RPM. The wiring diagram would be the same as the vehicle wiring. But early generators work with a cutout and the later with a voltage regulator.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 11:55 PM   #6
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Testing generators

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
An old lathe usually just go fast enough to emulate a raised idle if original crank pulley is used...get a late pulley and use the larges sheeve on it.

The so far slickest cobbled together testsetup i´ve seen was a cheap tablesaw with the blade changed to a pulley.
A wooden V-block mounted to the table and a ratchet strap to hold the generator down.
In with the generator lower the "blade" to tighten belt...push start
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 09:48 AM   #7
38bill
Senior Member
 
38bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,162
Default Re: Testing generators

Quote:
Originally Posted by flatheadmurre View Post
An old lathe usually just go fast enough to emulate a raised idle if original crank pulley is used...get a late pulley and use the larges sheeve on it.

The so far slickest cobbled together testsetup i´ve seen was a cheap tablesaw with the blade changed to a pulley.
A wooden V-block mounted to the table and a ratchet strap to hold the generator down.
In with the generator lower the "blade" to tighten belt...push start



Love it!
38bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 12:23 PM   #8
Karl Wolf
Senior Member
 
Karl Wolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mill Valley,Ca.
Posts: 1,509
Default Re: Testing generators

Try motoring the gen.
This is done on a Ford by powering the armature connection and the field, ground the frame. If it spins as a motor, it'll work as a generator.

Karl
Karl Wolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2020, 08:08 AM   #9
fortyonerag
Senior Member
 
fortyonerag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 539
Default Re: Testing generators

^^^^^That's what we did when I was a young, green and simple auto elec!
fortyonerag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2020, 12:59 PM   #10
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,367
Default Re: Testing generators

A guy I used to work for years ago would clip on a test light rig he fabricated and use a buffing wheel to turn the generator. If it lit the light up then it had some potential for rebuild or further testing for function.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:45 PM.