The Ford Barn

41panelmark · 07-25-2010, 08:20 AM

Went out to start it yesterday and the battery was dead as a doornail. This was odd since it has been starting and running fine for over a year. The starter and gen are in good shape as is the regulator. No lites were left on. After recharging the battery I pulled the cap off of the regulator and checked for voltage at the Armature, Field and Battery poles. All showed power. This may be correct since I am running a positive 6 volt system. All ground straps are new and connections are clean. The battery when connected shows 6.40 Volts and when disconnected it shows 6.60. So I have a small drain some place.

Any thoughts?

Thanks guys.

rotorwrench · 07-25-2010, 09:35 AM

One of the regulator units poles is a cut out. If that cut out point sticks, it will drain through the gen. Most shorts to ground will smoke the applicable wire or fuse. With the ignition switch off and light switch off it sort of eliminates those items or any other item that is controlled by those switches.

Kerby

ford1 · 07-25-2010, 10:01 AM

start touching things, coil, reg, gen, starter, ignition switch, lite switch and all the wires you can feel, check all fuses and fuse holders for warmth, none should of the above should be warm to the touch with the ign off

Cecil/WV · 07-25-2010, 01:04 PM

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Disconnect componets one at a time and put a test light between the connections to see if current is flowing, if it is, you have found the drain. Start with the main battery cable.

07-25-2010, 08:20 AM	#1
41panelmark Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,264	short in my 41 panel? Went out to start it yesterday and the battery was dead as a doornail. This was odd since it has been starting and running fine for over a year. The starter and gen are in good shape as is the regulator. No lites were left on. After recharging the battery I pulled the cap off of the regulator and checked for voltage at the Armature, Field and Battery poles. All showed power. This may be correct since I am running a positive 6 volt system. All ground straps are new and connections are clean. The battery when connected shows 6.40 Volts and when disconnected it shows 6.60. So I have a small drain some place. Any thoughts? Thanks guys.

07-25-2010, 09:35 AM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: short in my 41 panel? One of the regulator units poles is a cut out. If that cut out point sticks, it will drain through the gen. Most shorts to ground will smoke the applicable wire or fuse. With the ignition switch off and light switch off it sort of eliminates those items or any other item that is controlled by those switches. Kerby

07-25-2010, 10:01 AM	#3
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: short in my 41 panel? start touching things, coil, reg, gen, starter, ignition switch, lite switch and all the wires you can feel, check all fuses and fuse holders for warmth, none should of the above should be warm to the touch with the ign off

07-25-2010, 01:04 PM	#4
Cecil/WV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gerrardstown, WV Posts: 2,266	Re: short in my 41 panel? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Disconnect componets one at a time and put a test light between the connections to see if current is flowing, if it is, you have found the drain. Start with the main battery cable.