The Ford Barn

1930deluxe · 09-22-2019, 08:17 AM

My voltage gauge is not working. Is my wires hooked up right on my generator?

midgetracer · 09-22-2019, 08:20 AM

It appears to be hooked up right.

jrelliott · 09-22-2019, 10:42 AM

The meter in Model A is an amp meter which shows the direction of current flow from the generator to the battery when a positive reading is seen, or a negative reading when the battery is supplying more current than the generator is putting out. Your connections look correct.

sethkestenbaum · 09-22-2019, 10:58 AM

Do you show charge if you bypass the cutout?

Badpuppy · 09-22-2019, 11:22 AM

Check starter-mounted fuse, if there is one.

rotorwrench · 09-22-2019, 11:23 AM

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Turn on the lights and see if it goes toward discharge. The reproduction amp meters are not too well made. The originals work very well but they can wear out. Generators can wear out too. Batteries will go bad if they set too long.

30 Closed Cab PU · 09-22-2019, 11:41 AM

You did mean ammeter, yes?

Purdy Swoft · 09-22-2019, 12:04 PM

I would first check the adjustment of the adjustable third brush in the generator . Push down on the aDJUSTABLE brush to increase charge rate . raise the adjustable brush to decrease charge rate .. If the adjustable brush is raised all the way up , it could be the problem . Charge rate is adjustable on the model A generators .

Patrick L. · 09-22-2019, 12:30 PM

What is meant by the ammeter not working ?

Turn on the lights, does it show a discharge ? If it does its working.

If you loosen the fam belt and feed power to the generator it should run like a motor very slowly. Thats a fairly good indicator that the generator is good. If your cut-out is an original type the generator output is constant if the engine is running fast enough.
So with the engine running the ammeter should show a charge if the engine is running at a fast idle speed. As Purdy mentioned the third brush is adjustable and accessed by removing the rear band. If the generator does motor when powered but not show a charge on the ammeter then either the cut-out is bad or maybe the system just needs to be polarized. To do that just touch a jumper wire across the 2 cut-out terminals for a nano-second and let us know what happens.

Purdy Swoft · 09-22-2019, 05:25 PM

Right on !!!

1930deluxe · 09-22-2019, 08:16 PM

Yes, amp meter

1930deluxe · 09-22-2019, 08:19 PM

What does the starter fuse do?

1930deluxe · 09-22-2019, 08:21 PM

I took the generator Van's Electric and it tested good it is charging.

Patrick L. · 09-23-2019, 05:55 AM

Then it may now be OK, it was probably polarized during the testing. It could have been checked as stated.

09-22-2019, 08:20 AM	#2
midgetracer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bismarck ND Posts: 1,189	Re: 1930 Generator It appears to be hooked up right.

09-22-2019, 10:42 AM	#3
jrelliott Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pine, AZ Posts: 794	Re: 1930 Generator The meter in Model A is an amp meter which shows the direction of current flow from the generator to the battery when a positive reading is seen, or a negative reading when the battery is supplying more current than the generator is putting out. Your connections look correct.

09-22-2019, 10:58 AM	#4
sethkestenbaum Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 632	Re: 1930 Generator Do you show charge if you bypass the cutout? __________________ Seth Kestenbaum www.oldcarroadtrip.com

09-22-2019, 11:22 AM	#5
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,144	Re: 1930 Generator Check starter-mounted fuse, if there is one.

09-22-2019, 11:23 AM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,425	Re: 1930 Generator Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Turn on the lights and see if it goes toward discharge. The reproduction amp meters are not too well made. The originals work very well but they can wear out. Generators can wear out too. Batteries will go bad if they set too long.

09-22-2019, 11:41 AM	#7
30 Closed Cab PU Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 2,332	Re: 1930 Generator You did mean ammeter, yes?

09-22-2019, 12:04 PM	#8
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: 1930 Generator I would first check the adjustment of the adjustable third brush in the generator . Push down on the aDJUSTABLE brush to increase charge rate . raise the adjustable brush to decrease charge rate .. If the adjustable brush is raised all the way up , it could be the problem . Charge rate is adjustable on the model A generators .

09-22-2019, 12:30 PM	#9
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: 1930 Generator What is meant by the ammeter not working ? Turn on the lights, does it show a discharge ? If it does its working. If you loosen the fam belt and feed power to the generator it should run like a motor very slowly. Thats a fairly good indicator that the generator is good. If your cut-out is an original type the generator output is constant if the engine is running fast enough. So with the engine running the ammeter should show a charge if the engine is running at a fast idle speed. As Purdy mentioned the third brush is adjustable and accessed by removing the rear band. If the generator does motor when powered but not show a charge on the ammeter then either the cut-out is bad or maybe the system just needs to be polarized. To do that just touch a jumper wire across the 2 cut-out terminals for a nano-second and let us know what happens.

09-22-2019, 05:25 PM	#10
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: 1930 Generator Right on !!!

09-22-2019, 08:16 PM	#11
1930deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Garretson S.D. Posts: 114	Re: 1930 Generator Yes, amp meter

09-22-2019, 08:19 PM	#12
1930deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Garretson S.D. Posts: 114	Re: 1930 Generator What does the starter fuse do?

09-22-2019, 08:21 PM	#13
1930deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Garretson S.D. Posts: 114	Re: 1930 Generator I took the generator Van's Electric and it tested good it is charging.

09-23-2019, 05:55 AM	#14
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: 1930 Generator Then it may now be OK, it was probably polarized during the testing. It could have been checked as stated.