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Old 05-16-2021, 05:33 AM   #1
jrd-28
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Default Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

Hi all. I've got some powerhouse generators which I'm rebuilding. One will go on my '28 Tudor.


I'm looking for information on how to test the windings. My ohmmeter is telling me I've got about .6-.7 ohms through each of the field coils. The commutators are showing me about .2-.3 across any pair of copper brush contacts.


Do those values sound right?



I haven't found anything shorted to ground.


Once I finish cleaning and testing, and button them up, is there any reason I can't put 6V to them, and see if they will run as motors?


Thanks in advance for any advice or references.
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Old 05-16-2021, 10:00 AM   #2
katy
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Default Re: Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

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Do those values sound right?
About as good as you're going to get, the resistance of those points is so low it's hard to say what it should be.

Have you tried the armature on a growler?

They should motor on 6V.
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Old 05-16-2021, 10:21 AM   #3
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Default Re: Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

Thanks.


I'm trying to borrow a growler, we'll see how that goes.
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Old 05-16-2021, 01:31 PM   #4
Kurt in NJ
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Default Re: Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

I only have specs in amps --
motoring --2.5-3 amps
field coils --2 amps at 6 volt
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Old 05-16-2021, 06:17 PM   #5
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Default Re: Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

That's still helpful. Once I get it hooked up, I can stick an ammeter in the circuit and see what I'm getting.


Thanks . . .
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Old 05-17-2021, 10:11 AM   #6
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Default Re: Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

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FWIW, IIRC there is 2 types of powerhouse generators, 3 brush and 5 brush.
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Old 05-17-2021, 01:56 PM   #7
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Default Re: Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

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Originally Posted by katy View Post
FWIW, IIRC there is 2 types of powerhouse generators, 3 brush and 5 brush.
Yeah. I have one 3-brush, and two 5-brush units. My understanding is that they have the same basic construction, but the 5-brush ones are wired so that they current basically takes two passes through the comutator. The field coils appear to be identical, and they show about the same resistance.


I have a somewhat early '28, which I think means the 5-brush is correct. So I'm concentrating on getting one of those working first.
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Old 05-17-2021, 05:32 PM   #8
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Default Re: Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

Sorry to piggyback on this thread but I also have a '28 Tudor (Sept car) and have a powerhouse generator - I am in the process of getting the car running but is there anything I can check on the generator before just trying to run the engine?
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Old 05-17-2021, 06:11 PM   #9
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Default Re: Rebuilding powerhouse gen: specs needed

Where is Tom Wesenberg when we need him, he is THE GURU of Powerhouse Genny. He rebuilt mine and installed his famous electronic voltage regulator.
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