Vehicle electrics aren't my strongest point so forgive me if my questions seem a bit daft.
My recently purchased Minor has had an alternator fitted which I guess is no bad thing, but as I dont know what alternator it is I'm not sure what fan belt to buy as a spare, as best I can tell with a tape measure the belt measures 860mm, do I just ask for an 860mm v-belt at a motor factors?
Also the red charging light stays on after starting the engine until you get some revs on and sometimes comes back on at tickover, is this a problem or just a feature of an alternator?
Is the voltage self regulated with an alternator as the mechanical regulator box is gone?
Lastly the ignition coil is just tie-wrapped to the top of the alternator, where would it have been originally & where do people mount them with an alternator? On the inner wing or make a new bracket from alt. mount?
Thanks.
Neil.
Several alternator questions.
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Re: Several alternator questions.
Neil
Get a small mirror and inspect the Alternator and the fan belt for Names/ numbers, etc.
Fan belts usually incorporate the length in their part number.To get a slightly more accurate figure / confirm your figure,
use a piece of string and measure that with your tape measure.Then off to the Motor factors.
Red light...might be just a simple case of the fan belt adjustment being in-correct ( should be 1/2 " ) .They should be a bit tighter than a dynamo's ( 3/4 "). Measurement taken on the longest run of the belt.It might be the start of the brushes wearing out or something more serious.Can't give detailed info until we know what Make / type you've got.
No problems with power supply ?
i.e battery not failing / running down, alternator able to cope with lights and other electrical equipment switched on at the same time.Producing plenty of volts...circa 14 volt when engine running,measured on the multi meter ( probes on the positive and negative terminals, meter set to 0-20 volts scale ) ?
Self regulation.Alternators yes.Mechanical regulator box ditched ..usually, sometimes retained as a " dummy " acting as a junction box.See Forums' Technical Notes on Alternator conversion.
Coil ..yes I'd buy a suitable metal bracket from a Motor factors to replace the cable ties.Alternative positions as you suggest
inner wing / bulk head.Caution when drilling holes that you don't hit anything behind and the other thing is that you need a longer king lead ( coil to distributor ) and maybe long plug leads as well !
Bob
Get a small mirror and inspect the Alternator and the fan belt for Names/ numbers, etc.
Fan belts usually incorporate the length in their part number.To get a slightly more accurate figure / confirm your figure,
use a piece of string and measure that with your tape measure.Then off to the Motor factors.
Red light...might be just a simple case of the fan belt adjustment being in-correct ( should be 1/2 " ) .They should be a bit tighter than a dynamo's ( 3/4 "). Measurement taken on the longest run of the belt.It might be the start of the brushes wearing out or something more serious.Can't give detailed info until we know what Make / type you've got.
No problems with power supply ?
i.e battery not failing / running down, alternator able to cope with lights and other electrical equipment switched on at the same time.Producing plenty of volts...circa 14 volt when engine running,measured on the multi meter ( probes on the positive and negative terminals, meter set to 0-20 volts scale ) ?
Self regulation.Alternators yes.Mechanical regulator box ditched ..usually, sometimes retained as a " dummy " acting as a junction box.See Forums' Technical Notes on Alternator conversion.
Coil ..yes I'd buy a suitable metal bracket from a Motor factors to replace the cable ties.Alternative positions as you suggest
inner wing / bulk head.Caution when drilling holes that you don't hit anything behind and the other thing is that you need a longer king lead ( coil to distributor ) and maybe long plug leads as well !
Bob
Re: Several alternator questions.
DEFINITELY move the coil away from the heat and vibration of the engine - put it on the inner wing.... Red light - maybe the alternator has a large 'dynamo' pulley fitted - rather then the small alt pulley? Usual belt with an alternator is 825 - but that won't fit if it has a large pulley......
