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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:09 pm
by bmcecosse
For the battery to go flat while driving suggests the fan belt was not tight enough - OR perhaps one of the 3 phases in the alternator had failed. It's a 3 phase machine - and just one phase will happily run the car during 'summer' - when no lights etc. But come winter - you do need all 3 phases! The alternators I go for are the older Lucas ACR 16/17/18 range. I've found them extremely reliable - and well worth £1 !!
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:37 am
by RogerRust
bmcecosse wrote: A 'wireless' takes less than 1 amp - so that doesn't count!
Not if you have a kilowatt sub in the back
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:28 pm
by rayofleamington
you've had 16 minors! now thats commitment.
Sorry - no!
I've had 16 Minors with Dynamos!
The other Minors had yukky Alternators.
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:40 pm
by mogatron
Right team all sorted. went for a new alternator, was only £25 for a bight shiney lucas one from local shoparooney. seemed ok to me anyway. just one more thing, is there any point connecting the ammeter up properly if i have an alternator? didn't bother when fitted the first one so it only showed discharge.
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:19 pm
by MarkyB
If that was when it wasn't charging that's what it should have done!
Otherwise you have the wires to the ammeter the wrong way round.
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:44 pm
by mogatron
its still wired up to where is was when had the dynamo fitted. i changed the wires around when fitted the alternator, it was only displaying discharge
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:54 pm
by MarkyB
You lost me there, have you changed the ammeter wires or not?
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:03 pm
by PSL184
I'm guessing it was wired for pos earth and is therefore showing a discharge now the car is neg earth - just switch the wires round on back of ammeter....
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:42 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes - the ammeter is worth having - but be aware the wires to it are unfused - and need to be heavy wires because they carry ALL the current to/from the battery. They must be very well insulated/protected - especially where they pass through bulkhead etc. The potential (!) for a bad short and fire are high!
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:04 pm
by mogatron
is it the thicker wire from the alternator that it connects to? yeah it was posative earth. then switched it to negative earth when fitted the alto and switched the wire around on ammeter and it still only showed discharge.
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:14 pm
by bmcecosse
No - the ammeter goes in place of the thick brown cable connecting the main solenoid to the control box! As you have it - it will show the full current being supplied by the alternator. Interesting in itself! But not the normal use an ammeter.