[Healeys] alternator query

[josef-eckert at t-online.de]

Simon, 

	If you battery was fully charged before you started to your run, the
ampmetter should not go max out of 10+ amps. Only if you have a very
low battery you may have an output of 30+ amps. Did you have any load
on the system? headlights? etc.  

	At a slow idle, say 500rpm, its ok around 0 to
 -5. 

	Btw. your original LUCAS C45 or C42 generator (in good condition)  is
capable of taking all the load of your car. There is no need to have
an alternator fitted. 

	Josef eckert 

	Konigswinter/Germany 

	  Von: "Simon Lachlan" <simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk>
 An: "'Healey List'" <healeys at autox.team.net>
 Betreff: [Healeys] alternator query
 Datum: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:49:42 +0200

 Well, I've had my alternator in the car for a few weeks now, but
hardly
 tested it. Foul weather and I've been away.

 Now I've installed my original ammeter and an eBay voltmeter, old
fashioned
 Smith's bimetal strip.

 Took the car out today. Alternator was a bit noisy but may be able to
fix
 that by slackening the belt a tad and bringing the alternator forward
by
 another washer or two's width.

 But what is really puzzling/worrying me is the behaviour of the
 ammeter......

 The ammeter works fine at least it always did and I don't doubt it
now.
 (It's a typical Smiths +30 to -30).

 When I start up the gauge reads minus, say 5 amps, for about 3
minutes. Then
 it kicks over to +30, ie max, for about 5 minutes. Then it settles
down a
 bit.

 On a run the gauge maxes out at 30+ at about 1,750rpm and stays
there. If I
 drop the rpm, the reading drops. At a slow idle, say 500rpm, its
around 0 to
 -5.

 The voltmeter reads just under the red while this is going on and
returns to
 about 13 with ignition on and engine off. The battery does not get
hot! Or
 give off vile vapours.

 Now, do all 30 to 30 ammeters hail from a generator age when 45 amps
output
 was more or less unheard of? And thus are they useless over 1,750
rpm?

 Or, in the belief that my ammeter is accurately reporting what it's
fed by
 the alternator, is the alternator playing up? I've never used an
ammeter in
 conjunction with an alternator before and am unaware of what charging
 patterns to expect. (On today's trip the battery was +/- fully
charged at
 the beginning and I thought the alternator's output would drop after,
say, 5
 miles).

 It's a Lucas 17ACR with an output, I'm told, of approx 40amps.I think
that
 its internal voltage regulator is easy to replace.

 On a related topic........I put in an extra cable from the alternator
to the
 control box as an article on the www suggested that the original
might
 struggle to carry the load. Was that necessary? I only ask because -
if I
 revert to a generator - I'll struggle to get the extra lead into the
 available slots on the control box.

 Oh yes, looking on eBay, all Smith's ammeters appear to be 30 to 30.
Are
 there others? Say 50 to 50.....Or shouldn't my alternator be kicking
out so
 many amps?

 Simon
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