[Spridgets] ELECTRICAL SAGA Part 1 of 3

[dwoerpel]

Hi all,

As the subject says I've divided this tome into 3 parts in deference to 
Mark's overworked servers.  The lists are pretty quiet and I thought I 
share a long running problem I had with our '59 MGA 1500.
This pertains to most LBC's so both of my lists get inundated.  Feel 
free to not read, hit delete or pass it on.   Try to guess what the 
problem is(was...I hope!)  Me, I'm celebrating!  Here goes:

Electrical Saga

PART 1

This may give the list something to think about when you're having 
similar problems (note: I said "when" not if ;-)).

The MGA is still running 2 six volt batteries and positive ground.I like 
it like that.I may make changes in future but for now we're OK...I 
think.One just has to realize that our cars operate(d) on a minimally 
adequate electrical charging system.It is a bit comforting to know that 
if the car has a generator(dynamo) and your battery is dead, the car 
runs off the generator (once it's started).If the car has an alternator 
and the battery gets low or a cable gets disconnected, the engine quits.

Anyway, MG has been sitting for a season and a half with a perplexing 
problem.A bit of condensed history here:

Control box cut out didn't cutout one day after a long drive. 15 minutes 
after shutting down my wife says, "is that smoke?"Bless her!By the time 
I pushed the car out of the garage (garage under house), pulled the 
top(hood) out of the way, uncovered the batteries, and disconnected the 
positive terminal the wiring loom was gone back to the control box 
(voltage regulator and cutout were toast).That was exciting.The car now 
has a battery disconnect switch behind the seat!

Installed new wiring harness, control box (2 new reprods from Holden), 
new armature and away we drove for...6 weeks.No-charge light glowing 
brightly.Now what?

Any guesses?

Dave W.
59 :{)
59MGA 1500
Burlington WI