[Tigers] Tiger charging normally until you turn headlights on

[Ron Fraser]

	I use to have the VR points foul and the voltage would drop to
battery.  I would stop, clear the points in the VR and be on my way until
the voltage dropped again.  I installed a volt meter so I knew immediately
when the VR points fouled.  Converting to an alternator system cleared that
all up for me.

Ron Fraser

-----Original Message-----
From: tigers-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:tigers-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Tiger Man
Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 4:04 PM
To: tigers at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Tigers] Tiger charging normally until you turn headlights on


Just thought I would post a followup in case anyone ever has a similar
problem
and goes searching through the emails.    And also to thank people on the
board for the help.

 I checked the ammeter, and it zero and calibration seemed very good
(ignition off I think headlights showed about 10-12 amp discharge).

As several people mentioned to me on the board, the petronix is particular
about its voltage.  Even though there are docs that say the 12V petronix
will work down to 8V, the tech at pertonix mentioned that the module is very
sensitive to low voltage, although he didn't comment on what 'low voltage'
meant  But just a partial discharge due to poor performing charging system
and the headlights seems a bit oversensitive.  I guess the module still
worked, but having it cut out abruptly at night for a second is enough to
make your heart stop for a second as well.  I believe I still have a set of
regular points hanging around in the car in case it ever dies on me
completely.

I found a new voltage regulator locally in stock in one (and only one) local
auto zone.  Most of the rest of the stores did not perform the parts lookup
correctly online or even in the store there were alot of suggestions that
weren't even close (used a 64 v8 falcon as my target vehicle).  While
looking at it and where it needed to go, I was thinking that the screw
nearest the firewall was going to be a real pain and thought I would notch
the voltage regulator so I didn't have to take the screw all the way out
next time. Taking the old one out, and guess what the previous owner had
thought the same thing and that old one was notched and much easier to slide
out.

Put the voltage regulator on the car, and followed the instructions to
ensure polarization of the generator (field wire off and touch to bat
terminal I believe, which is ford specific) and then fired the car up, and
it charges great and the headlight no longer bring it into discharge, and
the car no longer misses.

So glad it was such a simple fix, but I think this is the first time I have
seen a regulator that 'sort of' worked, I've always had them fail completely
when they fail.

Thanks,
Steve