Ammeter question
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Topic author - Posts: 216
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:23 pm
- First Name: Brooks
- Last Name: Schlieben
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 TT
- Location: Levittown, Pa.
- MTFCA Number: 32304
- Board Member Since: 2015
Ammeter question
When my 1920 T is running on battery or magneto, how should the ammeter read?
If not at all, where should I trouble shoot?
Thanking all in advance.
If not at all, where should I trouble shoot?
Thanking all in advance.
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- Posts: 1690
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- First Name: Jeff
- Last Name: Humble
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
- Location: Charlevoix, Mi
- MTFCA Number: 28034
- Board Member Since: 2006
Re: Ammeter question
Ammeter is on the battery circuit and is separate from magneto. If generator is putting out ammeter should show a pos. If you have no generator output and car is running on bat, and, or the lights are on and or the horn is blowing, the ammeter should show a neg. If the generator is putting out and you see a pos on the ammeter, then turn on the lights, the ammeter may go to zero or into neg. How far pos ammeter goes with lights off depends on how the third brush is set. If you drive the car for long distinces, you should set the third brush to give a low charge. If you drive short dist, set for higher charge.
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- First Name: Stuart
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- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Touring, 1913 Huckster, 1924 Touring, 1927 Tudor
- Location: Paola, KS
- MTFCA Number: 27355
Re: Ammeter question
The meter should read up to 10 amps with the lights off and at a fairly good engine speed. If there is no charge the very first place I would troubleshoot is the generator cut-out. Simply jump around it with a jumper on each of the cutout posts. If it registers a charge then you have found the issue. After that I would use a volt meter to see if the generator is putting out any charge.
Stu
Stu
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- Location: Central Ma
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Re: Ammeter question
What is the procedure for testing the output of the generator?
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- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring and 1915 Touring both Canadian models
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Re: Ammeter question
I would firstly assure that the commutator is clean, just a slight film of oil will prevent it from charging. The generator should be sealed from the crankcase but a slight vapor leak can contaminate the commutator.
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- Location: Dryden, NY 13053
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Re: Ammeter question
Here are a couple of relevant articles by Ron Patterson:
https://modeltfordfix.com/adjusting-the ... patterson/
https://modeltfordfix.com/the-model-t-f ... patterson/
https://modeltfordfix.com/adjusting-the ... patterson/
https://modeltfordfix.com/the-model-t-f ... patterson/
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- First Name: Chuck
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- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Tudor Sedan
- Location: Hanna, IN
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Re: Ammeter question
So if the ammeter is on the battery circuit, if you run your car on mag, is the battery being charged? I start my car on battery then switch it to mag right away. Does the mag charge the battery?
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- First Name: Norman
- Last Name: Kling
- Location: Alpine California
Re: Ammeter question
One other thing I will mention. If you are using an alternator, you would show some charge at idle, but on a T generator, it will not show a charge until your engine is either on a fast idle or driving along.
Norm
Norm
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Re: Ammeter question
"So if the ammeter is on the battery circuit, if you run your car on mag, is the battery being charged? I start my car on battery then switch it to mag right away. Does the mag charge the battery?"
The only thing that changes when you switch to mag is the feed to the coils. Everything else stays with the battery. The generator continues to charge the battery.
The only thing that changes when you switch to mag is the feed to the coils. Everything else stays with the battery. The generator continues to charge the battery.
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Re: Ammeter question
The magneto does not charge the battery but it can be set-up to do so. Remember the magneto puts out AC voltage. But since you have a generator it would be more complicated to do so and then whats the point.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1498438118
useful discussions on how to charge a battery from your magneto
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1416288062
If you look at the wiring diagram yellow connection points show the path from the generator to the ignition switch and battery. The red connection points are fro the magneto. The ignition switch is actually two switches: the key i used to select the voltage source and the lever to select the lights
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1498438118
useful discussions on how to charge a battery from your magneto
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1416288062
If you look at the wiring diagram yellow connection points show the path from the generator to the ignition switch and battery. The red connection points are fro the magneto. The ignition switch is actually two switches: the key i used to select the voltage source and the lever to select the lights
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger