installing regulator on 12 volt generator conversion.

[n8terry]

I am doing a conversion from 6 to 12 volt generator. The new regulator has got me puzzled.
It has 4 terminals on it where the 6 volt one has the typical 3 terminals, Batt, Arm, Field.

The new regulator has Batt, Arm, Field, and a terminal marked with an L. The instructions go into detail about installation and how to Polarize. These instructions don't say a word about what to connect to the L terminal. There are times that I would like to choke the person that writes instructions, and this is one of them!

Any of you guys have any ideas what the L terminal should be used for?

 

[John T]

Terry, yep I have an idea of what that L terminal is for::::::

The L (Loads) terminal is where Loads like lights and ignition are served voltage from usually via it being wired to the BAT input terminal on their switch(es). With 3 terminal Voltage Regulators that only had BAT ARM FLD but no L terminal, those loads would have been served instead from the Load (NOT battery/starter) side of the ammeter. If youre converting from a 3 to a 4 terminal VR with the L terminal, unhook the wire off the ammeter that went to the BAT input terminal on switches (lights and/or Ignition) and feed the switches BAT input terminal instead by a wire up from the VR's L terminal. The lights n a coil ignition would still work if you ignored the VR's L terminal and kept them fed from the ammeter, but you may as well use n get the full benefit that 4 terminal VR has to offer since you already have it. Id Polarize the genny once things are wired up but before you start the tractor.

If you converetd from 6 to 12 volts there are other issues I trust you also took care of such as a 12 volt coil or a ballast resistor if its a coil ignition and light bulbs etc.

John T

 

[n8terry]

Thank you for the information. If you see an opening for someone to write instructions, please apply! I thought the L terminal might mean load, I didn't want to assume anything cause I didn't want to burn up the generator and regulator that I had just spent $160 on. I would have considered an alternator but wanted to keep the Friday tractor as original as possible.

thanks again for your help.

 

[John T]

Youre welcome, as an ex electrical engineer n now an attorney I've had plenty experience in writing n techy stuff, I kinda enjoy it

best wishes

John T

 

[souNdguy]

As jt said.. you could have ignored l and wired it as 3 wire.. would worked fine...

soundguy

 

[RayP(MI)]

Why not drop a alternator in there and be done with it? I"ve done both, and the generator route leaves much to be desired.