Over Charging

[True Son]

My Super C with a recent 12 Volt conversion suddenly started pegging to the right the original volt meter overcharging. it worked fine for the first few weeks and now overcharges. What’s wrong?

 

[kshansen]

Might help if you posted what generator or alternator is on it and if it has a separate voltage regulator numbers off that. Oh and a couple pictures of it would not be a bad idea!

 

[rustred]

My Super C with a recent 12 Volt conversion suddenly started pegging to the right the original volt meter overcharging. it worked fine for the first few weeks and now overcharges. What’s wrong?

These tractors have an amp meter , not a volt meter. U need to check with a volt meter on the battery , till then it’s anyones guess. 14.8 volts is max output u want.

 

[True Son]

These tractors have an amp meter , not a volt meter. U need to check with a volt meter on the battery , till then it’s anyones guess. 14.8 volts is max output u want.

And what do I do if it’s over 14.8 volts? It’s a wire GM alternator.

 

[rustred]

Best is to do your check , then post results and alt pic. To see what u got going on there. And the guage your talking about with it charging.

 

[True Son]

Is my alternator shot? It’s brand new…

 

[Hayfarmer]

Is my alternator shot? It’s brand new…

If over charging probably the alternator is bad. I had that happen on my old chev pu a while back. I had purchased previous alternator from NAPA and they replaced it. I had never had an alternator overcharge before. If you run it that way it will fry the battery. As mentioned check voltage to battery.

 

[wore out]

My Super C with a recent 12 Volt conversion suddenly started pegging to the right the original volt meter overcharging. it worked fine for the first few weeks and now overcharges. What’s wrong?

If it is actually an Ammeter (as the tractor left the factory with) ONE cause could be that a cell in the battery has shorted (which will make the charging system pump excessive Amps into the battery trying to bring the Volts up.

You need to check the charging Volts across the battery posts with a reasonably accurate analog Voltmeter and let us know what you find.

 

[rustred]

Is my alternator shot? It’s brand new…

no, we are trying to help you. follow our instructions. we cannot see it . so need some evidence like pic's as i asked. and the voltage running. plus a battery load test would be excellent also.

 

[rustred]

no, we are trying to help you. follow our instructions. we cannot see it . so need some evidence like pic's as i asked. and the voltage running. plus a battery load test would be excellent also.

i meant to add the regulator would be at fault , not the alternator , not even know what u got there internal most likely or external.

 

[Jim.ME]

As posted, check the voltage at the battery terminals when running.

What is the scale range of the ammeter?

 

[used red MN]

It’s a wire GM alternator.

You typed to fast or something? Delco “1 wire” or “3 wire”?? The problem could be different depending on which one you are using. Particularly on a 3 wire set up, failed continuity of the jumper between the #2 side spade terminal and the output post on the back could cause this.

 

[John T]

Not being there I can only guess soooo if it’s actually overcharging ?????? My best guesses are:

Bad battery. Try testing specific gravity in each cell and a load test

Voltage regulation circuit (or entire alternator) in the alternator is bad

A short or other wiring problem

Put an accurate dc volt meter on the battery and see what it reads initially and over long term running. Does it have an ammeter or volt meter ?

John T

 

[True Son]

Not being there I can only guess soooo if it’s actually overcharging ?????? My best guesses are:

Bad battery. Try testing specific gravity in each cell and a load test

Voltage regulation circuit (or entire alternator) in the alternator is bad

A short or other wiring problem

Put an accurate dc volt meter on the battery and see what it reads initially and over long term running. Does it have an ammeter or volt meter ?

John T

It has an ammeter….factory. It worked fine for several months/starts and then all of a sudden it pegged the needle to the right!

 

[used red MN]

It has an ammeter….factory. It worked fine for several months/starts and then all of a sudden it pegged the needle to the right!

You must have missed my reply question seeking clarification of your reply #4.

It’s a wire GM alternator.

You typed to fast or something? Delco “1 wire” or “3 wire”?? The problem could be different depending on which one you are using. Particularly on a 3 wire set up, failed continuity of the jumper between the #2 side spade terminal and the output post on the back could cause this.

 

[True Son]

It’s a 1 wire

 

[Jim.ME]

Does the ammeter peg to the right as soon as it starts and stays there? Please, as has been asked, check the voltage at the battery posts, right after starting up and after it has been running for a bit (maybe 15 minutes) at least half throttle. Report the results. This will tell if there is an issue with the ammeter or if the voltage is too high confirming it is over charging. If you are using a digital meter and it goes wild (due to interference from the ignition system) you will need to use an analog meter.

 

[True Son]

My Super C is 102 miles away down at the farm. I will be there this Saturday mid morning and will check out then!

 

[WNM]

If over charging probably the alternator is bad. I had that happen on my old chev pu a while back. I had purchased previous alternator from NAPA and they replaced it. I had never had an alternator overcharge before. If you run it that way it will fry the battery. As mentioned check voltage to battery.

I agree with hay farmer With just a single wire Delco alternator It sounds like it failed It happens with new parts.
Especially with todays poor quality in our world

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

It is possible that the alternator is bad. The quality on parts store rebuild alternators is questionable. I'm on my third failed alternator on one tractor and counting.