SMTA CHARGING

[PAUL SMTA]

My SMTA sat for about a month indoors,charged the battery and drove about 2 miles to the field noticed that the amp guage was dead on center soon after the guage read full charge.
I replaced the volt reg installed new wiring and had the generator tested about 50 hrs ago,this a 12 volt system and all worked good untill now any clue?

 

[mkirsch]

Bad ground or cheap chinese voltage regulator failed.

 

[Brownie 450]

If it is indeed a generator, to charge full amps means that the field is shorted to ground. Remove the field wire & then start the engine. Check if ammeter is registering + or -. If the meter is centered, have a helper temporarily ground the field at the generator. If it charges now, check for grounded wire from the gen. "F" terminal back to the regulator.
Field could be grounded in the generator if charging is full tilt with field wire disconnected.

 

[Janicholson]

With a needle style volt meter (not digital) or with an averaging digital (expensive) check the battery voltage at 3/4 throttle (across the terminals). If it is at or near 14.2 to 14.6 volts it is OK. a properly working regulator will not show charging when the battery is full. See the info contained in the procedure below. Jim
John T charging analysis