New member. Hello. Charging system questions.

Dear colleagues. This is my first post as a member of this good forum.
Some background: I live in Costa Rica. Promise I will post pictures of my Maverick '71 next week (as I live quite far from where I work). I am a Mechanical Engineer with some Electronics background...but....
Here my first 3 questions:
1)-I have been working in the charging system: new regulator (I installed a Bosch electronic). Terminals are: B+ (battery+), 61 (Alt light, dashboard), DF+ and D+.
I originally thought the DF+ was for "Field" and the D+ should be for the Stator lines. Well, it did not work (no Alt Light on, no charging). So I reversed them and it worked.
However, I have not been able to get the "Alt light" to turn off when the engine starts. Why? do I have a bad diode at the AC Generator? Do I need a diode in series with this Alt Light wire?
2)- If I leave only the D+ connected to the Field wire from the AC Generator, I get around 14 Volts at 3000 rpm. If I conect the DF+ with the Stator wire, I get more than 16 Volts (headlighs off), and 14 with headlights on.
Why is this? Am I at risk of overcharging the battery if I leave both terminals connected? Should I leave only the D+ hooked at the Field?
3)- The Starter Relay has 2 small terminals: "S" and "I". The "I" should have volts only when the car is starting (Starter switch turned to start engine) to excite the Ignition coil. And then this "I" terminal should go at no volts when the car is running.
Why do I have volts at the "I" terminal "before" and "after" starting the car? The relay "works" as the coil closes/opens and the car starts.
I purchased a new starter relay, and the same was observed... what is wrong?
Thanks for your valuable time.
HMunoz.

 

...:Handshake

 

to the site!!!!!

 

from Northeastern Pennsylvania

 

Welcome from Northern California!

 

from Atlantic Canada!! You should try asking your question over in the Technical Section of the Forums. It may get more traffic and be seen by more people there.

 

Welcome to the board!

 

Welcome...

Some of your circuit referrals are confusing to me, I suppose that has to do with orig diagram being in Spanish? Does it have a conventional Ford charging system or some other type?

When charging you don't want to see more than 14.5v and anything over 15v will boil the battery dry...


The alt light circuit is controlled by the regulator, possibly the misconnected wires have damaged your regulator? Here is the diagram that's used on US versions, maybe that will help...

http://amradio.freeiz.com/turbocoupe50/fordcharg.jpg

 

Maverick charging issues

Thanks a lot for your good advice and the diagram.
My vehicle has it all original but only the regulator is new and electronic Bosch... The alternator is the original Autolite.
It was wired as expected, but bear in mind the Bosch regulators don't come with I A S F terminals.
It comes with (same order) 61, B+, DF+, D+; ...so my concern is:
Is DF+ equivalent to the S terminal (Stator), or is DF+ equivalent to the F (Field) terminal? Only in this connections arrangement it charges...otherwise, it dies...
Do you think the new regulator will fail if these 2 terminals are connected opposite?
With D+ and DF+ connected to F and S on the Alternator, at 3000 rpm, I get 16 vots... but with DF+ not connected, it returns to 13.6 or 14...(analog voltmeter, sorry no digital), headlights off.
Alt light stays on... do you think the regulator went bad?
Do I need to connect a diode in series with the "I" wire (or 61 on the Bosch) to keep the light off?
Or do I have a bad diode and the alternatior is leaking?
What is your best guess...
Thanks!

 

OK got it...

14v is fine, you just don't want to see much over 14.5v or under 13.5v... When the alt is connected so it's charging at 16v it's no doubt being full fielded, or in other words charging at the maximum amount it can produce... A bad alt will not charge at that high of a rate so I suspect it's OK...

Look at the top circuit and notice there is a 15 ohm resistor parallel with the light, so there is approx a amp of current flowing when the light is at full brightness(plus the bulb will draw prob 150ma)... I've seen electronic regulators that cannot flow enough current to light, the bulb... Newer systems use a 500 ohm in parallel, so only current the light circuit must handle is the bulb, what I don't know is if that is you problem or the regulator is defective....

Assuming your Bosh regulator has the same style plug, the equivalent terminals should match by location...

 

more on my Bosch electronic regulator...

I am starting to beleive my Bosch electronic regulator was mande for a generator but not for an alternator, thus not working correctly. It actually comes spec for generator (DF+ and D+ terminals typical of a VW generator).
So even having the 4 terminals typical of the Ford I, A, F, S; regulators (for AC Generator or "alternator"), my Bosch seems to have not worked fine since the very beginning... hence, I rather have one new electromechanical regulator just as the original...
Now my task is where to find one in Costa Rica... old cars are not well supported here...
We will see... I will keep you posted...
Thanks!

 

from Washington state and good luck with the electrical.

 

thanks!!

Thanks for your best wishes.
I will need to learn how to upload pictures of the vehicle, to share them with you.
Your cars (the ones I have seen so far) are real nice!!
Thanks again.
HMunoz.

 

I rather doubt the regulator is for a generator(can't see that working at all), but probably for a newer model that had the electronic regulator as factory... As prev stated, I've seen electronic units that would not operate the light or lit dimly at best...

I have the dim bulb syndrome on my '69 Fairlane that has a late '70s Motorcraft solid state regulator.. One of these days I'm going to clip the 15 ohm resistance wire and install a 500 ohm resistor in it's place...

 

regulator

What is werid is that my Alt light rather brights a lot. It is lit on, and simply does not want to go away once the Alternator is charging (engine working).
So my problem is exactly the opposite to yours.
The more I increase rpm, the more this light will shine!!!
Any thoughts?