Charge Lamp

Re: Charge Lamp

by Rob Seaton » 12 years ago

Rob Seaton

3 1.32k 251

the lamp is wired so it is hot on both wires. that way if the generator is putting out the voltage offsets itself and the lamp goes out. but if you should lose the gen (or regulator) the regulator becomes a ground and the lamp lights up. You don't have to take the installation manual drawing literally; one side of the lamp can be connected to your buss (12V) and the other to the L terminal on the regulator. That way you don't have to run the wire all the way back to the regulator as shown in the drawing.
The limitation is that with the engine running the stator is always providing power even if you switch off the C (Control or Field circuit) so the lamp does not light even with no charge going to the buss/battery. An ammeter or even just a voltmeter is the better way to know how your charging system is doing.

Re: Charge Lamp

by Kenneth Hagesten » 11 years ago

Kenneth Hagesten

2 38 0

Hi i have also installed the lamp in the same way as you to the regulator. It functions so that when you begin to start the engine the lamp has light on until the engine has started and has sufficient RPM (about IDLE) then the lamp goes black.

I have had this lamp many years but this summer it does not light up any moore and i have tried change the lamp and check the connection to the regulator but notthing helps. Does anyone know what the cause could be?

Re: Charge Lamp

by Rob Seaton » 11 years ago

Rob Seaton

3 1.32k 251

Remove the lamp, take a multimeter and test the lamp contacts:
-With multimeter on volts and the master switch ON you should have 12v on one of the contacts with the other probe on a good ground. this will be testing the wire going to the power bus (or back to the C terminal of the regulator in some aircraft).
-Change the multimeter to Ohms (or continuity test if it has that feature) and the other lamp contact should have little or no resistance to ground. This is the wire going to the L terminal of the regulator.
-With the engine running you should get equal volts on both lamp contacts. With power on both contacts the lamp cannot lite.

Re: Charge Lamp

by Kenneth Hagesten » 11 years ago

Kenneth Hagesten

2 38 0

Could it possibly be the regulator that malfunctions and perhaps should be renewed. I did not know if the battery got loaded, but it seemed as the battery did not loose power.

Re: Charge Lamp

by Rob Seaton » 11 years ago

Rob Seaton

3 1.32k 251

I would check the connections and grounds before replacing the regulator.