Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:30 am**

Driving this morning and noticed the Ammeter pinned to the plus side at high RPM. Turned on the headlights and fog light and brought it down to +10. At idle it went to full negative with lights on. The regulator was rebuilt about 4 years ago and converted to solid state. I need some help diagnosing this. Thanks , H. TC 6424

Posted: **Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:03 am**

Can you test the battery voltage, it may be low which would cause the dynamo to charge higher. If I remember correctly it should be 13.2v (2.2v each cell)

[b][i]Norman Verona[/i][/b]

11 Cherry Close, Royston, South Yorkshire S71 4LZ

Phone: 0044 (0)1226 728811

Mob: 0044 (0)741 9905 741

[b][i]Web: www.frenchblat.com[/i][/b]

[b]From:[/b] mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com] [b]On Behalf Of [/b]Howard Shempp hshempp@gmail.com [mg-tabc] [b]Sent:[/b] 28 October 2017 18:30 [b]To:[/b] T-ABC List mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> [b]Subject:[/b] [mg-tabc] Pinned Ammeter

Driving this morning and noticed the Ammeter pinned to the plus side at high RPM. Turned on the headlights and fog light and brought it down to +10. At idle it went to full negative with lights on. The regulator was rebuilt about 4 years ago and converted to solid state. I need some help diagnosing this. Thanks , H. TC 6424

Posted: **Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:04 am**

Agreed, a bad battery could cause this. Happened to me once long ago. - Steve Simmons, TC8975 On 10/28/2017 11:03 AM, 'Norman Verona' norman@frenchblat.com [mg-tabc] wrote:

Can you test the battery voltage, it may be low which would cause the dynamo to charge higher. If I remember correctly it should be 13.2v (2.2v each cell)

[b][i]Norman Verona[/i][/b]
11 Cherry Close, Royston, South Yorkshire S71 4LZ
Phone: 0044 (0)1226 728811
Mob: 0044 (0)741 9905 741
[b][i]Web: www.frenchblat.com[/i][/b]

[b]From:[/b] mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com] [b]On Behalf Of [/b]Howard Shempp hshempp@gmail.com [mg-tabc] [b]Sent:[/b] 28 October 2017 18:30 [b]To:[/b] T-ABC List mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [b]Subject:[/b] [mg-tabc] Pinned Ammeter

Driving this morning and noticed the Ammeter pinned to the plus side at high RPM. Turned on the headlights and fog light and brought it down to +10. At idle it went to full negative with lights on. The regulator was rebuilt about 4 years ago and converted to solid state. I need some help diagnosing this. Thanks , H. TC 6424

Posted: **Sat Oct 28, 2017 12:05 pm**

Open circuit battery voltage should be 12.0-12.6 Engine off, all electrical equipment off.With engine running @ about 3,000 RPM, All electrical equipment off up to but not over a 2.0 volt increase.With engine running @ about 3000 RPM all electrical loads on .5 to 2.0 volts above base battery voltage. Sent from AOL Mobile Mail -----Original Message----- From: 'Norman Verona' norman@frenchblat.com [mg-tabc] mg-tabc-noreply@yahoogroups.com> To: 'Howard Shempp' hshempp@gmail.com>; 'T-ABC List' mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sat, Oct 28, 2017 02:03 PM Subject: RE: [mg-tabc] Pinned Ammeter #ygrps-yiv-1027815173 #ygrps-yiv-1027815173AOLMsgPart_2_7b1c17ba-794f-4348-b24c-e4258624ee84 td{color:black;}#ygrps-yiv-1027815173 .ygrps-yiv-1027815173aolReplacedBody .ygrps-yiv-1027815173aolmail_ygrp-photo-title{clear:both;font-size:smaller;height:15px;overflow:hidden;text-align:center;width:75px;}#ygrps-yiv-1027815173 .ygrps-yiv-1027815173aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1027815173aolmail_ygrp-photo{background-position:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-color:white;border:1px solid black;height:62px;width:62px;}#ygrps-yiv-1027815173 .ygrps-yiv-1027815173aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1027815173aolmail_photo-title a, #ygrps-yiv-1027815173 .ygrps-yiv-1027815173aolReplacedBody 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_filtered #ygrps-yiv-1027815173 {margin-bottom:0cm;}#ygrps-yiv-1027815173 .ygrps-yiv-1027815173aolReplacedBody ul {margin-bottom:0cm;} Can you test the battery voltage, it may be low which would cause the dynamo to charge higher. If I remember correctly it should be 13.2v (2.2v each cell)

[b][i]Norman Verona[/i][/b]

11 Cherry Close, Royston, South Yorkshire S71 4LZ

Phone: 0044 (0)1226 728811

Mob: 0044 (0)741 9905 741

[b][i]Web: www.frenchblat.com[/i][/b]

[b]From:[/b] mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com?] [b]On Behalf Of [/b]Howard Shempp hshempp@gmail.com [mg-tabc] [b]Sent:[/b] 28 October 2017 18:30 [b]To:[/b] T-ABC List mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> [b]Subject:[/b] [mg-tabc] Pinned Ammeter

Driving this morning and noticed the Ammeter pinned to the plus side at high RPM. Turned on the headlights and fog light and brought it down to +10. At idle it went to full negative with lights on. The regulator was rebuilt about 4 years ago and converted to solid state. I need some help diagnosing this. Thanks , H. TC 6424

Posted: **Sat Oct 28, 2017 3:09 pm**

Howard, There was corres on this some months back. The ammeter is a cheap design and if the needle sticks at max usually a simple tap on the glass resolves all. Find an alternative solution fast if smoke is detected ! Clive [img]https://ec.yimg.com/ec?url=https%3A%2F%2Fipmcdn.avast.com%2Fimages%2Ficons%2Ficon-envelope-tick-round-orange-animated-no-repeat-v1.gif&t=1522511845&sig=StlloE81MqgaN9ber8jtpA--~D[/img] Virus-free. www.avast.com

On Sat, Oct 28, 2017 at 6:29 PM, Howard Shempp hshempp@gmail.com [mg-tabc] mg-tabc-noreply@yahoogroups.com> wrote: [u][/u] Driving this morning and noticed the Ammeter pinned to the plus side at high RPM. Turned on the headlights and fog light and brought it down to +10. At idle it went to full negative with lights on. The regulator was rebuilt about 4 years ago and converted to solid state. I need some help diagnosing this. Thanks , H. TC 6424

Posted: **Sat Oct 28, 2017 8:15 pm**

I have a problem with one of the solid state regulators done by the late Bob Jeffers, where it doesn't charge at all. You may have the opposite problem. Try switching back to the original if you have it. If not, you may have to buy one.

Allan

Posted: **Sun Oct 29, 2017 8:56 am**

Thanks, all. Checked the battery and it says 13.2v open circuit. When all lights are on and the car is idling, it goes to full negative. Bought a new battery since this Optima is 5 years old and will wait to put that in but I don't think that is the problem.

On Sat, Oct 28, 2017 at 8:15 PM Allan Chalmers allanchalmers@yahoo.com> wrote: I have a problem with one of the solid state regulators done by the late Bob Jeffers, where it doesn't charge at all. You may have the opposite problem. Try switching back to the original if you have it. If not, you may have to buy one. Allan

Posted: **Sun Oct 29, 2017 9:30 am**

From Optima battery care: Open circuit voltage (OCV) and storage: OCV: 34 / 34R / 34/78 / 34M / 75/25 / 78 / 35 / 25 (about 12.6-12.8 Volt for a new, fully charged battery) D34 / D34/78 / D27M / D31M / D27F / D75/25 / D35 / D31T / D31A / D51 / D51R / DS46B24R / D34M (about 13.0-13.2 Volt for a new, fully charged battery) https://www.carid.com/images/optima/inf ... .html> Len Fanelli -----Original Message----- From: Howard Shempp hshempp@gmail.com [mg-tabc] mg-tabc-noreply@yahoogroups.com> To: Allan Chalmers allanchalmers@yahoo.com>; Mg mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sun, Oct 29, 2017 11:56 am Subject: [mg-tabc] Re: Pinned Ammeter #ygrps-yiv-1169128571 #ygrps-yiv-1169128571AOLMsgPart_2_41f349d2-1681-40c1-b95f-730d36586b6c td{color:black;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-photo-title{clear:both;font-size:smaller;height:15px;overflow:hidden;text-align:center;width:75px;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-photo{background-position:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-color:white;border:1px solid black;height:62px;width:62px;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_photo-title a, #ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_photo-title a:active, #ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_photo-title a:hover, #ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_photo-title a:visited {text-decoration:none;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_attach-table div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_attach-row {clear:both;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_attach-table div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_attach-row div {float:left;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody p {clear:both;padding:15px 0 3px 0;overflow:hidden;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-file {width:30px;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_attach-table div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_attach-row div div a {text-decoration:none;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_attach-table div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_attach-row div div span {font-weight:normal;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody div.ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-file-title {font-weight:bold;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 #ygrps-yiv-1169128571AOLMsgPart_2_41f349d2-1681-40c1-b95f-730d36586b6c td{color:black;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-mkp {border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:10px 0;padding:0 10px;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-mkp hr {border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_hd {color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:700;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ads {margin-bottom:10px;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ad {padding:0 0;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ad p {margin:0;}#ygrps-yiv-1169128571 .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolReplacedBody #ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-1169128571aolmail_ad a {color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;} Thanks, all. Checked the battery and it says 13.2v open circuit. When all lights are on and the car is idling, it goes to full negative. Bought a new battery since this Optima is 5 years old and will wait to put that in but I don't think that is the problem.

On Sat, Oct 28, 2017 at 8:15 PM Allan Chalmers allanchalmers@yahoo.com> wrote: I have a problem with one of the solid state regulators done by the late Bob Jeffers, where it doesn't charge at all. You may have the opposite problem. Try switching back to the original if you have it. If not, you may have to buy one. Allan

Posted: **Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:49 am**

I would check fan belt for over loose, and then the grounds. Duncan- TC9866 ----------------------------------

On Sun, 10/29/17, Howard Shempp hshempp@gmail.com [mg-tabc] mg-tabc-noreply@yahoogroups.com> wrote: Subject: [mg-tabc] Re: Pinned Ammeter To: "Allan Chalmers" allanchalmers@yahoo.com>, "Mg" mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Date: Sunday, October 29, 2017, 8:55 AM Thanks, all. Checked the battery and it says 13.2v open circuit. When all lights are on and the car is idling, it goes to full negative. Bought a new battery since this Optima is 5 years old and will wait to put that in but I don't think that is the problem. On Sat, Oct 28, 2017 at 8:15 PM Allan Chalmers allanchalmers@yahoo.com> wrote: I have a problem with one of the solid state regulators done by the late Bob Jeffers, where it doesn't charge at all. You may have the opposite problem. Try switching back to the original if you have it. If not, you may have to buy one. Allan Posted by: Howard Shempp hshempp@gmail.com> Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (7)

Posted: **Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:19 am**

I had a very similar situation with very similar ammeter behavior! I was using my navigation (neg. earth unit) plugged into the utility sockets on the dash (positive earth TC) with the leads reversed.All was working just fine, until my dangling ignition keys reached over and touched one of the exposed parts of the dash/facia plug causing a startling spark! All still seemed OK at first, but the navigation eventually stopped working because it was no longer being charged, and the ammeter started acting as you ve described. The short circuit spark had fried my Navi andmy solid state voltage regulator, which up till then had worked beautifully for many years. I sent the regulator unit back to the manufacturer for testing and it was pronounced defective .I had to replace that unit, and the Navi and now all was well again. I have since insulated exposed parts of the facia plug so as to avoid future problems. You live and learn!My guess is, especially if your problem occurred suddenly, that your voltage regulator unit is now defective, possibly caused by an accidental short circuit somewhere in the car. David and TC 3896 (who recently turned 70!) Raise your glasses to toast TC 3896 on her 70th birthday! She rolled off the Abingdon assembly line to the light of day on October 27th, 1947!At age 70, she looks as good as she did 70 years ago leaving the factory, can run for many miles and many hours without missing a beat, can keep up with the traffic, and can still quicken the heart rates and turn the heads of many a young man!So here s to TC 3896 on her 70th - and wishing her many more happy years and miles! May she drive "till the roads wear out"!! Best regards,David (in Germany)The current custodian of TC 3896 See her profile at:http://www.mg-tabc.org/members/d_tasa.htmBeautiful car even if her family is a little geeky looking!Please excuse the typos on the MG page.