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I have a 67 MGB that has an Delco alternator. I converted the car to negative earth and installed the alternator. The alternator light in the tach is bright red when I turn on the key. After starting the car the light appears to be out. However, when driving the other night I noticed that the light has a slight glow. It stayed the same with or without the lights on. With the engine off I get 12 volts at the battery. With the car running I get 14.77 volts. If the alternator is charging, why does the light still have a slight glow?
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Alternator light
- Thread starter Jim 67B
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I removed the regulator and replaced it with a terminal strip. All of the brown wires are jointed at the strip and the brown wire from the battery post on the alternator is also jointed to the brown wires.
There is no LED bulb in the circuit. The The brown/green wire from the alternator is connected to the brown/yellow wire that goes to the ignition warning light.
I did see the slight glow in the dark with the lights off.
There is no LED bulb in the circuit. The The brown/green wire from the alternator is connected to the brown/yellow wire that goes to the ignition warning light.
I did see the slight glow in the dark with the lights off.
G
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On a completely unrelated subject, albeit still concerning glowing dash lights, I installed a manual override switch for my gonzo electric fan, along with an indicator light on the dash to tell me when the fan is working. At speed, and with the fan off, I get a constant glow, speed related, from the indicator light. Seems my fan motor acts like a generator and backs up through the circuit to make the light, well, light.
Could this be charging my battery at speed?
Could electric fans make an alternator light glow? Or are we talking about apples and oranges here?
Could this be charging my battery at speed?
Could electric fans make an alternator light glow? Or are we talking about apples and oranges here?
dklawson
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A fan generator, windmill power. I wouldn't think that with the switch off there would be anywhere for its voltage to go to.
As for the dash light, our GT6 has a 10SI Delco and the first one I installed did the very thing you describe. I tried all kinds of things to make sure it got enough voltage to energize the field coils and I still never got the light to go completely go out. It bothered me so I took it in to Advance Auto and swapped it for a better looking rebuilt unit. The light went out and I'm very pleased with the higher quality rebuild than the first used unit I installed.
When in doubt, just take the alternator off and have it bench tested at a parts store. They'll check it for free and if you need a replacement you'll have the core with you.
As for the dash light, our GT6 has a 10SI Delco and the first one I installed did the very thing you describe. I tried all kinds of things to make sure it got enough voltage to energize the field coils and I still never got the light to go completely go out. It bothered me so I took it in to Advance Auto and swapped it for a better looking rebuilt unit. The light went out and I'm very pleased with the higher quality rebuild than the first used unit I installed.
When in doubt, just take the alternator off and have it bench tested at a parts store. They'll check it for free and if you need a replacement you'll have the core with you.
D
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Your warning light is like an amp gage....
The light goes on when the needle deflects EITHER way.
Use a volt meter to see which way the juice is going.
That will tell you if your battery or your alternator is turning the light on.
Then be suspicious.....
If you find out there is nothing to worry about....
Put a small resistor in the circuit....
Or put a strip of tape over it /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
The light goes on when the needle deflects EITHER way.
Use a volt meter to see which way the juice is going.
That will tell you if your battery or your alternator is turning the light on.
Then be suspicious.....
If you find out there is nothing to worry about....
Put a small resistor in the circuit....
Or put a strip of tape over it /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
D
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I got one of those stupid candles that plays a song when it's lit....
Couldn't figure out what to do with it after the party...
So I rigged it up to a friends IGN light behind the dash.
Every time he turned the key to on....It played happy birthday.
Drove him nuts /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Here is a picture of the offensive little device after it was removed.
Couldn't figure out what to do with it after the party...
So I rigged it up to a friends IGN light behind the dash.
Every time he turned the key to on....It played happy birthday.
Drove him nuts /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Here is a picture of the offensive little device after it was removed.
