36 voltage regulator problem

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Does anyone have an extra Auto-Lite TC-4304-A regulator? I am in the process of wiring up my project and the AMP light will not come on, but the generator charging system works fine. The Amp light grounds thought the 'T' terminal on the two step regulator and mine is open all the time, no matter what the two coils are doing. So the light stays off, even when you turn the key on to start the engine. My guess is the regulator, anyone have any other ideas?

Comments

  • tigermoth
    tigermoth Expert Adviser
    how is the AMP light circuit? is the bulb good in the AMP light? regards, tom ok, disregard this note. i see you checked the circuit. tp
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    Scott, I don't think that the '36T pickup trucks have a voltage regulator? They are all series 61 which did not come with a voltage regulator as standard equipment, only the series 62 did. Are you certain that is what you are dealing with? These had some other device, check your manual.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Richard, the model 61 had a 'cut out relay', but if you installed a radio, which I have, they used a regulator.
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    I had three NOS after market voltage regulators that I bought at a swap meet and it turned out that none of them were any good. I ended up putting the generator and voltage regulator out of my '50C6 in the '36T and they have been working fine. I had installed a 6v pos ground alternator in the '50 when I added a 6v York air conditioner, so the generator and regulator had been working together.



    A problem that you need to be aware of is that I installed Halogen bulbs in my headlights and tail lights, plus I have a 6v cooling fan in front of my radiator, the result is that the generator does not produce enough power to run all of this stuff? I am fine during the day, but when I put on the headlights, they are very dim. I am still working on this problem, if anyone has any suggestions. I know that I can go to a 6v pos ground alternator, but I won't like the look of it.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    My advice to both Scott and Richard, if you can bear to deviate from originality, is to convert over to the later model two-brush generator and three-coil regulator. Any Chrysler, Hudson, Studebaker, from the forties or fifities should bolt straight on, and it will only be the nit-pockers who will ever notice. If you went with say a '54 generator and regulator off a Hudson you have 45 amp capacity, which will easily cope with any load. I have a 1942 Dodge generator and regulator on my '28 Essex, and nobody has ever noticed.

    Geoff.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Your probably right Geoff. The 36 had the same generator and regulator that my 51 has when I first bought it. But I just had to remove it and spend lots of time and money chasing down the original parts.

    Although, I think I may have my light issue solved. I just went through a bad regulator and generator this summer on my 51 and remembered that the Amp light was hooked to the armature post on the regulator. So I tried that and it seems to work fine now.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Yes, the A light gets it ground circuit through the generator armature. 6 volts is supplied to the bulb fromt he ignition circuit, and when the generator starts charging it results in the same voltage on both ends of the circuit, hence no light. Some regulators had a fourth terminal, for the A light, which connected to ground, and transferred when the generator started charging. With this type you don't get the faint glow that can sometimes be detected even when the generator is charging. Good luck,

    Geoff.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Geoff, I get the faint glow if I have the lights on and turn on the fan for the heater. It makes me crazy as I think the battery may be losing charge but so far I haven't had a problem. What is the name or number for the regulator you referred to? The one that has the extra connection.



    Harry
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I had a faint glow last night, happy new year!
  • mars55
    mars55 Senior Contributor
    Harry Hill wrote:
    Geoff, I get the faint glow if I have the lights on and turn on the fan for the heater. It makes me crazy as I think the battery may be losing charge but so far I haven't had a problem. What is the name or number for the regulator you referred to? The one that has the extra connection.



    Harry



    All the regulators with a "T" terminal I have seen have been for three bush generators. I suppose you could put a diode in series with the light with band or cathode end pointing to the ignition switch. This would block current flow through the light when the generator armature has higher voltage then the ignition switch and allow current flow when the generator armature has no voltage and is acting as ground for the light. The generator armature can have higher voltaqe then the ignition switch due to voltage being lost in the wiring and connections during periods of high current draw.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    mars55 is probably right, the regulators are for three-brush generators. The one I have here is a VRP6002A. Has three terminals on one side for Arm, Fld, Bat, and the terminal on the other side is grounded when the generator is not charging, which gives a circuit for the A light.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion