Alternator Not Charging

[keith kelly]

hi all,

I have the GBS small alternator fitted to my zetec and it was all working and charging however had issues at the weekend and battery drained. I have checked with a metre and it no charging anymore! The battery light on the dash Is not lit and longer comes on with ignition any advice?

 

 

regards

 

keith

[fry61]

Probably obvious Keith, but have you checked all wires & terminals? The little spade ones sometimes appear connected but are only just hanging on. No ignition light suggests there is a wiring fault or open circuit on alternator windings. ( Or go for simple first & check the 5watt ign. bulb/lamp is O.K -- take it out & connect direct across battery )

[keith kelly]

would a blown bulb stop it charging? if could be easy fix unless there is a reason the bulb blew.

[keith kelly]

checked terminals and all seems fine. will test bulb when I get home Later

[fry61]

would a blown bulb stop it charging? if could be easy fix unless there is a reason the bulb blew.

 

The ign. lamp is the provider of the excitor current --to start the alternator charging -- it may work without by relying on residual magnetism.

Edited March 23, 2015 by florin metal works

[Fossett]

I have the same kit, and found that the brackets are so well covered in powder coating that grounding the alternator can be a challenge

 

So I ran a nice thick cable from the alternator body to an inlet manifold retaining bolt.

 

if your brackets are powder coated It may help i guess.

[keith kelly]

not considered that will try all tonight thanks guys

[keith kelly]

Fixed it with the trusty angry grinder. Amazing what they fix. Note to others using gbs alternator kit grind the powder coating off where bracket touches metal as you get llittle or no earth otherwise.

[Guest 2b cruising]

Nice one.

[tractor]

my retro for bracket is powder coated and ive never had a problem

[Guest 2b cruising]

Yeh, you could be making your earth through the bolt holes.

[tractor]

I bolted keiths up same as mine only difference bracket manufacture

[keith kelly]

The coating is really thick even in the bolt holes. It was working origionally but vibration or heat made it loose what little earth it had. No chance of that now only ground off where the top bracket touches metal so still looks neat.

Edited March 25, 2015 by unclechief

[keith kelly]

The coating is really thick even in the bolt holes. It was working origionally but vibration or heat made it loose what little earth it had. No chance of that now only ground off where the top bracket touches metal so stop looks neat.