alternator stimulator

[leyland]

my batteries kept going flat in my 1984 carby 3.5 rangie (1 battery on left side 1 on right),connected by a single wire going from + to+. I couldnt work it out, so i took it to the auto electrician, he found that the very thin contacts behind the instrument panel had burnt of at the ignition light section, i never noticed the ignition light working or not. Well the story is that the the alternator is stimulated into working by power going through the ignition light momentarily to start it charging ,theres no chance of soldering this thin circuit board or whatever you call it so i wired up a switch on the dash direct from the battery to the alternator and just after i start it i turn the switch on and off to get it charging again it seems to work fine BUT is this method a good idea or can some who knows tell me a better one.
yours thankfully from peter

[PhilipA]

You could just tap into the wires and get a Hella or similar indicator light fitting and fit it to the dash.

Be careful however with the bulb you put in as some alternators are fussy about the watts. Eg Some Bosch need a 2watt bulb.

I am very surprised that the electrician did not do that for you.
Regards Philip A

[leyland]

You could just tap into the wires and get a Hella or similar indicator light fitting and fit it to the dash.

Be careful however with the bulb you put in as some alternators are fussy about the watts. Eg Some Bosch need a 2watt bulb.

I am very surprised that the electrician did not do that for you.
Regards Philip A
I was very surprised at how much the bar stud charged. anyway the switch has alight built in and what wires do i tap into, i also thought about finding a wire that when the ignition key springs back i could use that one then it would only be momentary if thats what you call it
thanks from peter

[Rangier Rover]

The printed circuit usually can be soldered with care. Fairly popular problem with older Rangies. Give it a scratch with a blade and use small pliable wire to bridge the open circut. Otherwise as suggested... A low wattage bulb in a universal lamp holder wired to the ign circuit so all is back to normal.

[PhilipA]

I was very surprised at how much the bar stud charged. anyway the switch has alight built in and what wires do i tap into, i also thought about finding a wire that when the ignition key springs back i could use that one then it would only be momentary if thats what you call it
thanks from peter


Peter , you seem to be a bit confused on the role of the bulb.

The bulb is always connected between the battery and alternator when the ignition is on. It is not a matter of a momentary switch.


The light measures the difference in voltage between the alternator and battery, so if it is on the alternator is not charging. I am not an electrician so I do not know why you need the bulb to excite but you do.

If your current bulb has gone open circuit , you can just fit an indicator light anywhere on the dash.
Look, if I were you I would go back to the electrician and ask him to just fit another alt light , or if you do not want to do that read the wiring diagram to find the correct colour code of the wires to and from the light and cut and connect new wires to a new indicator light.

But be careful as it is easy to let the smoke out of a Lucas circuit, and once you have lost the smoke it will not work.

Regards Philip A

[Rangier Rover]

But be careful as it is easy to let the smoke out of a Lucas circuit, and once you have lost the smoke it will not work.

Never fear... We have a cure for this:twisted: Lucas Replacement Smoke Kit (http://www3.telus.net/bc_triumph_registry/smoke.htm)

[PhilipA]

What a fantastic find. I had no idea that original Lucas kits were still available. It's just a pity that my 92 RRC has those stupid waterproof german connectors , which I understand inhibit a reload. Regards Philip A