Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Generator charging question

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: Generator charging question

jadamoon386

06-03-2026 @ 7:23 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 15
Joined: Feb 2026

When I measured the voltage at the battery while the engine is running the voltage fluctuates back and forth from about 3v then to 5v then to 9v. Not exactly in that order but its all over the place and I expected it to be a fairly consistent voltage above 6v. Please forgive my ignorance but is the silver little round thing in the attached photo supposed to regulate or stabilize the generator voltage output?? The Amp gage on the instrument panel seems to be acting properly in that it is excited when I turn on the ignition, rev the engine or turn on the headlights.

06-03-2026 @ 7:31 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1315
Joined: Nov 2009

I assume that you are usuing a digital meter to measure the voltage at the battery while the engine is running. Digital meters are very susceptible to interference from the high voltage ignition system. I suggest you use an analog meter for this measurement so as to get an accurate reading...

40 Coupe

06-04-2026 @ 4:11 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1826
Joined: Oct 2009

Analog meter please. The cut out disconnects the generator from the battery after the car stops. No regulation or stabilization, the voltage control is the center brush of the three brushes in the generator. Moving the brush up or down controls the voltage.

jadamoon386

06-05-2026 @ 5:49 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 15
Joined: Feb 2026

Thanks guys. I purchased an analog meter and it read a steady 6 1/2 volts at idle and even when I revved the engine. That seemed kind of low? and shouldn't it fluctuate a little, at least go up a little when I rev the engine??

06-05-2026 @ 6:13 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1315
Joined: Nov 2009

I don't think your generator is putting out. Time for you to remove the cover on the cutout relay to inspect if the points are opening and closing. Also, remove the cover at the rear of the generator and inspect the brushes...

Oops...You indicated in your original post that the ammeter seems to be operating properly indicating generator output...

This message was edited by MG on 6-5-26 @ 7:02 PM

GK1918

06-06-2026 @ 10:27 AM

reply profile send p.m.

New Member
Posts: 143
Joined: Aug 2016

I remember as a kid my father moving the brush late Fall into winter due to lights on heater etc. on his customers servicing .

42oink

06-06-2026 @ 12:45 PM

reply profile send p.m.

New Member
Posts: 139
Joined: Nov 2010

Hi, Here's a quick little check to see if the generator is working; start it up and disconnect the ground cable at the battery. Is it still running? Simple, I know, but tuck the thought away when done for future use. 42OINK

<< previous || next >>

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions