Time for new regulator and how to MacGyver one

[joe_db]

Heading home yesterday into the NorEaster presented two problems. One was I was getting a bit wet and cold and the other one was no alternator output

A wool sweater helped the first issue. I was a bit annoyed with the second issue. A quick test showed the alternator was fine, it was the regulator that died. The thing is about 25 years old, so I can't say I didn't get my money's worth out of it. I have enough battery capacity to run without an alternator for some hours, but I wanted to see if I could still charge somehow. Some digging in the spares revealed a spare bulb for the running lights that I connected between 12 volts and the field terminal. The light lit up and I got a steady 12.9 volts It wasn't really charging, but I wasn't losing power either.

[Al Schober]

Good for you!
A higher wattage bulb would have less resistance, allow more current to flow, and give more charging voltage/current.

[thatch]

Joe, Clever solution to get you home. In a slightly related situation, I have a "trickle charge" setup in my daily driver that allows me to maintain a spare utility battery in the trunk. It is fed from the cigarette lighter outlet and uses a low wattage 12v. bulb in series to limit the current flow. The outlet is only hot while I'm driving.
Tom

[Dave Neptune]

Joe, nicely done "Mac" .

Dave Neptune

[joe_db]

Thanks! You could vary the voltage if you had more bulbs

[Dave Neptune]

Joe, I had a fast charger I built when working on boats. Very often the batteries would be dead so I mounted a 55apm Motorola to a small Briggs & Stratton. The pulleys would not spin the alt quite fast enough so I removed the regulator mounted a voltage gage and took the exciting wire direct to the field. I could control the voltage using a potentiometer and being mindful of temps. This would get the engine started in a hurry at remote locations. It was part of my tools and mounted in a tote box to carry.

Dave Neptune

[joe_db]

I always wanted to make one of those.

[joe_db]

https://theepicenter.com/emergency-power/homemade-generators/direct-drive.html

This place has the brackets. Winter project maybe if I can get around to it. This would be a great thing at an airport too for firing up dead airplanes.