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Polarising or checking polarity of Voltage Regulators
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=45025		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  matt van'74 [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Polarising or checking polarity of Voltage Regulators
Hi Everyone,

I have recently bought a new voltage regulator for the mini to get to the bottom of my charging problem.

Its the Lucas RB106/2.

The car is negative earth but I am not sure about the new regulator. I would assume it too is negative earth but dont want to risk frying it.

Does anyone know a way of polarising or checking the polarity of them?

Cheers
Matt
Author:  Mick [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
This is a generator charged mini voltage reg.

Image

The polarity is defined by the field windings in the generator itself, not the voltage regulator. As it turns out in this case, physics is on our side (is it the left or right hand rule??) and the regulator will work correctly no matter which direction the current flows through it. You can wire it in normally. It's handy because this way as polarity changes from -ve ground to +ve ground and back again only take about 30 seconds in a generator charging system.
Author:  drmini in aust [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
It's the generator that needs polarising, not the regulator, but you do it at the regulator box.
You only need to do this if you have changed the car from pos to neg earth or vice versa.
Takes about 5 secs...
ENGINE OFF.
1. Remove cover from regulator box.
2. take screwdriver, push down on cutout to close contacts.
3. after a couple of secs, use screwdriver to pull cutout open.

If changing polartity you should also swap the primary wires on the coil...
:wink:
Author:  matt van'74 [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks,

Matt
Author:  Mick [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
I was told another method which works as well but doesn't need any disassembly.

1. Turn motor off
2. Remove the large spade terminal from the generator
3. Reverse battery in boot
4. Strike large spade terminal across the terminal it connects onto on the generator (like you would strike a match. Should see sparks, this is good )
5. Reconnect spade.

This reverses the residual magnetism stored in the generator. It's this magnetism which starts the charge ball rolling when the engine begins to run.
Author:  drmini in aust [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
For those wondering my method does the same thing, 12V battery current flows to the generator when you push the cutout closed. :wink:
Author:  Mick [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Can't be too many soldiering on these days with the generators...hats off to those who do...
Author:  Morris 1100 [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
All generators in my place. None of this fancy diode eating rubbish down here. (except for the 1275LS, it need an alternator to keep up with the AM radio and the rear window demister.)
Author:  sports850 [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Mick wrote:
Can't be too many soldiering on these days with the generators...hats off to those who do...


Some of us like generators , sports850 has it's generator still of course and van is getting it's "freshened" generator refitted . They just look right in most roundies , alternators look too modern .
Author:  Mick [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yeah I liked the generator in my first cooper. It didn't charge very well at low revs, it didn't like uprated H4 headlights very much either with...but at least dealing with a faulty generator only involves a pair of carbon brushes, and it looked nice and old skool under the bonnet.....
Author:  brett [ Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've just converted back to generator
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