Toolman Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 Hello Guys I'm wondering if you could give me a bit of advice and maybe point me in the right direction to fault find/fix. I've got a charging problem on my Ferret. It started off to be intermittant, now it's not charging at all. The charging warning light is illuminated all the time and there appears to be no voltage going in to the batteries when the engine is running. My ferret has been fitted with a single speed generator by the previous owner a few years ago. This did illuminate the warning light at tickover but it extinguished as soon as the revs got up) Is it more likely to be the generator at fault or could it be a problem with the Generator panel? (No.2 Mk 2/1 Fording caps are present and fuses ok) Or another more likely cause? (fanbelt ok) Also can the generator be serviced? Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Cheers Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 Hi Matt, Which generator and panel do you have fitted? It sounds like you have a single speed generator connected to a 2 speed panel? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted December 24, 2008 Author Share Posted December 24, 2008 Hello Chris Generator panel is No.2 Mk 2-1 (see photo's attached) I will have to get back to you about the generator. I will have a look this afternoon. (Ferret stored away from home) Cheers Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 I agree with Chris sounds as if you have the wrong mix of gen & gen panel, although it did work once. Are you sure that it is the single speed you have? If in fact you have the 2-speed presumably you've not been priming the gen gearbox with engine oil, if it has stood idle for a few weeks? If that is so the gen gearbox may have failed. So it won't charge at tick over, but would charge about 1000 rpm or so. If with high revs still no charge & the problem has been getting from occasional intermittency to longer periods then failure, I suspect the gen brushes have worn out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted December 26, 2008 Author Share Posted December 26, 2008 Hello Clive / Chris It does look to me that it has a single speed generator fitted, in fact the seller gave me the original 2 speed generator when I bought the vehicle, however it sounds pretty rough when you turn it over. I can't find the identification plate on the fitted generator but I have attached the photos, you can also see the capped off oil feed pipe stowed with a cable tie. The charging did work when I got the vehicle but only when the revs were over 1000rpm. Now the charge light stays on all the time. Clive, regarding your comments, should I fit a single speed gen panel? or would it be worth while renewing/checking the brushes first on the fitted gen? Cheers and Merry Christmas Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Matt, There was a different generator panel for the single speed, but it was never fitted to Ferrets. I think it would be easier to put the system back to how it was intended, replace the single speed generator with the 2 speed. I'd have a look inside first and make sure it's all ok, otherwise see if you can get a specialist to look at it. You can get the 2 speed generators and panels quite easily if you need replacements. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest catweazle (Banned Member) Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 I have run a single speed gen with both panels without problems.i have had NOS that didnt work,REME recon in sealed packets that didnt work.many so called good seconhand that didnt last 5 min.This is a problem i have found difficult to solve with long term reliability.Eventually i found one from a stationary engine which has lasted well,allthough when cold it takes a while for the light to go out.One of our members had some repaired by a man who did know what he was doing.Because of the expense he would only do a min of 5.They were expensive,but all worked fine.We tried years ago to repair these with no success you really need to know what you are doing and have the test equipment.Nearly every vehicle we bought from ruddington had the reg box swapped for a duff one ,unfortunately we have lost contact with the man so does anyone else have a good mr fixit.in this case it does sound like the generator,but it wouldnt be the first time both were in trouble,have you made sure you have good earthing all round.?cw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 (edited) If you use a single speed generator & a 2-speed gen panel & it works that's fine. Remember the single speed is 12A but the 2-speed is 25A so when it is working you are denying yourself charging capacity. (Obviously if a 2-speed gen used with a single speed panel, then the panel couldn't handle the current) On the gen: Field winding: C & E 12 ohms for No.1 Mk 1 or 16 Ohms for No.1 Mk 2/1 Armature: A & B very low, an ohm or so I expect - turn the shaft & see if it fluctuates but if there is high resistance then the brushes have gone. So if it is the gen, then this is your chance to upgrade back to what it should have been. Gen No.1 is very rare to get hold of, gen No.2 is relatively common. Edited December 26, 2008 by fv1609 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 I've just measured the resistance of the armature winding on my single speed (Mk 2/1) & it's 2 ohms. (ie A & B) Interestingly I notice that on the single speed the two windings are kept separate, but on the 2-speed one end of the field winding is connected to the armature winding on pin B. This leaves E spare but is earthed in both gen panels as is B. So if you are used to testing the single speed & then test the 2-speed remember that E has no connection within the generator itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 Hello Clive Thanks for the info. I will investigate and get back to you. (when I get a minute without all the family do's :-) Cheers Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) Ok Matt it's the time of year for that sort of thing. Thanks for keeping me in the picture, which is courteous of you. I flit around a number of forums poking my nose in to see if I can help. Sometimes it takes time to research some document or go & measure or photograph something. Generally people respond, but there are some that never come back, so one is left wondering was the info of help & I presume it was if there is no further contact. So it can put one off responding & spectators are also left a bit up in the air. I quite often spectate myself & see how a query turns out. So await with interest once duty is done! Edited December 27, 2008 by fv1609 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 Fixed it :-D Turned out to be the Gen Panel. Swopped it out for another I aquired and it's charging again. Clive, thanks for all the info . I intend to overhaul the 2 speed generator and fit it back at a later date. Cheers Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Matt, that's good news. The most likely fault in the panel is corrosion on the points of the vibrating contact regulator or fracture of the carbon piles. I once went round in circles when I assumed a sealed NOS panel would be bound to work. It didn't & was partially corroded inside. I replaced it with a panel that was all battered & lying in the mud in a scrapyard, that one worked perfectly & no corrosion inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 Yes, it was the same with this one, externally very rough but absolutely mint inside Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbo Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Yes, it was the same with this one, externally very rough but absolutely mint inside Cheers I have resurrected this thread as my CVRT gen has stopped charging. It was fine but is not charging since I removed and refitted it doing an engine change so I intend to check all the connections first and foremost hopefully it is something simple. Anyhow the point is while selecting which engine to fit I was looking for the nicest one cosmetically and somebody said to me 'dont bother the one with the shiniest face has the grimiest arse!'.....how true! Cheers Timbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 I have resurrected this thread as my CVRT gen has stopped charging. It was fine but is not charging since I removed and refitted it doing an engine change so I intend to check all the connections first and foremost hopefully it is something simple. Anyhow the point is while selecting which engine to fit I was looking for the nicest one cosmetically and somebody said to me 'dont bother the one with the shiniest face has the grimiest arse!'.....how true! Cheers Timbo Good luck Tim :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I have resurrected this thread as my CVRT gen has stopped charging. Please start another thread, the charging system on a Ferret would be different to a CVR(T).. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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