Energizing a Generator Voltage Regulator?

Question

I work at a dealership and one of the Techs had me install a voltage regulator on our fork lift. After I installed it he asked me if I energized the volt. reg. I said no cause I had no idea what he was talking about, I'm 21 and that 's way before my time. I was just wondering if anyone can tall me how? He also mentioned something about setting the polarity. None of the other tech remembered how to do it. And all I can tell you about the regulator is that its 3 wires and thats it. Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. If anyone is thinking about becoming a fork lift tech, your crazy. I had to put a starter in it and that was a pain, took 3 hours.

Answer 1

If this unit has a generator and it has been replaced, you must then polarize or flash the generator. This can be done by temporarily crossing the battery power to the field or small wire. You do not have to do this unless the generator has been sitting for a long time.

The generators rely on residual magnetism of the feild coils to start them charging. The current then builds up and is resent back to the feild coils until there is more voltage than the battery has. The big set of points inside the regulator then closes and allows the power to flow to the battery until the voltage gets too high and the voltage pulls apart the voltage points that feed the field. This stops the generator from producing power for a very short time. (These points will vibrate when the engine is reved up.)
Here is the theory.
There are three wires on the regulator. One is the battery wire. The second is the current or generator output wire. The third is the volage regulation wire.
When the engine is off or spinning too slow;
The current wire is connected to the field wire inside the regulator.
The battery wire is not connected to anything and has no current flow, but is live with battery voltage.
As generator rpm picks up, the generator starts to build power and voltage increases until the voltage at the current wire is higher than the battery voltage. The regulator then closes the big points and lets power flow to the battery.
When voltage gets too high, the small points break and stop the generator from charging.

PS The most common reason for not charging is the brushes in the generator. These are usually very easy to replace and many times you don't even have to remove the generator.
(Look for a tin cover around the back of the generator.)

Now show all the techs your new knowledge.

Answer 2

You are 21 years old and you don't know how to energize a voltage regulator? Don't feel bad neither does the guy who ask you. He's pulling your leg. It was energized when you plugged it up

Answer 3

Had a 79 Sporty that I had to flash if I replaced just about anything. but then it was a Harley, and we know how temper-mental they can be. We still love 'em though!

Answer 4

First you have to find the Energizer Rabbit.

Answer 5

You d somehting called flash the field which sets polarity if done properly. If it has an alternator they're messing with you if it has a generator then you do need to flash the field.