Wiring problem
 

Hey all,
The PO on my '65 Bus had converted it over from 6 volt generator to 12 volt
alternator. I am running a generator so had to wire it for a gennie. I must
have done something wrong because now I have little to no juice. The voltmeter
shows the battery is fine and I am getting juice to the ignition switch, but
when I turn the key the voltage drops to nothing. The same happen when I turn
on the headlights, which don;t even work. I assume I did somethign wrong when
rewiring for the generator. AS it is there are two thick cables connected
together running to the starter, one red one red and black. I removed those
wires. The red and black one runs to D+ on the voltage regulator which also has
a wire running to the + terminal. B+ has a wire going from the regulator to the
generator. Also, I should mention that the idiot light for the gen/reg is not
working. Where have I gone wrong here?
--Dan E

Braukuche wrote:
> Hey all,
> The PO on my '65 Bus had converted it over from 6 volt generator to 12 volt
> alternator. I am running a generator so had to wire it for a gennie. I must
> have done something wrong because now I have little to no juice. The voltmeter
> shows the battery is fine and I am getting juice to the ignition switch, but
> when I turn the key the voltage drops to nothing. The same happen when I turn
> on the headlights, which don;t even work. I assume I did somethign wrong when
> rewiring for the generator. AS it is there are two thick cables connected
> together running to the starter, one red one red and black. I removed those
> wires. The red and black one runs to D+ on the voltage regulator which also has
> a wire running to the + terminal. B+ has a wire going from the regulator to the
> generator. Also, I should mention that the idiot light for the gen/reg is not
> working. Where have I gone wrong here?
> --Dan E

Methinks you have screwed the duck. <g>

Let's start at the beginning:
Look on my web site for:
"How do I test my generator?"
Go thru those steps to see if the Gennie is still OK.

If it *is*, hook it back up like:
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/pics/gen.jpg

Let me know what you discover and we'll go from there.

Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

>If it *is*, hook it back up like:
>http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/pics/gen.jpg
>
>Let me know what you discover and we'll go from there.
>

I can't test the gennie cause I can't get the car to start. I have it hooked up
like the diagram said. Still no juice running through it It acts like the
battery is dead but I am reading 12 volts at the igntion switch, but I have no
headlights and when I turn the switch the voltage drops. Any ideas?
Thanks,
--Dan

I'll bring up a simple problem in case you have overlooked it, did you
change out the regulator? The regulator for the Generator, and the
regulator for the alternator are not the same.

"Braukuche" > wrote in message
...
> >If it *is*, hook it back up like:
>>http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/pics/gen.jpg
>>
>>Let me know what you discover and we'll go from there.
>>
>
> I can't test the gennie cause I can't get the car to start. I have it
> hooked up
> like the diagram said. Still no juice running through it It acts like the
> battery is dead but I am reading 12 volts at the igntion switch, but I
> have no
> headlights and when I turn the switch the voltage drops. Any ideas?
> Thanks,
> --Dan

>I'll bring up a simple problem in case you have overlooked it, did you
>change out the regulator? <

Yes..
--Dan

Braukuche wrote:

>>If it *is*, hook it back up like:
>>http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/pics/gen.jpg
>>
>>Let me know what you discover and we'll go from there.
>>
>
>
> I can't test the gennie cause I can't get the car to start. I have it hooked up
> like the diagram said. Still no juice running through it It acts like the
> battery is dead but I am reading 12 volts at the igntion switch, but I have no
> headlights and when I turn the switch the voltage drops. Any ideas?
> Thanks,
> --Dan

Put the voltmeter right across the battery posts (not the cable clamps,
right on the posts). Have someone turn the key or switch headlamps on.
If voltage at the posts drops (a lot), the battery is dead.

If battery voltage stays up at ~12V, use the meter to check at
various other places (again with key turned or headlamps On).
Start with the cables on the battery and work your way forward.

There is an excellent diagram on:
http://www.vintagebus.com/wiring.html
if you haven't already.

BTW, that year Bus uses the headlight switch as a kind of
power distribution point for most of the battery power up front.
The switch terminals often fail, so take a hard look.

Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

>BTW, that year Bus uses the headlight switch as a kind of
>power distribution point for most of the battery power up front.
>The switch terminals often fail, so take a hard look.<

That appears to be the problem. I shook it aroudn a bit and viola, everything
works for now. Thanks for your help, Jim.
--Dan E

Braukuche wrote:

>>BTW, that year Bus uses the headlight switch as a kind of
>>power distribution point for most of the battery power up front.
>>The switch terminals often fail, so take a hard look.<
>
>
> That appears to be the problem. I shook it aroudn a bit and viola, everything
> works for now. Thanks for your help, Jim.
> --Dan E

LOL
They should all be so easy!
Glad it worked for you.

Jim