9 replies to this topic

[giacomo]

Hey there,

I've got a very non standard '59 mini that's just started playing up on me. Still running dynamo-regulator. The regulator isn't a standard one and a mg one move to inside of the car.

Recently when driving it's been fine but then as I come to a stop the car cuts out and there seems to be no battery power. Battery's completely drained. I've cleaned up one of the connectors and replaced the connector that looked a state and sort of sorted it but it's still cutting out after coming to a stop.

Checked the voltage on the battery after jumping it and keeping it running for a little bit. It was at 12.21/2 at idle and under load (lights on, front fan on) 11.90

Is this a regulator issue?
Is there any tests I can do to see if it is?

I've never had any issues in my 4 years of ownership. Other than the battery maybe being a little dud now and giving it a charge like I have done I can't really think of what it could be!

Cheers Giacomo

Edited by giacomo, 11 May 2017 - 05:22 PM.

[tiger99]

I would say that your charging system is not working at all, as 12,2V is well below what you should have. It could be the regulator or dynamo, or both.

[floormanager]

The dynamos are fairly robust and can be tested quiet easily. The weak link are the voltage regulators.  Replacements now are rubbish.  I changed mine to an electronic version which is grat and creates a more stable voltage.

[russo]

Easy to check brushes in generator. Another test is to disconnect fan belt and join dynamo and field terminals togeather, liven up wire joining dynamo and field and it should motorise. If it motorises then it will more than likely be regulator.

[giacomo]

The dynamos are fairly robust and can be tested quiet easily. The weak link are the voltage regulators.  Replacements now are rubbish.  I changed mine to an electronic version which is grat and creates a more stable voltage.

Where did you get the electronic version? I think I'm going to source a replacement mg one and change that over. It's just a straight over swap?

[tiger99]

Russo, good point! I used one as a motor many years ago. If you reduce the field current it will go faster but with less torque. If it will do that, it is almost certainly ok.

The regulator is an utter abomination, the best that could be done without modern semiconductor technology. The triple coil version with voltage and current control, not normally used on Minis, gave better performance, but anthing that relies on chattering contacts to provide crude pulse width modulation will never have the life of properly rated solid state equipment.

However I had a genuine dynamo failure many years ago on my MK 1 van. The regulator was ok.

[phil hill]

Where did you get the electronic version? I think I'm going to source a replacement mg one and change that over. It's just a straight over swap?

http://www.dynamoreg...onversions.com/

Phil.

[giacomo]

Cheers for the help guys, I think I'll swap the regulator first then go from there. I know the dynamo isn't a standard '59 one so working out what it is/sourcing a replacement may be hard work. I think it could also be worth while looking into converting it to run an alternator........

[giacomo]

Where did you get the electronic version? I think I'm going to source a replacement mg one and change that over. It's just a straight over swap?

http://www.dynamoreg...onversions.com/

Phil.

Cheers for that Phil, interesting. Something I may look into very soon if I don't go with finding out how to convert to an alternator 😊

[floormanager]

 

The dynamos are fairly robust and can be tested quiet easily. The weak link are the voltage regulators.  Replacements now are rubbish.  I changed mine to an electronic version which is grat and creates a more stable voltage.

Where did you get the electronic version? I think I'm going to source a replacement mg one and change that over. It's just a straight over swap?

 

I got mine here.  You have to put in your box yourself but I wanted to do that. 

 

http://www.dynamoreg...rs.com/dvr3.php