Charging,?.

[David.H]

The difference between Summer and Winter charge: in "Winter" switch position, the two dynamo terminals are connected together, so the Field (smaller wire) gets lots of supply and so makes more electricity.

In "Summer", the supply to the Field goes through the field resistance which lowers the juice to the field and the dynamo makes less electricity and so isn't working too hard during the Summer.

This resistance, as standard, is a coil of rusty wire about 3/8" diameter and about 2 1/2" long, it usually lives under the control box, or sometimes in its own box on the dynamo.

It is also often broken.   If broken and the switching is working, you get full charge on "Winter" and none on "Summer"

I have read back, the field resistance has only been mentioned once.    And reading back reminded me that you had a problem with the ignition light - which has its own resistance in the form of a coil of thin wire wrapped around the holder.   Which I am not sure you got to the bottom of whether the assembly was the correct spec, or connected correctly.

Did you get the cut out to close when revving?

Have you checked the state of the field resistance and its connections?

Are you sure the warning light is correct in spec and connections - it almost sounds as if the field current is going through it - it isn't clear from your last what happens when, I think you have written "Summer" twice, when one of them should be "Winter".


For a simple system, it ties us all up in knots - don't get down, it will get sorted.


Easy solution to get mobile is just run on the battery - see a previous thread a week or two ago - and have another go at it later.   Gives you time to borrow cut-out, dynamo, switch, ignition light, as required, to swap over and nail the problem.

Slack Alice
The lamp resistance wire is not present. I have run a wire to D+ so the lamp works
I am using a 12v bulb (like on my other sevens)    I did fit a 6v 3.2 but that blew on winter charge, but gave a lovely light!
I don't know if the cut out is closing at high revs....I think not.
I do not have any resistance wire in evidence!
I have not been able (how?) to test the field resistance I have a digital meter....
Of course I can run without the dynamo,  but it grieves me that something doesn't work. If I have toreplace the cut out, so be it, but I don't want to spend money and find it wasn't thar after all!
I could try the cut out from the AD, but I would hate to fry it!
Thanks to all for your help etc!!
D