I have a generator that i want to put on my car,( to replace the altenator)I took it apart, replaced the brushes, scotchbrited the armature, scraped the insulation grooves on the armeture & replaced 1 bearing. Is there a way to check it thru the terminals before I install it without taking it apart & using a growler(theres a term that hasn't been used in years!! )? I don't have a growler & I doubt the Jamooks at the local shop would even know what it is!!!
I remember the growler, weighed around 80 pounds and didn't get used often so it was on the floor under the bench, had to hoist it up there once in a while. Hated the growler, don't have one. I just check for resistance between the communtator and shaft and the coil to case, and continuity of the coils. When****embled, resistance from brushes to the case could be checked to cinfirm the integrity of the brush holder mechanism insulation. Could belt it up to an electric motor and check output. I have an old timey bench top grinder that would be a fairly simple belt up for that purpose. Probably would be less hassle to to swap it mechanically to the car and test it there.
Grab an old Motors Manual, they go thru the bench testing in detail. There are also internal and external grounded models so be sure to read the section thru.
Yep...what I did was stick it in a bench vise, hook up a voltmeter, and spin the pulley with a power drill. 6 volts!
You can also motor the generator. On a negative ground system,ground the field terminal of the generator to the generator frame. Connect the generator positive terminal to the positive terminal on the battery. Connect the negative battery terminal to the generator frame. The generator should run now like a motor. Make sure you got a good grip on the generator. It's got some torque. I would think a positive ground system would have the battery connections reversed but others could chime in on this.
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