What is Polarizing a Generator?

[ashman40]

[ManyVDubs]

I want to polarize the generator on a work bench using a regular 12V car battery but not the one in the VW.
Couple of dumb questions:
1/ can I use jumper cables or is that too thick of a wire? Not sure if it makes a difference and needs to be smaller wire.

2/ I would then connect the jumper to DF and the other end to ground on the car or other metal and connect the other jumper cable from the positive battery to the other terminal. What about the negative terminal on the battery? With the generator out of the car don't I just run jumper plus to plus and negative to negative between the battery and the generator?
I did not attend electrical school and I can't visualize it. Thanks

[Danwvw]

Another easier way to polarize it is to with the key turned off jumper B+ to D+ with some fair sized copper wire battery cables work. Takes just a second or two you will hear it kick a little and see it if you look at the fully installed belt and pulley it's the same procedure as above only it depends on the voltage regulator to be grounding DF and it's done with the belt on.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[jmeajuice]

Reviving this thread. Car is running, but battery not charging. I put a multimeter on the generator and it is reading around 1.6V. I am in a weird place because it is putting out some voltage, but very low. My generator warning light stays lit. The car did sit for about 7 years without running. Would polarizing the generator help the low output? Would taking the belt off vs running the car polarize it any differently? Sorry for what are probably dumb questions.

[broozebrothers]

Thank you Ashman ,, I’ll try it out and see what it does ..

[ashman40]

[broozebrothers]

[Cusser]

[ashman40]

Here is an updated link to Speedy Jim's page on testing the generator.
http://speedyjim.net/htm/gen.htm
Follow the instructions and report back your finding.

When you ground the DF terminal with a voltmeter/multi meter on the D+ terminal report back the voltage produced as you rev the engine to 2100rpm and get the generator charging. With the DF grounded it should output the max voltage (35v+).

BTW, when you polarized the generator, which direction was the pulley spinning? Someone correct me by I believe it should spin CW.
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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[Cusser]

[salicoskungfu]

I can polarize my sons generator but it is still not showing any power. It will spin nicely when I get the power to it, so that seems like it should work. I put a test light on the positive side and get nothing.

[gp98]

I have a 1971 BSA Lightning that's positive ground...oh those Brits.
Foot brake and shift reversed too.
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1972 Super Beetle
1961 Dune Buggy,2010 Larz Anderson Class Winner
1971 BSA Lighting
1969 tin top westy

[Cusser]

[Scorcho]

If I have positive ground do I connect the jumper cable to the negative pole of the battery?

[sb001]

[Miklo]

Polarize the generator like Cusser mentions above.

You do not need to polarize the regulator, also mentioned above.
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✠Miklo✠
'55 Type1 "Ozma"
'66 Type1 "Charlotte" RIP
Antelope Valley's Mobile Air-Cooled Guru

[sb001]

I recently installed a replacement regulator and did nothing to polarize the generator through it- didnt know.
How do you polarize the generator through the regulator? Would it be OK to do this rather than polarizing at the generator itself?
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I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[Zylinderkopf]

is it possible for a generator to lose its magnetism after an electrical short? My son took some friends for a ride in my '66 and now the generator light is on. The small rubber mat that I had placed over the battery below the seat had slid off and I think the seat springs may have made contact with the battery and caused a short. The brushes and commutator on the generator still look ok.

[Cusser]

Yes, you can polarize the generator if it's already installed in the VW. Take off the belt and all the wires. Then it's just like it was sitting on a bench. Wire it up correctly to spin it as an electric motor for a few seconds (only).
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[jamesdagg]

Speedy jim's site has pics>

http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/htm/gen.htm

jim
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'72 FI Westy
'71 Super rear inside defrost vents no longer available