Strange problem with the generator's warning red light

[62ItalianRagtop]

Hi, I have a strange problem with the generator's warning red light.

The light only comes on when I have the headlights on and when the engine is revving.
With parking lights on, no problems

Do you think it is a problem with the regulator or the generator?

Thank you
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LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/

[wagen19]

Assuming your car is original and has 6 Volts and you are NOT using other non original electrical consumers, that bring the voltage on terminal 30 and 15 down.

With luck, both, gen. and regulator can be OK.

You have a potential difference in your electrical system:

At speedo:

the red warning light gets directly power from terminal 61 (blue wire)

the housing of the warning light also gets power from terminal 15, fuse box, ignition switch, etc.

If your wiring is OK, when engine on and generator properly charging, the voltage on terminal 15 and terminal 61 should be nearly the same and so the light goes out.

Use a volt meter and measure at speedo voltage on terminal 15 and terminal 61.

A difference of around 0,5 Volts is normal and OK.
If you have a significant higher difference, that´s not normal.
More than 8,1 Volts on terminal 61, the regulator would clearly be the culprit.

>> Check all your wires and connectors of your electrical system.

[62ItalianRagtop]

Hello and thanks for the reply.

The system is original 6v and I am not using non-original electrical devices.

Can you explain better what you mean by "measure at speedo voltage on terminal 15 and terminal 61" ?

I have to measure the voltage coming to the red warning light from regulator's terminal 61 and then?

Thank you
_________________
LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/

[wagen19]

[62ItalianRagtop]

OK thank you, should I do the test with both low beams off and on?
_________________
LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/

[wagen19]

[zerotofifty]

You may have a charging problem or bad connections from the regulator to the warning lamp


See link for details on the wiring issue. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=802046
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[EVfun]

You are describing the results of one or more poor connections between the power supply (coming from the back of the car) and the rest of the wiring (leaving from the front of the car). This is SO common on old 6 volt Bugs. I’ve been known to ignore a really dim generator warning light that only happens with the headlights on.

A voltage test is in order. With the motor running and the headlights on do a couple voltage tests using the same voltmeter.
1. The voltage between the voltage regulator and car ground, at the engine. Check both voltage regulator terminals and note any difference.
2. The voltage between the terminal powering the lower 3 speedometer warning lights and car ground. This needs to read just a fraction of a volt lower than the engine side test or there is some connections needing cleaning in the power supply to the front of the car.
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[62ItalianRagtop]

[62ItalianRagtop]

Hi all,

here are the measurements taken

I checked the connections on the light switch, ignition switch, fuse box and everything seems ok.

At the battery terminals I have an average voltage of 6.20 V at 850 rpm and 7.40 V at about 2000 rpm.

what do you think?

Thank you
_________________
LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/

[EVfun]

That's telling me that you have a bad connection or bad wire crimp at either terminal B+ on the voltage regulator, or at terminal 30 of the light switch. If you have 2 separate #30 terminals on the light switch is could be in the light switch. These connections are in the path that supplies power behind the dash, and before the point where the headlights power splits off.

I see that when the headlights are on the supply voltage behind the dash drops about 1 volt. The generator dash bulb responds to this volt by partially lighting.
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[62ItalianRagtop]

PROBLEM SOLVED !!!!

The problem was precisely on the B+ terminal which was very loose.
Probably as the revs increased and the vibrations increased, the energy that came out of the B+ and went towards the front of the car decreased.

Is this explanation correct in your opinion?

Thank you very much
_________________
LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/

[wagen19]

[62ItalianRagtop]

Thank you
_________________
LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/