Alternator issues??

[xboeingdrvr]

Hello,
I have a F-19 (0-200) and I believed the lack of charging on meter and battery was a bad Alternator. So, I replaced it last month and still having issues... I have a alternator controller (zeftronics) and it has a trouble shooting light. Light comes on red which reads " Red= Field ground short or Open S" any idea where to start trouble shooting this? Electronics are not my strong point.... Thanks fellas.
Glen

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Alternator issues??

Glen,
Since you changed the alternator, chances are that you have a bad/frayed wire in the field circuit.

In simple terms, the alternator is spinning a spool of electric wire inside a magnetic field and the magnetic field is "sweeping" electrons along the wire wound on the spool. The magnetic field here is actually an electromagnet, so the strength of the magnetic field can be controlled -- stronger magnetism = more output and weaker magnetism = less output.

The voltage regulator varies the strength of the magnetic field by controlling the amps flowing to the field windings. Maximum is 5 amps to the field. At 6 amps, the Zeftronics illuminates the red trouble light. Somewhere along your field wire there may be a short to ground allowing too much current flow. Check the field wire carefully - or just replace it. Possibly there is a bad connection to the field switch in the cockpit. Intermittent connection will cause bad things to happen to solid state circuits.

Zeftronics has another trait which is not so good. If you do a jump start, the solid state devices in the Zeftronics may overload and fry. We did two jump starts and burned out two Zeftronics this past year and got the red light both times. We finally called the tech rep. Sure enough, their recommendation is to use a battery charger to top up a battery and NOT do a jump start because it puts a big load on the device. That was $300 worth of information - just sent that in small bills to Julicher Aviation LLC

If your wiring is OK, borrow another regulator and give it a go.

[xboeingdrvr]

Re: Alternator issues??

Thank you very much Mark, I will try your suggestions. And glad to know the jump start issue...good thing I have not jumped it.
Glen