Ignition light won't go out

[patrickt]

So how are we doing on this? Any progress? I'm thinking that maybe you could snap a quick pic of your voltage regulator and the wires that are running to it. Right now, I'm not completely sure whether you've got the traditional Ford wiring configuration or the old Lucas configuration, like the MGs used to have. In basic theory they're not all that much different, but they are wired a little differently.

[steve meltzer]

OMG! I never got any notification of your excellent posts, Patrick. So I apologize if I appeared to be a jerk and not at least thank you for your thoughts. OK....

The Kirkham wiring diagram is on the 'net and I tried to download it into a pdf, which is attached.

1) The alternator I put in is a rebuild from O’Reilly, the voltage regulator a BWD, from O’Reilly, part number R400 (4wire). (Both for a '65 Ford Galaxy 500 XL) The old VR was a "2 KD ??7768" or something I can't recall off hand, tho' it's at home on the work bench.

The alternator now charges fine, according to the voltmeter and the ignition light on the dash behaves correctly. However, the problem is that the VR seems hot to the touch, even if the car has been sitting for hours.

1A) Even with engine off, and key off, the “field” terminal on both the alternator and VR are “hot”. Is this correct?? There is def’n current flowing between the alternator and the VR with the key off.

2) The car has two sets of fans, independent of each other and on separate circuits. Both fans operate manually with their own toggle switches. There is no sensor anywhere.

2A) The little, twin, front “pusher” fans are fine. No problems. Both fans run from the battery....the key can be in your pocket, engine off, and they will run.

2B) The big “sucker” fan operates with a relay and a toggle switch under the dash. It don't work now. I think the problem is the relay or maybe the toggle switch. Not sure if this is related to the foolin' around I did with the voltage regulators and alternators.

thanx steve

[patrickt]

Ahhh, the old "good news, bad news" scenario. The good news is, everything works perfectly when the engine is running, the bad news is that the battery is discharging through the system when the key is off. Let's try something really, really simple. With the key off, can you disconnect the lead to the "A" terminal of the VR (thus replicating "switched" power to that terminal, as opposed to "always hot" power)? If that fixes the discharge "VR is Hot" problem, then you can just change the source to "A" to power that is switched on and off via the ignition switch. My system, for instance, feeds the "A" terminal of the VR with switched power, not "always on" power. But if the VR stays hot, even after pulling that lead, then it's something else. You gotta love a schematic that says "All our Cars vary from this Diagram."

[steve meltzer]

Thanx again, Patrick. Are you saying to swap the "I" and "A" terminal wires, if the experiment works??

When I got the car from Kirkham (I'm the only owner, and no wiring has been modified under my stewardship), the alternator was NOT wired the way the diagram shows! (but consistent with your humorous observation that "not all cars are wired the same"). There was no wire from the alternator's "stator" terminal and there was a ground wire, unlike the schematic I sent, that relies on the block to provide the ground for the alternator.

thanx again. steve

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by steve meltzer

Thanx again, Patrick. Are you saying to swap the "I" and "A" terminal wires, if the experiment works??

I want both the "A" terminal feed and the "I" terminal feed to be switched power. Your indicator light is in series, possibly with a 15 ohm shunt, on one of those lines, but I wouldn't bet the farm as to which one. But, I think as a test, if you just pull the "A" terminal off, with the key off, for a few minutes and see if the VR cool downs, then we know what the solution is if that works. Then we just tweak your wiring so the implementation of that solution is elegant.

[steve meltzer]

OK, i'll let you know and thanx again. this stuff is outta my usual daily routine! s

[steve meltzer]

The weekend got away from me and work is now in the way. i'll post when I know more. thanx again. s