Hitchcocks Forum

My electrics and charging are all working just fine. Just one thing; normally the ammeter shows a small positive deflection. When I put the indicators on, it moves further into the positive and deflects with the flashes. What's going on?

That means everything is working just fine

Thought as much. What can I do to fix it?

Do the indicators work normal without the engine running (switch on though) like mine?

Hi guys--------- JOHN R, are you sure you've got that correct ??...... With the engine running fast idle (or more) and all lights on, the ammeter should just be into the "+" side by about the thickness of it's needle....ie, the charging system has balanced the total electrical demand AND is maintaining a small charge as well.......... If you now introduce a heavy, ALTERNATING load such as the indicators, then the needle will momentarily deflect to the "-" side (the discharge side) and return... This is because the charging system hasn't had enough time to respond to that temporary increase in load...Now you say your Ammeter moves MORE into the "+" side and then alternates ??..Seems to me then that you must have a poor earth connection in the loom somewhere as the temp. use of the indicators own earth connections increases the charge rate--albeit temporary..If it were a short-circuit then the needle would go Full-Scale Deflection (FSD)... Does this happen for both L/H and R/H indications ???..........How about when you apply the brakes; does the ammeter behave the same as for the indicators but with a steady reading ??.......... Don't forget that these Ammeters are a mass-produced item of dubious quality at best..

Your electrics seem to be working OK . Mine show + ( thickness of needle )and pulse higher with indicators on and up a step with brakes on and full first line mark with lights that pulse the thickness of needle with indicators , if you go into neg somethings wrong with the earthing or yor alternator me thinks .

Yes, about the same as yours Phil. This is fine, but I am just curious to know why the charge increases when brake lights and indicators go on.

An ammeter displays flow, if yours is showing increased + when a load is on then the polarity is reversed somewhere. Maybe someone connected the battery incorrectly?

What, like positive Earth? I don't think so! The voltage regulator is in the form of a Boyer Powerbox, does it have some way of over correcting for extra demand?

The Infamous Enfield has been showing this "anomaly" since Boyer Powerbox fitted in 1998 and is none the worse for it ...... Prior to that, with the original separate rectifier and regulator, the needle danced around like a whirling dervish ..... Now it is rock steady