Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 434 Threads: 35
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Location: Garden of England
Car type: ARQ Ruby July 1936
My ammeter reading on the dashboard at high revs gets up around 10 or 12 and drops to zero at tick over. In the Companion, page 205 there is an article by R Duffield that says for Lucas equipment the reading should be 6 - 7.
Early Ruby with a C35M dynamo
Should I correct this down by adjusting the third brush or is there anything else I should be looking at, all comments welcome.
Cheers Denis S
Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 5,474 Threads: 231
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Location: Scotchland
Yes, adjust the third brush Denis.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 434 Threads: 35
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Location: Garden of England
Car type: ARQ Ruby July 1936
Cheers Ruairidh, thanks for the swift reply, is the 6-7 amp figure correct?
Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 5,474 Threads: 231
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Location: Scotchland
That would be my preference, yes.
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Location: Deepest Frogland 30960
Car type: 1933 RP Standard Saloon
Seconded, Dennis. Definitely no more than 8 on winter setting. Less is more.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 434 Threads: 35
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Location: Garden of England
Car type: ARQ Ruby July 1936
Running around 7-8 at high revs but ammeter needle is not steady so difficult to say for certain but certainly nowhere near 10-12.
Cheers
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 2,427 Threads: 33
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Location: Deepest Frogland 30960
Car type: 1933 RP Standard Saloon
03-03-2022, 12:16 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-03-2022, 12:17 PM by Reckless Rat.)
I run all day on summer setting (about 1amp) and only use the winter setting if I need to recharge the battery a bit and only then for a mile or two. If in any doubt, on winter setting, switch the sidelights on. Running on headlights will normally show a slight discharge, but that's normal.
Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,126 Threads: 111
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Location: Llandrindod Wells
Car type: 29 Special, 30 RK, 28 C Cab
Hi All
Finding this thread very interesting.
I have a question. High revs are mentioned but no actual values.
I’m running a 3 brush DEL dynamo with a diode cutout. The dynamo was rebuilt by a specialist about a year ago, the brushes seem in good condition.
But I need to have nearly 2500 revs before the ammeter suggests that the dynamo starts charging. Seems quite a lot to me.
Any suggestions or comments
Cheers
Howard
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 434 Threads: 35
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Location: Garden of England
Car type: ARQ Ruby July 1936
Howard, I have no idea what revs my Ruby is doing but at around 35 to 40 mph, having adjusted the third brush earlier it was running at a steady 8 amps.
Returned home and adjusted the third brush further and again at about the same speeds the ammeter was showing 6 amps, so is now in line with other comments on this thread and Duffield’s original article.
Interestingly I have just purchased a new battery and at the same time asked the dealer to check my old one, the first thing he checked was the acid which was a brown colour, his comment was that the battery has been overcharged and forming Hydrogen Sulphide-and was shot. This was after I had already purchased the new one, so he had nothing to gain at that stage, so that is what’s prompted this thread and resulting adjustment.
Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,126 Threads: 111
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Location: Llandrindod Wells
Car type: 29 Special, 30 RK, 28 C Cab
Hi Denis
Thanks for the response. I believe 35 to 40 mph in a Ruby corresponds roughly to 2500 to 3000 revs.
Cheers
Howard
