Join the third test wire to the battery positive, also to the rectifier earth
bolt or case.
Connect the wire removed from the battery, in turn, to the white and
green terminals.
If the bulb lights in these two tests the rectifier is defective.
Take off the test wires from rectifier and remake the circuit.
Remove the negative wire from the battery.
Join the third test wire to the battery negative terminal, also to the
brown rectifier terminal.
Connect the wire removed from the battery in turn, to the green and
white terminals.
Should the bulb light in either of these tests the rectifier is defective,
LUCAS ELECTRICAL SERVICE
Lucas A.C. Lighting-Ignition Unit Alternator Model RM15
The alternator consists of a spigot-mounted 6-coil laminated stator
bolted to the outer portion of chaincase with a rotor carried on and driven
by an extension of the crankshaft. The rotor has an hexagonal steel core,
each face of which carries a high energy permanent magnet keyed to a
laminated pole tip. The pole tips are riveted circumferentially to brass
side plates, the assembly being cast in aluminium and machined to give
a smooth external finish.
Thus there are no rotating windings, commutator, brush-gear, bearings
or oil seals and consequently the alternator requires no maintenance apart
from occasionally checking the snap connectors in the three output cables
are clean and tight, which are located behind the frame cover which is
located by two knurled screws.
If it is necessary, for any purpose, to remove the rotor, there is no
necessity to fit keepers to the rotor poles. When the rotor is removed
wipe off any metal swarf which may have collected on the pole tips. Place
the rotor in a clean place.
Normal running. Under normal running conditions (i.e., ignition switch
in IGN position) electrical energy in the form of rectified alternating cur-
rent passes through the battery from the alternator—the rate of output
depends on the position of the lighting switch. When no lights are in use,
the alternator output supplies the ignition coil and trickle-charges the
battery. When the lighting switch is turned, the output is automatically
increased to meet the additional load of the parking lights and again when
the main bulb is in use,
Emergency starting. An EMERGENCY starting position is provided in
the ignition switch for use if the battery has become discharged. Under
these conditions, the alternator is connected direct to the ignition coil,
allowing the engine to be started independently of the battery.
Once the engine is running, turn the ignition switch back to the normal
running position, otherwise misfiring will occur.
Emergency charging. Should the battery became discharged a temporary
boost can be effected during daylight running, by an alteration to the al-
ternator connections.
The snap connectors are located behind the frame plate, which is se-
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