| Author | Message | ||
     Michael Paceskoski New User Username: forever_elegant Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2005 |
Hi guys, im in the middle of coverting an old non standard radio to cd player in my cloud 2. its basically very simple stuff -- speaker wire, battery wire, accessory wire, ground and antenna, but the unusual thing is that my car seems to have positive earth , which from what i have been reading is weird. i believe from the technical article is that positive earth was discontinued after the wraith, and negative earth was introduced for the cloud. i have checked the battery and its polarity is correct and i believe that the negative is connected to the chassis. what do i do, i just cant get my head around it. Cheers Michael | ||
| Michael Paceskoski New User Username: forever_elegant Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2005 |
ok -- i couldnt beleive my eyes. THE + TERMINAL IS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS i have recently purchased this car so plese dont blame me for connecting it like that, but the funny thing is that this car is not roadworthy but i have started it on the odd occasion and letting it run for a little while. if the battery is in the wrong position how does the car start up. wouldnt the starter motor spin backwards. im totally confused, if i switch the battery over is it safe to start the car? | ||
| whunter Prolific User Username: whunter Post Number: 184 Registered: 10-2003 |
The dynamo and voltage regulator should be wrecked. The Silver Cloud 2 is a negative ground chassis. It is a fact that the engine will start and run on either polarity. | ||
| Michael Paceskoski New User Username: forever_elegant Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2005 |
thanks whunter, if the engine will run on either polarity does that mean i can change the battery the right way a should not do any damage to the engine and starter motor | ||
| whunter Prolific User Username: whunter Post Number: 185 Registered: 10-2003 |
The dynamo/generator and voltage regulator should be wrecked. Nothing else is polarity sensitive.  | ||
| John Kilkenny Experienced User Username: john_kilkenny Post Number: 26 Registered: 6-2005 |
This is an interesting question and while I don't know much about Clouds here is a possible scenario. If the battery is reversed the starter motor will not change direction as this would require either the field or armature windings to be reversed but not both. The generator and voltage control will probably still work as the field current will be reversed and the voltage control is a current device and does not depend on polarity. However you would notice that the ammeter would also be reversed and if someone has previously reversed the battery they would probably have done the same with the ammeter. | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 635 Registered: 9-2004 |
To start with check the coil terminals. If it has been changed to "+" earth the "-" terminal will be the feed in on the coil. If you have a scope and this has not been carried out the display will be shown reversed. Do not get to alarmed at this stage, have had many types of this sort over the years and damage to a dynamo system has never occured. If you would like a run down on things to do on the reversing of polarity can do. Does the engine run smooth at all levels of speed power? | ||
| Michael Paceskoski New User Username: forever_elegant Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2005 |
Hi Guys, thanks for all your help. i figured out that it was only the battery put in the wrong way, as when i switched on reds the ammeter showed a positive, therefore recharging instead of draining. once i reversed the battery the ammeter started working properly, therefore i believe there is no damage to the dynamo/generator and shows that it is charging. does this mean that i have no damage to the voltage regulator aswell? i personally think there is no damage. to tell you the truth, i havent driven the car so i would not know if the power is the same. at the moment i need to get the brakes overhauled and give the engine a good tune up. i have had the car for a little over a month or so. Cheers Michael | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 636 Registered: 9-2004 |
To be on the safe side with the "-" battery now correctly to ground remove the small terminal on the dynamo and connect a lead on that terminal that will reach to a live feed. Flash the wire to the feed, this will polarize the dynamo if it has not sorted its self out. | ||
| Neville Davies Yet to post message Username: nev_davies Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2006 |
When transistorised radios appeared in the late 60's it became a common practice to change the earth to negative to accomodate the negative body connection of the radios.As Patrick said the dynamo had to be flashed and ideally the coil changed to negative earth type as well though most garages didn't bother to do this. | ||
| whunter Prolific User Username: whunter Post Number: 186 Registered: 10-2003 |
Hello Michael Paceskoski If the meter shows it is charging, you should be OK. Have a great day. whunter |
