Charging light illuminated when starting.When

[Mad Harold]

When starting the engine hot or cold (BMC 1500) the charging light stays on untill I give the engine a "blip"and then it goes out and stays out even at a slow tickover. Havn't checked alternator output,but batteries are charging ok 

Is it a faulty regulator or worn carbon brushes,or poor connections? or perhaps a sign that the alternator is on the way out?

Any advice most welcome.

[RLWP]

That's normal. You need to up the speed to get the alternator to start charging, after that it is fine

 

If you have a voltmeter, watch what happens as you blip the engine, the voltage should go up a lot as the alternator begins to charge

 

Richard

[dor]

Agreed. Quite normal. Blip the throttle to excite the alternator.  Or play around with the wiring to increase the warning light current.

[OldGoat]

4 minutes ago, dor said:

Agreed. Quite normal. Blip the throttle to excite the alternator.  Or play around with the wiring to increase the warning light current.

Yeah - gorra have an exited alternator - Ye Ha

[Mad Harold]

Thanks for the replies.

should have added that the voltmeter reads 14 volts when the charging light is out.

Only noticed this because I have recently changed ny starting technique.

The instructions for starting are printed on tapes on the instrument panel,and read; "throttle to ten o clock,heater plugs for 30 seconds"  This results in the

 engine starting with a roar and a cloud of smoke and the charging light goes out.

I have found that 10 seconds of the heater plugs and setting the throttle to a fast tickover position  is a more civilised way of starting,no smoke and the engine burbles away nicely. This is when I noticed the charging light staying on.

I am now reassured.

Once again,my thanks.++

[RLWP]

Ten seconds and a bit over tickover works on our BMC 1.8 too

 

I get impatient counting beyond ten

 

Richard

[Dr Bob]

2 hours ago, RLWP said:

Ten seconds and a bit over tickover works on our BMC 1.8 too

 

I get impatient counting beyond ten

 

Richard

It's been too cold to take my shoes and socks off.