Polarizing Voltage regulator

[Rocking416]

I have read many things about polarizing a starter generator. Any thoughts I am sure a few people on here have done it.

[J-Mech]

If the battery has been dead a long time, or you are replacing it, it is necessary.

[Dart1917]

As soon as you push the starter button or turn the key the generator will be polarized.

[ol'George]

Originally Posted by Dart1917

As soon as you push the starter button or turn the key the generator will be polarized.

That is not necessarily true.
On a new installation the current has to be started in the right direction.
Back when all vehicles had generators, I had to momentarily
polarise the system when a generator or regulator was replaced,
or sat for very long periods of time.
If I didn't, it didn't work properly, if @ all.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by ol'George

That is not necessarily true.
On a new installation the current has to be started in the right direction.
Back when all vehicles had generators, I had to momentarily
polarise the system when a generator or regulator was replaced,
or sat for very long periods of time.
If I didn't it didn't work properly, if @ all.

[RLause]

I think that when you push the starter button, you are doing the same thing. The manual says to take a wire and momentarily short the armature terminal to the plus battery terminal to polarize the generator.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by RLause

I think that when you push the starter button, you are doing the same thing. The manual says to take a wire and momentarily short the armature terminal to the plus battery terminal to polarize the generator.

And your thoughts are based on years of experience working on old generator systems I'm sure.

George is right. They will not always polarize themselves.

[DeltaCub]

If the generator has been rebuilt, V regulater has been replaced, flashing the fields is imperative.

[ol'George]

Not to be argumentative in any way.
Current is stupid, ya gotta get it going on the right path.
That said, one does not have to polarised a system often, or do it like a tune up or as things wear.
It does not cure a system of not charging today that worked fine yesterday.
You have a 50-50 chance it will charge correctly when replacing components.

The first thing you did after replacing components was polarise it.
If occasionally you ran into a new component that failed to operate and returned it to the vendor, the first thing they asked was did you polarise the system, you better say yes because if you said huh, or no, I didn't pulverise it, they said sorry no exchange/refund because you prolly damaged it.
and you better of had connected it properly because if you let out the magic
smoke they can tell you had the cover off because of usually a paint mark or the burned points inside.
If you would like take some time to read up on it, and help yourself understand, please do.
During normal operation, a system does not need it done, or even year to year.
and it only takes one millisecond, just a very fast spark to accomplish it.
Another case of more is not better.

[RLause]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

And your thoughts are based on years of experience working on old generator systems I'm sure.

George is right. They will not always polarize themselves.

Jonathan, my thoughts are based on growing up on a farm and working on tractors and generators for the last 65 years. The procedure is described in the Delco Remy manual. This is a link to the regulator used on the Cubs.

http://ruiter.ca/mc/info/PDFs/1R-116.pdf