83 Columbia Voltage Regulator Wiring

backyard

I've went through the wiring to check all my connections and I find the red and black wires going to the voltage regulator cut off back in the factory sheathing. Naturally I wandered what had happened so I found out they are supposed to go to:

D+, red wire, goes to A-2 terminal.

D-, black wire, goes to A-1 terminal.


This is how the cart was wired:

D+, new bigger red wire, wired to triggered side of starter solenoid.

D-, black wire in what I figure to be sheathing from another vehicle or something, wired to A-1 and A2 terminals. The black wire starts out as one wire, goes most of the way up the sheating to where the one wire splits off into 2 wires with what looks like 2 diodes. The 2 wires then each connect to A-1 and A-2 terminals.

I can't figure why someone would wire that up like that or if it would even work. I've looked at a few service manuals and do not see any diodes in any of the voltage regulator wires. However there is a diode up at the key switch.

I removed the makeshift? wiring harness and just ran D+ to A-2 and D- to A-1 without any diodes.

Am I right in doing this or do I need to put it back the way it was?

BGW

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Lochlin

That's some mickey moused wiring for sure. Personally, I would try to revert things to their correct state.

Still, those voltage regulators can be wired several different ways. You'll notice in the manual that they post a "recommended" wiring configuration versus a required one.

For all intents and purposes the voltage regulator is there to make sure the generator isn't putting too much current into in the circuit, possibly damaging things. The best thing to do is to jack the cart up and run it at about 1/2 speed while holding volt meter on the battery. You should be somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 volts at the battery. Much less and your battery probably won't stay charged. Any more and you are risk of burning stuff up. If you are close to that 14 v reading the way things are now you are probably ok.

backyard

I still have it wired the way I put it. I tested the generator and it puts out around 18 volts.

When I put the green wire back on the generator (regulator regulating), I dont get 14 volts but I can tell its putting some amps back in the battery. Example: battery starts out 12.6 volts, crank up engine and rev up and it shows up and down to 12.8 volts. So that tells me the regulator is putting out something less than 12.8 volts but still putting amps in the battery. Do you think the regulator is bad or just needs adjusting?

I'm waiting on a new carb to arrive to dig deeper but so far the battery has stayed charged up the whole time around 12.6 volts.

Lochlin

12.6 volts back to the battery is a bit low. Sure, you are charging but probably not enough to overcome starting draw for more than a month or so.

Switch your voltage regulator wires on A1 and A2 and see what you have on the battery while running. Switching these wires cant hurt anything. If you still have under 13 volts your voltage regulator may be bad or need adjusting if it's the old school one with the adjusting screw on the inside. Your generator is putting out a ton of current so you are good there.

If you want to replace the voltage regulator you can use a solid state one from the '85 and newer carts. They are a few bucks cheaper and more consistant and reliable in my opinion.

Those buggers do go bad over time.

backyard

I adjusted the regulator and now have 14 volts. I will keep the solid state regulator in mind. Thanks.