Voltage

[martinN]

I have a series 2A lightweight 12v. The vehicle does have a voltmeter. The scale is 3 - 17 volts, when driving recently the volt meter shows 16 volts. Top of the scale in red. Is this voltage correct?
If to high how do I rectify.

[diffwhine]

Does it still have voltage regulator or has the dynamo been ditched in favour of an alternator?

If it has a dynamo, it sounds like your voltage regulator is playing up. Details on how to adjust this are in the workshop manual.

[martinN]

Still got voltage regulator/ dynamo.

[diffwhine]

Then it can really only be the regulator. I can't remember the figures offhand, but the standard regulator is set to charge old style batteries up to about 15V - that's too high for a modern battery. If you have a modern battery, the regulator needs to be adjusted to a max of something like 13.5 Volts.

Clive Elliott is the guru on things electrical - he may be able to advise you better.

The details on how to set up a voltage regulator are available online and also in he workshop manual. If your battery has been overcharged for some time, you may want to consider replacing the battery as well.

[fv1620]

First check that this high voltage can be verified independently with a known reliable voltmeter measuring directly on the battery.

[fv1620]

If the voltmeter is correct then check the regulators are free to move and that the contact points are not pitted. If they need gentle abrasion make sure you blow/wash the dust clear.

The gaps, spring tensions, pull in & drop out voltage is covered in EMER POWER O118.

There is some coverage in a mish-mash of Rover documents covering S1 & S2 bundled together in EMER WHEELED VEHICLES Q022. Very chaotic collection that defies the normal EMER structure with vehicle charging and starting normally accommodated in POWER.