Kirkham voltage gauge - red light flickers

[Stephan427SC]

Hi guys,
Since a short time, the litte red indicator light in my kirkham voltage gauge flickers when motor runs. I checked the voltage regulator and all wires are connected and the regulator has switched power. What do you think is the problem ? Whats the best way to check the alternator?

Thanks,
Stephan

[Ron61]

To check if the Alternator is working, start the car and use a volt meter to measure across your battery terminals. You should read around 14/16 volts if the alternator is putting out the correct voltage. With the car shut off you should read 12/13 volts if the batteries are good.

Ron

[rodneym]

Stephan,
Do you have a one wire alternator? I do, and when my Kirkham was about 6 mos old the light came on one day out of the blue.
If you have a one wire, disconnect the green/brown wire on the relay next to the ignition. That'll kill it (since in this case it wouldn't be functional).

[Bill Wallace]

I had that same problem. When I took my car back to Kirkham to have some other work done I mentioned the issue to them. They advised me that my engine builder installed an alternator that didn't put out enough amps, so they replaced the alternator and the problem went away. The only accessories that I have that run most of the time are the radiator fan, the electric fuel pump, and the MSD ignition and dashboard instruments. So it was somewhat surprising that those few devices consumed that much power.

[rodneym]

Bill,

Do you remember what alternator you replaced and what the new one is?

I originally had a Powermaster 17078 (Ford 1 wire, 55A @ idle) with a Powermaster 8-37141 (Ford 1 wire, 100A @ idle).
I upgraded the alt because I had a charging issue and prematurely killed my battery due to a bigger SPAL fan.
I wonder now about the light if I had started with the bigger alt? Guess I could always reconnect the wire and find out