Chorehorse question.

[charlie fitton]

I looked at both the 12V and 24V manuals, and they use the same schematic drawing for both. So - not a lot of hints there. I was hoping to see a simple change like parallel connected fields switched to series.

RPM didn't change by much, so that leaves the number of windings in the fields themselves. Not an easy switch.

On the other hand, by turning the generator output amperage down, you could put a bit of a charge into a single 12V battery in it's stand alone mode. I think modern batteries capable of 8000 watts of output can handle 300 watts in...

standing by to be corrected...

[Jordan Baker]

Went back and have begun repainting the control box. I also refinished the output control tag. There wasn't much depth left to the plate so scrapping the red paint off wouldn't work. I used white glue painted onto the letters as a paint mask. Once painted I simply scratched and peeled off the glue. Worked alright.

One thing with my generator was that there was an additional toggle switch wired in. On further inspection it has been added to replace the push button starter switch. Hopefully the cutout relay is still good.

[Jordan Baker]

Lastly are some detail pictures of some other chorehorse's. All were upgraded to the postwar electrical configuration. I was hoping to find one in the pile that was still orginal to compare the wiring.

The last two pictures are of a simple guard for the airbreather tube. My generator had the two cast mounts on the fuel tank and bolts but no guard. Whereas others I have seen dont even have a mount for the guard. Im guessing its just one of the many small production changes.

[Robin Craig]

In Canadian service, what vehicles would have carried these little gems in the postwar period and was there any usage outside battery charging?

thanks

[charlie fitton]

Constantly strapped to the fenders of CP 3/4 tons, and once - much later ( early 80s?) Saw the ground unit of a hel sqn using 3 in parallel to power up the ground radios..

[chris vickery]

Typically used in CMP Wire-5 radio trucks

[David Dunlop]

Pre war, these units were a very common item on prairie farms, providing DC power to farm buildings for many years before the electrical grids were pushed out to the rural areas. These farm generators were identical to the wartime unit, with the exception of not being equipped with the guard assemblies covering the upper workings. There was no provision to mount the guard on them. Wind powered roof top generators were another popular option on the farms and one still can spot the odd one sitting on an abandoned farm building in some of the more infrequently visited areas.

The big advantage the chore horse had was the farmer could set up a DC lighting system in each of his out buildings and just move the chore horse from one to the next and hook it up as needed.


David