Charge Lamp/Indicator: Description and Operation

The charging indicator lamp is situated in the top right-hand corner of the instrument display. It tells the driver whether the battery is being charged or not.

The lamp is supplied with current in the main instrument display panel and connected to ground by the generator via pin 10 (12p-2) of the main instrument display panel connector.

If the generator does not rotate or charge the battery for any reason, the indicator lamp circuit will be grounded via the regulator through the generator's field winding, causing the lamp to light up.

When the generator is charging, generator terminals D+ and B+ will both have the same voltage. As a result, both terminals of the indicator lamp receive the same voltage and the lamp goes out.

Connected in parallel with the lamp is a resistor which ensures that the generator receives its magnetizing current when starting even if the lamp bulb is faulty.

A diode is connected in series with the resistor and the lamp. This diode prevents the lamp from lighting up when high charging currents are generated.