C.E. Niehoff & Co. C803D Troubleshooting Guides User Manual
Page 4

Page 4
TG32D
LED COLOR
STATUS
TABLE 3 – A2-330, A2-336, A2-346, & A2-363 Regulator LED Diagnostics
Alternator and regulator operating normally.
GREEN
Solid
Low system voltage — Electrical load exceeds
alternator rating at present rotor speed.
ACTION
No action required.
When loads decrease or speed increases, LED
should be solid GREEN. If not, check drive belt
and charging system connections.
Replace alternator.
AMBER
Solid
High system voltage – May occur during
normal load switching.
Indicates voltage above setpoint but below OVCO
threshold (less than 33 volts).
Indicates voltage exceeds 33 V for more than
3 seconds. System diagnosis required. See
OVCO condition in “General Troubleshooting”
section above.
RED
Solid
Alternator fault — No output.
Flashing
Flashing
OVCO tripped.
A2-330, A2-336, A2-346, & A2-363
Regulator Troubleshooting
Main diagnostic feature is a tricolored LED next to the
harness receptacle on regulator (opposite the alternator-
regulator harness receptacle on the A2-346 and A2-363).
LED works like a voltmeter, measuring charging voltage.
See Table 3 for LED diagnostics.
These regulators have OVCO (overvoltage cutout) that
will trip at vehicle electrical system voltage above 33
volts that exists longer than 3 seconds. OVCO feature
detects high voltage and reacts by signaling relay in
alternator field circuit to open. This turns off alternator
(LED is flashing RED). OVCO circuit is reset when
engine is restarted (on A2-346/A2-363, OVCO circuit
can also optionally reset when system voltage normal-
izes after 2-minute wait.).
An additional A9-4036 harness may or may not be used
with the A2-346 and A2-363 regulators:
• When A9-4036 temperature/voltage sense harness is
not connected, regulator will operate in fixed voltage
setting determined by the select switch position on
the bottom of the regulator.
• When A9-4036 temperature/voltage sense harness is
connected, regulator will automatically optimize the
charge voltage for battery type based on temperature.
Also, vehicle manufacturer-requested functions of
1939 interface are available through connector.
General Troubleshooting
OVCO condition
Shut down vehicle and restart engine. If alternator func-
tions normally after restart, a “no output condition” was
normal response of voltage regulator to “high voltage”
condition. Inspect condition of electrical system, includ-
ing loose battery cables, both positive and negative. If
battery disconnects from system, it could cause “high
voltage” condition in electrical system, causing OVCO
circuit to trip.
If you have reset alternator once, and electrical system
returns to normal charge voltage condition, there may
have been a one time, high voltage spike, causing OVCO
circuit to trip.
If OVCO circuit repeats cutout a second time in short
succession and shuts off alternator field circuit, try
third restart. If OVCO circuit repeats cutout, check that
pin F in alternator-to-regulator harness is not shorted to
B+ terminal on alternator. If it is shorted, alternator is
defective. If not, regulator is defective.
No air-conditioning/NO ALT OUTPUT light is on
Some older vehicles may experience a condition when
the air-conditioning may drop out during normal
vehicle operation. If that should occur, check for regula-
tor setpoint voltage at D+ terminal and 12 V-18 V at P
terminal. If present, check vehicle wiring. If not present,
check for diode voltage drop between pin E on alterna-
tor-to-regulator harness and alternator B+ terminal. If
not present, alternator is defective. If present, substitute
a known good regulator, run engine, and check for regu-
lator setpoint voltage. If present, original regulator was
defective. If not present, go to Chart on page 5.
Section C: On-Vehicle Troubleshooting
A2-361 Regulator Troubleshooting
This regulator has OVCO (overvoltage cutout) that will
trip at vehicle electrical system voltage above 33 volts
that exists longer than 3 seconds. OVCO feature detects
high voltage and reacts by signaling relay in alternator
field circuit to open. This turns off alternator. OVCO
circuit is reset when engine is restarted.