Continuity?

[ZipSnipe]

Refresh my memory, on resistors and capacitors I should get some type of continuity reading if I touch both leads?

[keebler303]

Resistors, you will measure a resistance, so yes, there will be continuity.
Capacitors do not pass dc current. There may be an initial (very quick) reading as the cap charges but once its charged you won't get much. Some multimeters will measure capacitors though if yours has that capability.

Matt

[ZipSnipe]

Well I,m getting a reading across my capacitor on my bridge rectifier for my generator. Which is starts but no juice is getting to the plugs or the breakers. The brushes appear to be in fine shape which leaves me to believe the bridge is the culprit. I also misidentified the resistors which are diodes and I also get a reading across all of them
I would just buy another bridge rectifier but if anybody has every tried to call Coleman service you'll find out it doesn't exist. So I,m stuck repairing the circuit board if possible. So if I,m getting a reading on the cap leads this means it could be bad?

[Al_The_Man]

The output of the bridge should read DC output whether the cap is connected or not.
What do you mean by get a reading across the diodes? If you have an Electronic multi-meter, they usually cannot read the reverse & forward diode conduction on the normal Ohms scale due to not enough to forward bias with the limited current from the meter.
That is why most meters have a diode position, here the diode is tested for forward and reverse bias current and that low resistance figure in the forward direction is the volt drop across the junction.
If zero ohms both ways on this scale means the diode is shorted.
It is best to disconnect the bridge diode before testing it, i.e. all four diodes.
Al

[ZipSnipe]

Ummph, you are correct Al! I tested the diodes both ways and I get a big jump one way and a little bump the other which I assume means the diodes are good. I also retested the cap after someone told me that when I test the cap for cont. the needle should jump and then gradually come down, which it did, so now I assume the cap is still good. Now I got to figure out why it(the generator) is not out putting juice. All the windings and stuff looks fine, no dirt or crud was found inside. What typically goes out in a generator?

[neilw20]

Picture(s) might be worth a 1000 words. Show us your problem.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by ZipSnipe . All the windings and stuff looks fine, no dirt or crud was found inside. What typically goes out in a generator?

By Generator I am guessing you mean transformer?
If there is continuity (very low resistance) across the primary input side and likewise across the secondary winding, then on power up you should have AC voltage on the secondary (input to the bridge).
You need the AC secondary voltage before going any further.
Al.

[ZipSnipe]

No! generator as in Coleman powermate generator( sorry I wasn't clear about that) I found on the internet that another owner had the same problem and it turned out to be the diodes. Now I managed to find the cap online but the diode is a hard one with unusual numbers and no common markings. Its black with a silver band on one end and the letters MCC 3
RL205 written on it. Sorry Neil no pics, Its a cap and 8 diodes very simple circuit with two connections for the bushings and one yellow wire which feeds back into the stator. So anyway I,m going to assume one of the diodes is burnt out as I also found out to get a correct reading I should unsolder one end of the diode and test it for cont. both ways. I plan just to replace all diodes if I can find the correct ones and Coleman is just absolutely no help.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by ZipSnipe No! generator as in Coleman powermate generator( sorry I wasn't clear about that)

Well regardless, if it is a 120/240 1ph generator, you should still check and confirm you have AC OK.
What is the AC voltage going into the bridge?
You have not explained if this is for a power supply or is this some kind of DC excitation for the generator?
It is a little vague as to what you have there?
Al.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by ZipSnipe Now I managed to find the cap online but the diode is a hard one with unusual numbers and no common markings. Its black with a silver band on one end and the letters MCC 3 RL205 written on it.

The Diode is made by MCC and the RL205 shows a 2 amp 1000v rating.
Any supply house should provide an alternative DigiKey or Newark etc.
Al.

[ZipSnipe]

Al as always you " Da Man" thank you for being "Da Man"

[ZipSnipe]

Thanx again Al, I switched out the diodes and threw the board back in the generator. Cranked and it worked, sawed up a bunch boards and after 30 minutes of power heaven , the generator stopped generating power again. :-(
So I guess I,ll be picking up new generator but it won't be a Coleman!!!!