voltage regulator reading

[Duke]

I know this has probably been asked a hundred times but on a Briggs and Stratton Vanguard commercial 18 horse how do you measure voltage off the regulator on the engine I checked AC voltage with the regulator unplugged and its about 30volts or more at almost max RPM but when you plug the regulator in do you check the charging voltage from the red wire coming off and to ground on the engine with the multi meter in DC volts I am sure the regulator is bad because I have heard that running the engine without a battery is hard on it and can wreck it plus no matter what I try I cant get a voltage reading off of the regulator its kind of frustrating if it had an alternator I would have had it hooked up and charging a long time ago when it comes to small engine charging systems I am lost and running out of ideas please help

[AussieMax]

The red wire should go to the battery, and should read 12 v DC with the other lead on the meter grounded to the engine. If you have been running it without a battery I'd say it is fried.

[Duke]

thats what I thought I will probably have to get a new one. I hooked it up that way and turned the lights on with the engine revving up and the voltage was dropping at a moderate rate no charging at all

[Duke]

ok I put a new voltage regulator on today and hooked it up and started the engine and turned the lights on and when I revved the engine the lights got brighter I finaly have a charging system thanks AussieMax. Now I wont be lost in the dark!

[AussieMax]

No worries! Glad you got it sorted. Now it's time to go have some fun.