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positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 12:58 pm
by evonaut
is there a definitive answer as to whether a late 69 cooper s would have been negative or positive earth? the car has always been negative earth but now is the time to change if required.

i have opted for a dynamo system instead of upgrading to alternator

thank you

Re: positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 1:05 pm
by rich@minispares.com
I would have said 100% negative earth by then

Re: positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:16 pm
by 360gts
69 cars still had the positive earth with the dynamo...even early 1970 MK3 models had "P" earth...
If the dynamo that is on there has Negative earth you will need to change the polarity of that dynamo...simple task. Booster cables and a fully charged battery....otherwise...just pick up a regular dynamo from any early vintage.

Re: positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:19 pm
by rich@minispares.com
I am quite often wrong........... :oops:

Re: positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:23 pm
by woodypup59
With a dynamo you can have either polarity.

At worst, all you have to do is re-polarise it if the red light won't go out.

But an alternator is almost bound to be -ve earth, and if you have a tacho, they are polarity sensitive too.

Re: positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 3:19 pm
by evonaut
the dynamo is new so should be easy to integrate within that system...... battery has not been connected as yet!

thank you all for input!

evonaut

Re: positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:07 pm
by minimans
good on you for staying with the dynamo!

Re: positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 7:42 pm
by dklawson
If you are fitting a new control box with the dynamo, be sure to clean its internal contacts. Some of the modern parts available today are shipped with a protective (insulating) coating on the points.

Re: positive or negative earth...

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 11:16 pm
by ianh1968
rich@minispares.com wrote:I am quite often wrong........... :oops:
Nobody's perfect...
Nifty wrote: 8-) Except me!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Who let him in here?

Ian