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Dodge Class A Motorhome Charging System

Mopar Charging Systems - Through 1969

The Pre 1970 Mopar Charging System Diagram shows the basics of the early alternator / voltage regulator (VR) design. There are 2 brushes in the alternator, each one has a field terminal, one is labeled "FLD", the other is labeled "GND". The GND brush is grounded with the brush mounting screw. the other brush is the (+) brush (or field) and attached to it is a green wire that routes over to the Voltage regulator (which is behind or near the brake master cylinder) this green wire is connected at the voltage regulator at the "FLD" connection (with a screw). The other connection on the Voltage Regulator is a blue wire with a female plug end. This is the "IGN" Ignition side. Basically, the Voltage Regulator completes the charging circuit and allows the alternator to charge the system. When a certain voltage is obtained, the regulator "opens" (or turns off) the circuit until the electrical system's voltage drops, then it completes the circuit again. The old Voltage Regulators are repairable and rebuildable. The 1969 Dodge Shop manual (available from a number of vendors, including Year One) details how to do this. If you think your regulator is failing, open it up and clean the "points" with some emory paper (sometimes these points get corroded).

NOTE: In the Pre 1970 Mopar Charging System Diagram, the FLD is generally green, and the IGN wire is Dark blue on stock wirinig harnesses.

Mopar Charging Systems - 1970 and Later

CAUTION:
The Mopar 727 transmission does not circulate transmission fluid through the transmission when the transmission is in PARK. Do not leave the engine running in PARK for extended periods in order to recharge the batteries.

In 1970 Mopar switched from an analog type voltage regulator to a transistorized regualtor. The basic circuit is completely different. Before the voltage regulator monitored the (+) ignition voltage and opened/closed the (+) Field circuit as needed to maintain a steady voltage. The 1970 design, instead, monitored the (+) field voltage and open/closed the (-) ground field as needed to maintain a steady voltage.