Stuart Turner R2

Hi All,




I bought this as a Stuart Turner generator - non runner - however as you can see the box of electrics that sits on top of the dynamo is missing - does anyone have a spare one laying around that they want to get rid of?Its also missing its exhaust and water cooling tank.

I am not sure if this is part of a battery charging unit or a lighting set - any ideas?

Does anyone know if there is a Stuart Turner expert ( as there is for Listers) who can date this engine for me?

I  am hoping that this is going to be a nice easy straight forward project to do now that winter is approaching -- some hope I think!!

Kev.

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The dynamo voltage range, 25/35 volts, would suggest a 24 volt battery charging application for your set.

Hi Blue Cat,
Thanks for your reply.
As you will have guessed I am not well up on electrics! If it is a 24 volt battery charging set does that mean that it was used for charging eg lorry batteries as opposed to eg car batteries?
Kev.

It doesn't imply any particular sort of battery, but 24 volt batteries in general. Even two 12 volt batteries in series as used in some 24 volt applications.

I have a similar generator and I was told it was for charging tank batteries but it seems a bit odd being coupled to a Stuart Turner.

Thanks Blue Cat for your reply - I was thinking that I would have to go and source a couple of lorry batteries!Presumably, as I haven't got the box of electrics,I can connect the dynamo ( using a voltage regulator?) direct to 2 car batteries in series then run connections via a fuse and an on/off switch to eg a light display?
Hi Stationary Stu -Thanks for your reply- I ,like you,have never heard of a Stuart R2 being used to charge tank engines - I thought that they were mainly used on boats for charging the boats batteries and powering lights - but I suppose that during times of war/need etc any engine will do.
Kev.

Yes, a lot of charging sets were used on yatchs to keep the batteries topped up for lights and radio communications, etc.

hi locknut ive only just noticed you post I have got the same r2 set as you it has got the control box on the generator but it is missing one of the gauges, it hasn't got a cooling tank but I intend to make one from copper sheet and an indirect heating coil as ive seen on other examples. I also have an r2 which is radiator cooled and like you I plan to restore one of them over the winter but this is providing I can finish my current project (a plowmate tractor) .
I have been able to date my engines and I'm sure I can find the details if you haven't sorted this already. if you manage to locate a control box and need any advice on connections I have a friend who knows about this sort of thing and he has promised to sort mine when I am ready. I can post pics of mine if your interested

Hi Kev,
I have been able to get my engine going ok - just need an exhaust and a water tank for it now.
I am having problems dating my  engines - nobody seems to know where the factory records have gone - I can roughly date them using averages but if you know how to accurately date them that would be great.
I am going to use a control box from another R2 ( this engine is a long way from being restored!).On the control box I am not sure where the lighting and battery cables attach to - I think there should be 3 connections for the battery ( full power and half) but I am not sure.Any help or advice you can give would be much appreciated.
All the best,
Kev

Hi Kev
sorry to be so long getting back but ive had to dig out my r2 from the back of my container and get my mate to look at it. First off your right about the dating being a best guess based on average sales,but ive been told that a company called Fairways marine have the records and will look up details for a small charge.
I have took photo,s of my control box and its in a bit of a state but if yours is the same I think I know how it works( curtesy or my mate) and can advise if this is the same as yours. let me know

sorry trying to upload photo

Hi Kev,



Here is a photo of the back of my control box which looks similar to yours.
In the bottom left there is a block of 3 terminals,someone( not me!) has loosely attached a red wire to the top connection.I think that there should be connections from all 3 terminals to a battery :- 1 to the +ve,1 to the -ve, and 1  again to the -ve for a part full option --but  I do not know which terminal does what!
In the bottom left there is another block of 3 terminals - I think that  2 of these terminals are used for the lights, but again I am not sure which to use!
Any help would be much appreciated.You will have gathered that electrics are not my strong point!!

With reference to Fairways Marine - I have been told that they certainly did offer a dating service but that they ceased trading some years ago - so another dead end I am afraid--unless someone one knows otherwise.
Kev.

Hi kev
as you look at the control box the terminals are on left at the bottom mine also has the remains of red and black wires as yours. The generator kicks out dc and dc only requires two wires . The rectangular block at the topwith the wire wrapped around it is a variable resistor and as you can see there I s a sort of metal finger which wipes across the block controled by a knob in the centre of the front panel. If you wanted to charge a six volt battery you would connect the red wire to the posative terminal on the battery and the black wire to the negative terminal and turn the knob on the front till the volt meter reads about eight or nine volts this will then charge. Should you then want to charge a twentyfour volt battery connect up and set to around twenty seven volts to charge. If you wanted to run lights then they would have to be dc bulbs with the outpt set to match the bulb rating. There is no difference to running bulbs or charging it is the same two wires with the output set by the knob on the front. This is how I understand it after talking with my friend but if it doesn't answer your question or you are not sure about anything dont hesitate to get back to me and if you cant get any output the are several ways to check whats wrong( so I'm told ) regards kev

Hi Kev,
Thanks for that.I will give it a go and see what happens!
All the best,
Kev.