Trabant Tech Forum

Is there one of these little boxes mounted on the firewall near the battery? I think there should be and it means you have a DC dynamo/generator fitted http://www.reich-tuning.de/en/spare-parts/ifa/trabant/601/Electrical-system/Direct-current-control-device-for-12V-generator-in-Trabant-601.html

Yes it does have that little box and near the battery. I do in fact have the DC Dynamo. The confusing thing was that on Trabantwelt it is listed as a "DC Alternator"
https://www.trabantwelt.de/Trabant-601/Elektrik/Lichtmaschine-12-Volt-Gleichstrom-regeneriert-Trabant-601::558.html?MODsid=7f9ssoqml5olbooo435kov5g23
Because of this I made the mistake of buying brushes for an alternator instead of a DC generator. However my Trabant is running 12V.

Right I was was talking about the AC alternator which is completely different . I don't know that much about the DC dynamo but I am guessing you have to take off the rear plate to access the brushes . There is a simple test for dynamos though. There are three wires ,one thin and two thicker? Connect the terminals (on the dynamo) of the two thicker wires together and then connect that to the positive of a battery ,then connect the metal body of the dynamo to the negative of the battery. If the dynamo is in good condition it should spin rapidly like a motor.

In your photo the dynamo looks very dirty and oily . You might find dismantling it and cleaning it might be all that is needed

I'm not sure if your trabant is a very early 12 volt car with a 12 volt dynamo OR an east german mechanic has fitted a 12 volt dynamo from a wartburg I suspect the latter. Perhaps justin or keri would know more about the history of 12 volts

Thanks for the information on the test I can run. I'll give it a cleaning later this week, but because this is a DC dynamo, would that make an alternator like the Lucas 16ACR that you referred me to an inappropriate substitute? Or would something like this still work as a replacement?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MG-Midget-1500-Triumph-Spitfire-Original-Lucas-Alternator-/331722346552?hash=item4d3c315038:g:NEMAAOxyNo9Swb6G&vxp=mtr

You will have to get rid of the little box beside the battery and change the wiring a bit to fit any alternator. The trabant dynamo bracket is different to the trabant alternator bracket so you will probably need to make or buy a new mounting bracket like the one Turbofiat used. There won't be much difference between fitting the lucas or delco both will need brackets changed and wiring altered. I bet if you fitted new brushes and gave it a good clean your original dynamo will be OK

okay, thanks for all the help and advice