Using the Growler
A growler is a useful piece of equipment used for testing
armatures. It consists of a U shaped iron core which has a
coil wound around the arms. Often, this coil is in two
sections which can be switched to a series or parallel
connection as required. The two ends of the U shaped core
are angled in such a way that a wound armature can sit in
the gap thereby completing a magnetic circuit. The whole
arrangement works as a transformer with the growler coil
acting as the primary winding and the armature coils acting
as secondary windings When switched on, the growler coil is
fed with mains electricity which, here in the UK, is AC at 50Hz
resulting in a noticeable ‘hum’. This creates an alternating
magnetic flux in the iron core/armature body which also
passes through the armature coils. This arrangement allows
the armature to be tested for both shorted and open
windings.
Testing for shorted windings
Any armature coil which has a short will create a closed
circuit and an alternating current will be induced in the
shorted turn(s). This will result in an increased load which
will often change the tone of the ‘hum’ to a ‘growl’. It will also
create an alternating magnetic field around the shorted
armature coil.
A flat, metal feeler containing iron, such as a hacksaw blade,
can be used to detect the magnetic field generated by a
shorted armature coil. The feeler is held lightly in line with
each armature slot in turn. Normally, no pull will be felt on
the feeler but when it is over a slot containing a shorted coil,
the alternating magnetic field will alternately attract and
release the feeler. This will cause it to vibrate in sync with
the alternating current and this vibration, together with the
growling noise, indicates that a shorted coil has been found.
Not all armatures can be tested for short circuits in this way.
Some armatures produce excessive vibration of the feeler all
around the armature during the test. These armatures can
be tested for short circuits by using the growler’s probes and
ac ammeter.
The two test probes are placed on adjacent commutator
segments and the meter reading noted. Keeping the
armature stationary in the growler’s jaws, the two probes
are ‘walked’ around the commutator segments until the
highest reading is obtained. If required, this reading can be
adjusted on the meter by use of the growler’s variable
resistor. Then, keeping the probes stationary, the armature
is rotated in the jaws bringing each pair of segments under
the test probes in turn. The readings should be nearly the
same for each pair of adjacent segments. If a coil is short-
circuited, the ammeter reading will drop to almost zero.
Testing for open windings
One method of testing for open windings is to use the
probes and ammeter exactly as described above. A zero
reading on the ammeter indicates a broken winding or open
coil.
A rather more crude but none the less, effective test for
open windings involves placing the armature on the growler
and using the feeler to short circuit the ends of the coils.
This can be done by successively shorting adjacent
commutator segments. Note that good coils will create
sparks - no spark indicates that the coil is open circuit. In
order that the smooth brush surfaces are not damaged
by the sparking, it is important to place the feeler on the
riser part of adjacent commutator segments, not on the
brush surfaces themselves.
When the test requires the armature to be rotated in the
jaws of the growler it is not always easy to do so because the
growler acts as an electromagnet and grips the armature
quite tightly, particularly with larger armatures. For this
reason, a foot switch is often used for turning the growler
current on and off as the armature is being rotated. Use of a
foot switch also leaves both hands free to hold the probes.
Testing for grounded windings
Most of the older growlers have a built in continuity test
circuit consisting of a pair of probes and a bulb. Holding one
probe on the armature shaft and the other on each
commutator segment in turn, lights the bulb if a short to
ground exists. However – this circuit is powered directly
from the mains supply which is not really a very safe
procedure and would probably be frowned upon by today’s
Health and Safety people!
The picture shows where the probes would be placed but we
choose not to use this method so did not wire up the probes
when we rewired the growler. Note that, if this test is used,
the growler is not switched on but is simply used as a
convenient way to hold the armature while the test is carried
out. These ‘high voltage’ continuity testers were common-
place decades ago - there is such a circuit on our Octopus
Test Bench but we don’t use that one either!
The continuity test setting on digital multimeters could be
used instead. It would show up a definite ground but the
test voltage is too low to pick up what might be called ‘near’
grounds where, perhaps, the insulation has degraded. In
our view, this test is best done with a standard insulation
test meter.
All the above notes refer to the use of the growler to test
dynamo armatures. We also use a growler as part of the
testing procedure for all of our rewound magneto
armatures.
The growler acts as a transformer as before but here we
have two secondary windings – the primary and secondary
windings of the magneto armature. The actual voltages
induced in the magneto windings will vary with the number
of turns/layers and gauge of wire used as well as the size
and composition of the metal armature core itself. The
design of the magnetic circuit and the number of coil turns
in the growler itself will also have an effect so different
growlers will give different figures for the same magneto
armature. We always use the same growler for these tests
so some factors are kept constant. As an example, many
previous tests have shown that, for a Lucas K2F armature
tested on our growler, we should expect a primary voltage
of 18-19v and a secondary voltage of 1200-1300 volts –
which explains the use of the HV probe shown in the picture.
Much variation on these figures would indicate a possible
problem that needs investigating further.
CAUTION: DO NOT OPERATE THE GROWLER WITHOUT AN
ARMATURE IN PLACE. Without an armature in the jaws,
the current draw is greater and will cause overheating
and possible damage to the growler’s coil.
