constant voltage unit
 

im re wireing my 66 and was wondering is there a way to test the constant voltage unit .and also im using an aftermarket wireing kit is the power to the voltage unit is it actually constant or acc when the key is on .the wire the kit gives me says power gauges.



thanx paul

If I remember correctly the voltage regulator for the gauges puts out 5 volts to the factory gauges. If have have replaced all your stock gauges with aftermarket pieces, those all run on 12 volts so no additional wiring would be needed. If you are running stock gauges I would run the gauge wire from your new wire kit to the 12 volt side of the voltage regulator and leave the other side alone and hooked up to your gauges.

The voltage regulator would have 12 volts supplied to it when the key in on and 5 volts would leave to all the gauges. If yours fail they are rather expensive to replace, I just got a new one last fall from my local Napa and it was 65 bucks. Since then I have replaced all my gauges so it is no longer needed.

As for testing it, use a volt meter and hook one lead up to ground and the other to the output side of voltage regulator with the key switched on. When mine failed my gauges al starting doing really weird stuff and were not reading correctly. Once I installed the new piece, everything was working again.

Jeff

Just so we are talking about the right part, where is the constant voltage unit and whats its approxamate size...there are 3 regulators on these trucks...voltage, horn and instrument cluster...


- cs65

its is about 1/2"by 2" and is held by one screw to the back of the speedo cluster

That is the voltage regulator for your gauges that I was talking about in my first post.

Jeff

ahh yes, the ICVR...if you are in need, I have one...let me know if you are interested...


- cs65

1961/66 F100/1100 & 1966/77 Bronco Instrument Cluster Voltage Regulator-icvr
 

B9MZ10804C .. ICVR-Instrument Cluster Voltage Regulator (Motorcraft GR508)

Fits: 1961/66 F100/1100 / 1965/66 Mustang / 1960/65 Falcon/Comet / 1962/65 Fairlane / 1961/66 T-Bird / 1966/77 Bronco

You can buy the one cs65 has, or you can buy it from Ford, it's only $85.40!

wow...price has gone up...last I recall hearing it was like 65 clams...


- cs65

I know I'm reviving an old thread but I wanted to see if anyone has tried replacing the expensive constant voltage regulator with some more modern off the shelf electronics from Radio Shack.

There's a good write up at: 12 to 6 Volt Regulator on how to step down from 12v to 6v for gauges and the like. I can't see why this wouldn't work here. It's basically the same setup I'd use when converting a car from 6V to 12v and retaining the gauges.

Speedway also sells a transistorized voltage drop for $18 that'd probably do the job and save some cash. 12 Volt to 6 Volt Reducer

You could spend around 5.00 and build it yourself.
all you need is
1 - 276-1770a 5vdc regulator
1 - 276-1368 heat sink
1 - 272 1025 10mf capacitor

Radio shack sells all these components.
the transistor regulator has 3 pins on it 1 is the input voltage
2 is for the ground and 3 is the output voltage.
Soilder the capacitor on pin 1 and 2 the arrow on the cap is the negative that goes to the middle ground pin and the other soilders to the incoming power pin 1.
the output pin 3 goes to your existing gauge pin from your old cvr and the incoming 12vdc that was on the line side of your old cvr goes to pin 1.
Done! Now you have a rock steady 5vdc source. make sure to use shrink tube on pins 1 ndd 3 and fasten the heat sink in place of your old cvr.

There is no reason why you could not build one. Most people do not have knowledge of electrical componets to do such a thing so they purchase the expensive factory replacement.

I for one am all for making stuff that works, stuff that is less expensive and also more reliable. Some people are all for leaving things stock so they want the factory piece.

If you do make one, I would post a write up on here with pictures.

Jeff

Actually I'm running one in my 63 F100 built as listed above, works flawlessly.:-jammin

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...ldog/vr5v1.jpg
This is all it is!:-drink

Ok here we go replaced everything sending unit for fuel, oil and temp also vr for instrument gauges. getting voltage every where and ground is good. Someone please pulling hair out here..........................:-X19

I know you probably have been asked this before? but have you replaced your ''Gauges?
if so, could the wires be reversed? sounds crazy, but i have done that before! also possible one is bad? I know it's driving you crazy but it will get fixed!..I hate electrical probs, haha...