Adjusting New Voltage Regulator
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 26
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Adjusting New Voltage Regulator
Hi All:
I put a new VR on my 1960 yesterday. It initially charged at up to 17 volts but settled down to 12.5-15, then as I drove it around with accessory loads, like fan and wipers and lights, it dropped to 11.7 and pretty much stayed there until the GEN light came on dimly (at 50 mph speeds), then solidly. Even after I turned off the lights etc the GEN light stayed on solidly until I got home, shut the fridge off and started it up 15 minutes later. I found that after driving for 15 minutes each time this is the case. My old one worked fairly well but I wanted to be proactive and put something new and reliable on it. I know, "If it ain't broke don't fix it" is the best advice and I'll likely just leave the old one on. But, I would like advice on adjusting a new one in the event the old one goes bad. With that in mind (and assuming I wont upgrade to an alternator) could I make adjustments with the following in mind: I have the old shop manual and it says to hook up a "carbon pile rheostat" and a "field rheostat" and a voltmeter and ammeter and a 1 1/2 ohm resistor and test and make adjustments. I have a voltmeter/ammeter, that's all. Are adjustments possible?
Thanks!
I put a new VR on my 1960 yesterday. It initially charged at up to 17 volts but settled down to 12.5-15, then as I drove it around with accessory loads, like fan and wipers and lights, it dropped to 11.7 and pretty much stayed there until the GEN light came on dimly (at 50 mph speeds), then solidly. Even after I turned off the lights etc the GEN light stayed on solidly until I got home, shut the fridge off and started it up 15 minutes later. I found that after driving for 15 minutes each time this is the case. My old one worked fairly well but I wanted to be proactive and put something new and reliable on it. I know, "If it ain't broke don't fix it" is the best advice and I'll likely just leave the old one on. But, I would like advice on adjusting a new one in the event the old one goes bad. With that in mind (and assuming I wont upgrade to an alternator) could I make adjustments with the following in mind: I have the old shop manual and it says to hook up a "carbon pile rheostat" and a "field rheostat" and a voltmeter and ammeter and a 1 1/2 ohm resistor and test and make adjustments. I have a voltmeter/ammeter, that's all. Are adjustments possible?
Thanks!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 80
From: tujunga, calif
New only means new, not always better. Adjustments are critical and depends on ambient temp also and you need more then a volt/ampmeter. Finding people with the right equipment these days are getting hard to come by.
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