Voltage regulator failure modes
Voltage regulator failure modes
What are the failure modes of the voltage reguators? Is an intermittant failure to regulate voltage a typical behavior? Sitting idling its fine, rev, no issues. Then suddenly while idling again it will spike past 30 volts and settle back down again. Contacts on the regulator/connector have been cleaned and the wiring appears sound.
Ryan Gill
15 Recce Re-enacting Group
1943 Humber Mk IV Armoured Car
1947 Jeep CJ2A basket case
1960 Daimler Ferret
1972 AM General M35A2
x2 M514 1Ton2Wheel Trailer
15 Recce Re-enacting Group
1943 Humber Mk IV Armoured Car
1947 Jeep CJ2A basket case
1960 Daimler Ferret
1972 AM General M35A2
x2 M514 1Ton2Wheel Trailer
Re: Voltage regulator failure modes
Here's a recent thread you may find of use.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=11547&p=86395#p86395
I'd be more suspicious of an intermittent connection than a bad regulator.
The regulator is solid state and when they fail they typically give up the
ghost failing hard.
If the D+ terminal going to the regulator (and one side of the warning light) goes low,
e.g. and open or poor connection, the regulator will turn on driving the field winding DF
hard causing high output voltage. A bad connection could be internal to the alternator
or simply oxidation of the connections of the terminals of the alternator.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=11547&p=86395#p86395
I'd be more suspicious of an intermittent connection than a bad regulator.
The regulator is solid state and when they fail they typically give up the
ghost failing hard.
If the D+ terminal going to the regulator (and one side of the warning light) goes low,
e.g. and open or poor connection, the regulator will turn on driving the field winding DF
hard causing high output voltage. A bad connection could be internal to the alternator
or simply oxidation of the connections of the terminals of the alternator.
Puller: 71' 710K 2.7L EFI aka Mozo
Follower: Sankey MK 3, 3/4 Tonne
Rescue Pinz: 73' 712MK
Driver: Ron // KO0Q
Follower: Sankey MK 3, 3/4 Tonne
Rescue Pinz: 73' 712MK
Driver: Ron // KO0Q
Re: Voltage regulator failure modes
What we find when people are complaining about erratic charging is the wires on the back of the alternator. They say they have checked them but I have found a little too and small the last stand breaks. Of course the molex connector at the air shroud had always been suspect and both need to be looked at very close. Pull on the wires to insure that the wire is in good shape and not just held in place by the insulation.
Re: Voltage regulator failure modes
Good point on the alternator wiring. A new alternator wiring harness is available for about $23 and includes the inner half of the Molex connector.
Paul C.
_________
'73 Swiss 710M
'89 Puch 230GE
_________
'73 Swiss 710M
'89 Puch 230GE