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Re: [TR] voltage regulator

To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [TR] voltage regulator
From: "Randall" <TR3driver@ca.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2015 17:05:02 -0700
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: triumphs@autox.team.net
Thread-index: AdC12oc6sRTMRFXbROyvI/J5U6yvJAAECdZQ
> Do you have, perhaps, an electric temp gauge?  My 57 was so 
> equipped.  But those were actually early TR4 gauges and used 
> a voltage stabilizer.

Ok, let's try this again.  There are two different devices, both of which 
sometimes get called "voltage regulator".  One is the
control for the generator/alternator.  The Triumph documentation seems to 
usually call this a "control box" or "control unit".
Pretty much any car equipped with a generator or alternator and electric 
headlights has to have this function to avoid overcharging
the battery when the headlights are off.  On cars since about 1970 or so though 
(1969 for TR6), the voltage regulator is located
inside the alternator housing.  Still there, still required, just hidden.

I assumed Dave N. was asking about the generator control box, since "voltage 
regulator" is the common name for it in the US and TR3s
did not originally have voltage stabilizers.

The "voltage stabilizer" is something else, and as noted is only required with 
the gauges used on TR4-6.  Not required nor present
on a stock TR2-3B.  (I also have a TR4 temp gauge on my TR3 and so there is a 
VS mounted on one of the dash braces.)

As a side comment, my 1970 Audi also had a voltage stabilizer (though no doubt 
the Germans called it something else), but it only
put out 5 volts and consisted of a zener diode and power resistor.  I had the 
diode burn out several times (usually whenever the
voltage regulator would malfunction) so I got rather familiar with it. <g>

-- Randall  


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