Re: Instrument Voltage Regulator
Posted by HH56 On 2009/2/19 18:04:42
A little confused about the condenser myself. There usually isn't one so where exactly is this one located. The pulsing is normal as that is how the original units work & assume Napa does too. Depends on the load but a heater bends a metallic contact which opens and closes. Too little load, nothing will heat up so contacts never open and constant 12v. Too much load and things will move quickly to the point of possibly burning out the heater. If memory serves, the pulses should be 2-3 seconds 100-150ms & resultant voltage should be pulses of around 12 V. If less voltage, sure sounds like something is loading the circuit. Are the 2 or 3 gauges and your meter the only things in the circuit? If so, can you disconnect one gauge at a time and see if things improve.
EDIT: Here is a picture of the regulator and the resulting output. My memory failed above as you can see. The pules are 12+v but are only about 100ms in duration every half second. That will vary a bit, and with a slow meter, will never read properly--always low--so that may be why you're seeing the intermittent 1v.
Would have checked on the car, but with the AC, too hard to get to. This example is with 3 gauges connected, with equal resistance to each gauge to simulate approx 1/4 scale. This is an original 55-6 regulator and has to be wired with the center terminal to supply, outer terminal to gauges and the case must be grounded. If case isn't grounded, a straight 12v out. If wired backward, the heater is on constantly and will soon burn out.
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EDIT: Here is a picture of the regulator and the resulting output. My memory failed above as you can see. The pules are 12+v but are only about 100ms in duration every half second. That will vary a bit, and with a slow meter, will never read properly--always low--so that may be why you're seeing the intermittent 1v.
Would have checked on the car, but with the AC, too hard to get to. This example is with 3 gauges connected, with equal resistance to each gauge to simulate approx 1/4 scale. This is an original 55-6 regulator and has to be wired with the center terminal to supply, outer terminal to gauges and the case must be grounded. If case isn't grounded, a straight 12v out. If wired backward, the heater is on constantly and will soon burn out.
Attach file:
(17.23 KB)
(33.39 KB)
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