Re: 6 Volt Regulator Questions

Posted by Jim McDermaid On 2012/11/13 11:27:46

Thanks for the reply

With my Generator information, you could sell me a proper Regulator?

I will see if I can read the ID plate on the generator, I know it is Delco. The parts all seem to line up with what's in the service manual so I can look that up. The generator looks quite heavy duty compared with other 50's cars I played with. My car was with its original owner until it got collected in 1991 so I believe all the parts to be original (except this regulator).

The regulator that is still in the car looks like a modern replacement kind of thing and the cutout contact is well scorched and I presume it is welding its contacts. When I discovered the charge light on I lifted the hood and smacked the regulator and it dropped out. It has no numbers and says made in USA. I wondered how good the regulators that were sold by Kanter and such were.

As electronics is my business, I can't see how the contacts could handle much more than 15 Amps. The voltage is correct for 6 volt charging and I have no idea what the current limit would be for this regulator.

I had noticed the charge light glowing dimly occasionally for the last several months. The voltage drop across the contact is 1.5 volts, after I reworked the contact I got it down to 0.4 volts but still getting fairly hot.

I have driven the car about 3,000 miles since I got it last year, most of the time with the original radio on and sometimes the lights and heater fan.

The regulator I bought on eBay (which hasn't arrived yet) says 6 volt, Positive Ground, 42 to 56 Amps. It appears to have the same mounting configuration.

I don't know what would be different between a Delco and Autolite part as the theory of operation is the same.

I considered removing the cutout relay from the regulator and replacing it with a big 100 Amp diode hidden by the cover.

Jim