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I am not clear what it is in a mechanical regulator that would determine whether positive and negative ground! No diodes or anything polarity-specific so can anyone clarify?
You have asked the question that has been asked by many others for quite some time. There is nothing specific mentioned in literature that anyone has found or referred to so far and there does not appear to be any visual difference as far as components and layout in the regulators. About the only thing anyone has come up with that makes any sense is the material the contacts are made with is different on one side of a set of contacts.
When the heavier arcs that weld and pit and do most damage occurs on a contact it is usually made when the contact breaks and arc will want to jump in a specific direction according to polarity. It has been speculated that a harder material is used on the side of the contact where the arc will do the most damage. The harder material is less likely to melt so will tend to prevent excessive pitting so that would mean the fixed contact on one polarity regulator might have hard material and the movable contact on the other polarity.
Again, this is speculation only without benefit of a manufacturer specifically stating this is the case so take it with the proverbial grain of salt -- or maybe a shaker full. If anyone does come across something official it would be nice to know for sure so we can put this question to rest.
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