Voltage regulator

steve from staten island · Jul 5, 2019

Can someone explain to me why when I used my continuity tester and place one end on the case and the other to either connection on the regulator, the tester lights up? About half way bright but it lights, telling me there is a ground.....
The positive wire going to the coil shows the same thing when the regulator is wired up....All bulkhead connections are disconnected, eliminating the ignition switch as a problem
Thanks

Glenwood · Jul 5, 2019

If you are using a test light, it should light up as you are completing a circuit. It will be as bright as the voltage level that you connect it to.

steve from staten island · Jul 5, 2019

Glenwood said:
If you are using a test light, it should light up as you are completing a circuit. It will be as bright as the voltage level that you connect it to.

There is no voltage present as battery is disconnected. Im not using a 12 volt test light. Im using a continuity tester. What im trying to find out is why a terminal on either side of the voltage regulator has a path to a ground.

RJRENTON · Jul 7, 2019

My opinion...
In the 1970 and newer systems, with the alternator having two (2) field connections, the alternstor's field circuit power goes thru the field and the voltage regulator grounds the field circuit via an internal transistor. This transistor turns on - off regulating the alternators rotating field current to produce the 13.5 - 14.5 voltage to charge the battery and operate the vehicle's electrical systems. Simply put the voltage regulator GROUNDS the alternator field to control its output.
Bob Renton

miller · Jul 7, 2019

Electronic voltage regulators are NOT bullet-proof. They can fail.

Voltage regulator

steve from staten island

Well-Known Member

Glenwood

Well-Known Member

steve from staten island

Well-Known Member

RJRENTON

FBBO Gold Member

miller

Well-Known Member

Similar threads