External voltage regulator: Anyone with experience? (2 Viewers)

[bikemaniac]

Hi,

My Toyota Hiace has an external voltage regulator connected to the alternator. It is the type with 6 wires, a black box the size of a fist and the internals are made up of 2 large relays.

When I run the van, the voltage is not very steady, it fluctuates up and down maybe 1V when I continously measure the battery voltage through my cigarette plug while driving. My modern Toyota Corolla has a modern internal regulator and the voltage is rock solid at all times no matter what.

Is it normal for old school external relay based regulators to show a fluctuating voltage of 14 V +/- 1V? Can anyone confirm that or should these regulators also be rock solid?

Lucas

 

[Quat]

They are generally quite solid. If it is fluctuating when you are driving, some change due to rpm can be normal. If you are getting 14v +/- 1v, 15v is too much and may shorten your battery life. You may be able to adjust the VR to fix going to high, and perhaps get rid of some of the fluctuation.