Guage voltage regulator grounding issue

[Linda]

While waiting for the VR solid state conversion parts to come in that I ordered, I am trying to still get the stock VR to work. I cleaned the grounding area multiple time, including the screw, case and above and below on mounting plate. When mounted the fuel guage does not move. When I have the board connected, out of the case and dangling with me holding it, the guage works. So it appears I am a better ground than the VR steering wheel mount.... So is my steering wheel shaft not grounded somehow? I remember reading about grounding via some bolts or something but can’t remember now.
Any ideas?
thx
Linda

[JT68]

Linda, I'm quite sure the regulator mounting point is at ground. (It actually mounts to body sheet metal so has little to do with the steering shaft) You can verify that with an ohmmeter if you like. As long as there is a little bare metal or bare sheet metal screw thats a good grounding point. (The mounting screw should be a dead short to other parts of the chassis)

The reason the gauge goes up when it is not grounded is because the regulator is no longer attempting to regulate. The gauge is operating on full 12-15V when the regulator is ungrounded.

[Linda]

So when the housing is NOT grounded, the guage can still move , but that indicates it is NOT working, or regulating anything, and only if grounded well, and then moving is it accurate..is how I understand it. Hope that is right. Thx
Hope my parts get here soon.
Linda

[redroadster]

Pull the cover off the regulator and see the workings
2 magnet coils 1 is for the brake / charge lite the other is the charging regulator which is spring up to those contacts ...when the alt builds up a charge it pulls the contact off then lower magnetic pull from less watts = less of a magnet, let's it close contacts again ....sounds like you could readjust the mechanism BUT THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO GET SET RIGHT my 68 Volvo for instant I worked 3 hours setting to get it functional

[redroadster]

Pull the cover of
Oops I broke the internet

[Linda]

This is for the dash guage VR, not the other VR for the charging system. Inside it is 2 metal strips connected, and with wrapped wire wound around one of them terminating in a “points” type contact. A tiny bit of exposed wire contacts the case.. On the outside are the 2 tabs to connect the 2 wires. Note the thin piece of copper sheet acting to help ground the tiny wire from inside the housing
Linda

E204EA9F-756E-40F1-BE7D-CF9C1AC2A009.jpeg

[redroadster]

Oh I see... the 5 v reg

[Linda]

Oh I see... the 5 v reg

8 Volts, otherwise looks like you could use a 60s Mustang VR (5 volts)
http://www.311s.org/pmwiki-311/pmwiki.p ... tRegFix2.0

Linda

[Linda]

Fixed via Voltage Regulator Fix 2.0. I was going to do the 1.0 Fix as my soldering skills are lame but I said what the heck, snapped off the bimetal piece and soldered away. . Hope it holds.
Tested it after mounting to car with multimeter and it is 12 volts in and 7.95 out.

01CDC924-4158-497B-A38F-45B9C4E96D86.jpeg

Linda

[devo]

Looks like a nice job. Congrats.

[Linda]

Thank you. A small, but satisfying project
And thanks for the write up in the Tech wiki, Devo.
Linda