Voltage Regulator $40??

[Mikes91]

I called our local NAPA and they want $40 for the 70 amp voltage regulator (I assume that's what we use--they also had a 160A piece).

Does that not sound a bit high? I *am* in Monterey, but still...

ON EDIT: I found one at AutoZone for $15... ahhh.... more like it.


Thanks,

Mike

 

[ericboutin]

Whoa!! I was gonna say I don't think I've ever paid more than 15 bucks. Usually about 12 from Advance. For some reason I seem to go through alot of em too! I keep a spare in the tool box! Cheap insurance.

 

[Mikes91]

Whoa!! I was gonna say I don't think I've ever paid more than 15 bucks. Usually about 12 from Advance. For some reason I seem to go through alot of em too! I keep a spare in the tool box! Cheap insurance.

Good deal! Of course, if the VR is the cause of my current brightening/dimming lights, then I only got 2 years out of the last one... At $15 a pop I guess 2 years is a reasonble life expectancy...

Wonder if the $40 part would last 5+ years? (HA! I'd be surprised if they were any different than the $15 part).

We'll be rolling in somewhere near you in March... moving to Sumter.


Mike

 

[towcat]

mike-
Check your grounds.
There is a difference on the more expensive regs. The regs I pay $40 for have a removable cover(screw on instead of riveted) and has a manually adjustable cut-in for full voltage. Most emerg vehicles spend a boatload of time idling with full electrical running, so I dial in the cut-in at slightly off idle. The down side to this is the batts are getting cooked at high rpm. That is also why I change out batts yearly. I just finished going though a pallet load of group 65's for yearly changeouts. believe me, the primary batt's are junk. the secondaries are a crapshoot.

 

[JPR]

I bought one from AutoZone which lasted 13 months. The one from Napa has been on there for several years with no problems.

With the +10 year old eom regulator and the AZ regulator, both failed high, ie began charging at 18-20V. Had to disconnect the regulator both times to protect the batteries.

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

Think I gave $12 @ NAPA for the VR last year for the Beef that just went into the Gold one yesterday.....Solved the bright/dim issues @ idle.

 

[Mikes91]

Guys,

I got Kragen to Match AutoZone's price plus 5%. $14.24 for the VR fixed my problem with fluctuating voltage gauge and dim/bright/dim headlights.

Yay!

Now, I do have a question... The instructions for the VR said resistance between the field terminal and ground needs to be between 2 and 6 ohms. I played around on the field terminal and eventually think I got a good reading, which eventually became 0 ohms. The instructions say anything below 2 ohms indicates a short circuit in the "system", whatever that is...

Should I worry about this or can I drive and enjoy? The new VR fixed the physical symptoms... I'm not sure that I wouldn't know in other ways if there was a short in the system.


Thank you,


Mike

 

[ericboutin]

We'll be rolling in somewhere near you in March... moving to Sumter.

Mike

Wow Cool!! Sumter is only about 1 1/2 hours away just SE of where I am. We're located at the intersection of I-85 and I-26. Sumter is pretty close to the beach! What brings you over this way? Job transfer?
It would be cool to have another IDI'r pretty close - you're coming just in time too, looks like the IDI weekend is gonna be in TN. this year with Tanya and BJ hosting.

 

[Mikes91]

Wow Cool!! Sumter is only about 1 1/2 hours away just SE of where I am. We're located at the intersection of I-85 and I-26. Sumter is pretty close to the beach! What brings you over this way? Job transfer?
It would be cool to have another IDI'r pretty close - you're coming just in time too, looks like the IDI weekend is gonna be in TN. this year with Tanya and BJ hosting.

Sounds good... perhaps I'll have the truck and will be in attendance--been wanting to attend an IDI for awhile...