Cool GM voltage regulator

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Wish I had seen this before I bought my voltage regulators. For people who have older GM alternators and want to change their voltage set point, check these out. They're pretty cool!

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_90594_Mechman-Alternators-AVBMOVAL.html?nosto=productpage-nosto-1

Click to read more...

 

[ChaseinBass]

99 bucks? dude I told you how to do it for 10 ? I made it for mine but after I while the adj pot burned out and I just diode in line with it and got a 4-6 volt gain and it worked fine until winter and then I worried 15.5 + was to high for taramps and swapped diode out for a fuse cuz I used a fuse holder to hold the gm diode and now it's getting warm again I will put it back in and go from low 14s to high 14 volts for summer. Works fine for me. But the adj one you linked could be handy to limit high charge rate Brazilians don't like ?

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[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

99 bucks? dude I told you how to do it for 10 ? I made it for mine but after I while the adj pot burned out and I just diode in line with it and got a 4-6 volt gain and it worked fine until winter and then I worried 15.5 + was to high for taramps and swapped diode out for a fuse cuz I used a fuse holder to hold the gm diode and now it's getting warm again I will put it back in and go from low 14s to high 14 volts for summer. Works fine for me. But the adj one you linked could be handy to limit high charge rate Brazilians don't like ?

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I don't want a set resistance with a diode. The weather changes a lot here, and I will need to change the resistance i add based on temperature in order to keep voltage where I want it. Plus, I will have to keep it the same for 3 alternators. Just using a potentiometer wired directly is a bad idea because it won't be able to dissipate the heat. The way I understand it, the blue boxes I have use an external potentiometer at a lower voltage/amperage to control the load put on the circuit inside the box, which has plenty of heat sink.

The inline mechman units don't have heat sink, but if you had issues, they should warranty it if it breaks.

 

[The Camry]

Not that i know how but couldn't someone build like a small raspberry pi tied to a thermometer and write a small program that basically says. When temp is ____, put out ___ amperag/voltage

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[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

Not that i know how but couldn't someone build like a small raspberry pi tied to a thermometer and write a small program that basically says. When temp is ____, put out ___ amperag/voltage
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probably, i have my doubts about its long term reliability and ease of set up for the average user though. might be more costly to prep it properly on that route but itd be cool as a proof of concept

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Not that i know how but couldn't someone build like a small raspberry pi tied to a thermometer and write a small program that basically says. When temp is ____, put out ___ amperag/voltage
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That would be cool, but would be a lot of work and it's easy to just look at your voltage meter and turn the external regulator knob until you're happy. Also, I plan to run around 15v normally, and closer to 16 when at shows and giving demo's. So, I'd still want to be able to adjust on the fly for different situations.

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

you understand how the sensing circuit works? its pretty ******* easy to bypass..

 

[Hertz Mafia]

Blue box for external regulators cost $90 brand new. Mis well just order the correct alts with the correct regulator then buy that mechman crap for $100

 

[ChaseinBass]

I agree if you can buy the external reg for 99 bucks that's really the way to go as the pots tend to burn out pretty fast atleast the way I did it.

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[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Blue box for external regulators cost $90 brand new. Mis well just order the correct alts with the correct regulator then buy that mechman crap for $100

It's not a matter of getting the "correct regulator" for me. Temperature change moves voltage here about .5v. Being close to amp/cap limits and not wanting to go over, I think external regulation is the right option for me.

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

It's not a matter of getting the "correct regulator" for me. Temperature change moves voltage here about .5v. Being close to amp/cap limits and not wanting to go over, I think external regulation is the right option for me.

i fluctuate about .7v here in florida on hot days. about .4v on cold days

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

i fluctuate about .7v here in florida on hot days. about .4v on cold days

Yeah, .7v could be the difference between my amps protecting or not

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, .7v could be the difference between my amps protecting or not

They protect at 15.5v or what

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

They protect at 15.5v or what

16v +/-.2v

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

16v +/-.2v

you really should not be anywhere near 16v let alone 15.5v man..

btw your vr is going out by eod today

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

you really should not be anywhere near 16v let alone 15.5v man..
btw your vr is going out by eod today

Not going to be using batteries. Cap specs said they're good up to 16.2v.

Or, I could make banks of 7 instead of 6

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

Not going to be using batteries. Cap specs said they're good up to 16.2v.
Or, I could make banks of 7 instead of 6

oh ok gotcha

you'll be good up to 16.2 like you said just watch the balancing every now and then between cells (havent had problems myself)

 

[BOOMINGRANDPA 5,000+ posts]

i got a voltage booster for my gp for like $20, i had like 15.1v at amp at idle but i noticed stereo was way louder at idle so i rode in back seat and check volts at amp while driving and it would drop to 13v so i unhooked it..

 

[los33 10+ year member]

i got a voltage booster for my gp for like $20, i had like 15.1v at amp at idle but i noticed stereo was way louder at idle so i rode in back seat and check volts at amp while driving and it would drop to 13v so i unhooked it..

if that was the case the voltage booster was shutting down so it wouldnt mess up the regulator..

I personally went with a avbm when i got tired of diodes.

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

oh ok gotcha
you'll be good up to 16.2 like you said just watch the balancing every now and then between cells (havent had problems myself)

Do you have a balancing circuit?