Voltage Regulator problems

Re: Voltage Regulator problems

by David HEAL » 7 years ago

David HEAL

23 194 444

Regarding my blast tube: I used a small 90 degree PVC pipe elbow and shaped it somewhat to press fit into the top half of the side vent opening. Glued the plastic flex hose into one side of the elbow and used a bit of safety wire to aim the other end of the hose at the R/R -- it was a prototype installation but I never felt the need to further refine it. Yes, it steals a bit of the blast air from the passenger's vent but there is more than enough air flow remaining for the passenger's use. On really cold days when the vent needs to be closed, it is not hot enough to need to worry about the extra R/R cooling of the blast air.

Re: Voltage Regulator problems

by Tom Kodey » 7 years ago

Tom Kodey

5 48 15

Thanks, I'm going to give that a try ...

Re: Voltage Regulator problems

by Joe Gores » 7 years ago

Joe Gores

0 6 11

It is unlikely that a bad capacitor is causing the Voltage Regulator to fail. It will not hurt to add another one if you want to. As other have said, forced air cooling is recommended because heat can cause electronics to fail. Have you mounted your voltage regulator with heat conductive paste? It might help to insert a 0.063" x 5" x 5" aluminum plate between the voltage regulator and the instrument panel base. Put heat conductive grease between the plate and the instrument panel base and between the plate and the voltage regulator aluminum case. The idea is to get rid of the heat via both conduction and convection.

Re: Voltage Regulator problems

by Tom Kodey » 7 years ago

Tom Kodey

5 48 15

Thanks, I did try some heat conductive grease back some time ago. Now I'm trying the opposite - standing it off from the panel base somewhat to try to get some air flow behind it. My thought was that the base of the VR is mostly, I assume non-heat conductive, potting compound of some sort and the only heat conduction from the base is through the fairly thin metal edge surrounding the potting compound. Don't know if that makes sense or not. Neither mounting method seemed to have much affect on the heat dispersion.

Re: Voltage Regulator problems

by Joe Gores » 7 years ago

Joe Gores

0 6 11

Like you said, the potting compound will not conduct much heat, so blowing air on it will not help much. Here is another idea: Use the aforementioned aluminum plate but stand it off from the panel base and blow air around it. You could attach a thermocouple to one of the regulator mounting bolts. Omega part number WTJ-6-60-TT should work. The Red wire is negative. Connect the thermocouple wires to the EFIS.
Joe G.