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RE: Test a Voltage Stabilizer

To: "'Paul-Ernest Levesque'" <pelevesque@globetrotter.net>,
Subject: RE: Test a Voltage Stabilizer
From: "Gosling, Richard B" <Richard.Gosling@atkinsglobal.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 13:42:15 +0100
Paul,

Were you using a digital meter, or one with a needle on a dial?  It makes a
difference.

The voltage stabiliser (at least the original one, modern solid state
replacements are apparently available) works by switching between the full
battery voltage (14V as you got) and zero volts, so that you get an average
of 10V.  It may stay for a second or two at 14V before switching to 0V and
then back again.  The needles on the fuel and temperature gauges move so
slowly that they don't react to this changing voltage.

Digital meters give you an instantaneous reading, updated every second or
so, so they will show the full 14V (and occasionally 0V).  A meter with a
dial on it will work more like the gauge, and will show the average output,
although they tend to react a bit faster so you may see the needle jumping
around a bit, but averaging 10V.

The other important thing is that the case of the voltage stabiliser must be
earthed (or rather, connected to the -ve side of your battery charger in
your test).  If not, the output voltage will be exactly the same as the
input voltage.

If you test with the voltage stabiliser earthed, and you still get a
continuous 14V, the voltage stabiliser is dead and you need a new one!

Richard


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