[Roadsters] Alternative to Bimetallic Strip Gauge Regulator?

[Pat Horne]

Oh, I missed that part! Solid state regulators can easily be adjusted to 
higher voltages by themselves with a couple resistors, but to get a 
lower voltage you can put diodes in series with the output to drop 
voltage, either silicone diodes, or Zener diodes. Since the Moss 
regulator seems that you would need to drop 2 volts. and since a 2Volt 
Zener diode is difficult to find, I'd go with  2 or 3 silicone diodes in 
series, such as a 1N4001. They are $0.14 each from Digikey.

Peace,
Pat

Thusly spake Linda Jordan, On 3/29/2012 9:26 AM:
> Didn't someone say it was solid state, so can't adjust?
>
> Linda
>
> Sent from my iPod
>
> On Mar 29, 2012, at 7:01 AM, Pat Horne<pat at hornesystemstx.com>  wrote:
>
>> The voltage drop across a resistor is dependent on the current flowing through it. The current in this particular circuit does not stay constant, so just dropping the voltage would not work. As I recall the average voltage coming out of the instrument regulator is about 8V. The gauges are slow enough to react that a constant voltage will be good enough.
>>
>> The reason for having a voltage regulator at all is that the battery voltage can vary quite a bit between idle and full throttle, not to mention head/driving lights on or off, causing the gauges to read off by quite a bit....not that the temperature gauge is known for being particularly accurate!
>>
>> As for the 10V Moss regulator, if it is a bi-metal regulator, it can be adjusted to work. If it doesn't have an adjustment on it, the mount for the bi-metal strip or the strip itself can be bent to have more off time.
>>
>> Peace,
>> Pat
>>
>>

-- 
Pat Horne, Owner, Horne Systems
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Pat at HorneSystemsTx.com	Lockhart, TX 78644-4443
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