59 -60 New Voltage Regulator stops charging when warm

[Dan B.]

Bought an aftermarket (NOS made in USA) regulator and installed it to get back on the road. Start the car up, good charging rate 13.8 V, and everything appears normal initially. Drive around for about 20 minutes, and I notice the guage starting to head to just a slight discharge with no load (NO accessories or lights on). When I add a load, (lights, blower fan ect...) there is a definite discharge and I confirmed I am not getting a charge (only battery voltage 12.6 or lower) with my volt meter. I swapped out the Generator with my freshly rebuilt one just for grins (even though the old one tested OK) and same problem next day, charged till it warmed up, then stopped. These new regulators have no adjustment screws as the old original GM ones did, so I have nowhere to go with this problem as far as any warm adjustment. I also confirmed that I have a good ground to the regulator. Anyone got an idea on something else to check?? Like something else in the electrical system that might be producing resistance when warm. TIA Dan

[James S.]

Re: 59 -60 New Voltage Regulator stops charging when warm

Is the NOS regulator the new solid state unit? If it has points I'll sahre what i went through.

I had John Pirkle restore the original OEM unit and upon installing the freshly restored regulator, I was driving around and not paying attention to the dash guage, and the battery was drained in 40 minutes and I was stranded.

Sent the unit back to John and he reset the points and all is well now. Had the unit failed again, I would have opted for the solid state unit that is available now.

You have eliminated the generator as the problem. If your NOS regulator has the three internal coils and points, did you poalrize the new regulator? If not, that procedure has to be done. If you have polarized the regulator, I would bet the problem is either a poor ground, or the regulator itself. Even though it is a new regulator, it could still be your problem as your car acts just like the Vette I have been restoring.

Jim

[Dan B.]

Re: 59 -60 New Voltage Regulator stops charging when warm

Jim thanks for that excellent reply. All of the current production Voltage regulators I have looked at do not have any adjusting screws so you are stuck if you need to readjust the voltage. Yes I did polarize it and I even ran several tests using a dedicated ground from the battery to both the Generator and regulator to eliminate that.

My conclusion now is this "NEW" aftermarket regulator is bad in that it was not set up correctly at manufacture.

Where can you obtain one of the new Solid state units??? I have heard of them but don't know of the source. TIA. Dan