Adjustable Voltage Regulator

[Ed Lijewski]

https://www.prancingmoose.com/Adjustabl ... 9BQO2ZL1XQ

YMMV

[DPDISXR4Ti]

You beat me to it! I also noted Joshua's FB post yesterday.

I presume our original Bosch alternator is the common 28mm slip-ring type, yes?

[DPDISXR4Ti]

FWIW, it's easy to spend way too much time on the Prancing Moose site, but there really is some very good content there that is not Volvo specific...

https://www.prancingmoose.com/index.html

[my8950]

Is there a reason to do this? My 3G usually sets me at 13.9-14.1VDC when running.
I guess I'm trying to understand the purpose to mess with the regulator.

[Ed Lijewski]

You beat me to it! I also noted Joshua's FB post yesterday.

I presume our original Bosch alternator is the common 28mm slip-ring type, yes?

"Regulators are for any Bosch External Fan Alternator."

Merk OE alternators: Check.

YMMV

[Ed Lijewski]

Is there a reason to do this? My 3G usually sets me at 13.9-14.1VDC when running.
I guess I'm trying to understand the purpose to mess with the regulator.

Peeps obsess about upgrading alternator amps capacity; increasing voltage even modestly has a broader real/potential benefit (e.g., spurring window motors to actuate better; other systems also...).

YMMV

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Is there a reason to do this? My 3G usually sets me at 13.9-14.1VDC when running.
I guess I'm trying to understand the purpose to mess with the regulator.

Keep in mind, it only works with older Bosch alternators. If you've already upgraded to a more modern alternator such as the 3G, the discussion is moot (other than curiosity, I suppose).

[brokencase]

The adjustable regulator on the original Bosch is a waste of money and time. I have been there and have done that.
A regulator only needs to be set to one voltage and that is it. You are not getting anything by turning up the regulated voltage.
In fact you are only doing damage to your battery.

It does not address the low current output at low rpms and the overall low current output of the Bosch alternator.

This is the whole reason why I adapted to the Hitachi 150 amp alternator. It is a little more work but has made a world of difference.
On even short drives the Hitachi quickly restores the battery to full charge and can handle any instantaneous additional demand at ease.

Ignore all the BS on that guys website. He knows the Bosch 85 amp unit is a piece of crap and is only selling lipstick to put on the pig.

[Ed Lijewski]

You are not getting anything by turning up the regulated voltage. In fact you are only doing damage to your battery.

Please amplify.

YMMV

[brokencase]

You are not getting anything by turning up the regulated voltage. In fact you are only doing damage to your battery.

Please amplify.

YMMV

I won't amplify but I will clarify.

The regulator can't raise the output of the alternator. It can only clamp the max voltage. So, the regulator sets the ultimate output voltage of the alternator. This max output is somewhere around 13.7-14 volts. There is no need to set this any different. It works for all lead acid cells.

If at low rpms the alternator is not putting out much then the regulator can't raise that. This, IMHO is the problem with the Bosch 85 amp alternator. It does not put enough out at lower rpms. It also does not output much current overall.

Now if you install an adjustable regulator, and lets say you unknowingly adjusted up to 14.5 volts (because you only adjusted it at idle), then you might not have any issue with around town driving, but if you got on the highway and drove for some time you will only be cooking your battery.

The above is a simple explanation, but it gets a little more complicated when you look at output vs. load.

But the problem with the Bosch 85 amp alternator is not it's regulator, it is it's physical design. It is an old design. Post 1990 just about all Fords switched to 130 amp or greater alternators on most mid size cars (Mustang, etc...)

The only way you could upgrade the Bosch unit is if someone offered a "high output" kit that would involve swapping in new stator windings and diodes. But it is more cost effective to just swap in a modern Japanese alternator.

[Ed Lijewski]

Thank you for amplifying this.

[AI Overview. "Amplify" means to make something larger, greater, or stronger in size, intensity, or effect, or to expand on something by adding more details or information."]

YMMV

[brokencase]

Then just say "expand"

Like Henry Ford II...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1eQRROw4o

at 1 minute and 8 seconds..

[Ed Lijewski]

There was nothing to clarify in your terse statement.

The conclusion was clear.

But the path to it was not obvious.

Synonyms for amplify are abundant, each and all describing the reason for requesting uh amplification.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amplify

And of the ~50/6070 shown in it that link clarify is nowhere to be seen.

[Stick to Ohms law. Words are among my purviews.]

YMMV

[brokencase]

I like "elaborate". Like "Hey Brokencase, Can you please elaborate?" Sounds very professional.

If you want me to amplify THEN I WOULD WRITE LIKE THIS! CAN YOU HEAR ME NUMBSKULL? AM I MAKING ANY PROGRESS IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING?

But that would be harsh. I am not like that.

[Ed Lijewski]

I like "elaborate". Like "Hey Brokencase, Can you please elaborate?" Sounds very professional.

Unfortunately your original response failed to elaborate on how adjusted higher regulator voltage "KILLS" the battery; it needed amplification.

YMMV