Help! Need 6V Reg Convert to Solid State

Unknown

I am trying to track down an outfit listed in an article in the August 1988 issue of Cars & Parts. The name of the outfit was Mark Shields Electronics out of Hazen, North Dakota. This guy specialized in converting your old 6-volt regulator over to solid state without changing its external appearance. Basically, this was done by yanking out the old coils and hardware and substituting a circuit board. The old cover went back on and it was as good as new. It also had a potentiometer for operation with an 8-volt battery on the 6-volt system. I tried Googling this outfit and found nothing. Is there anyone else out there that does these kind of conversions? or is Mark Shields doing this under a different business name? I can only find converters for running 6V gauges and radios on a 12-volt system. I am not going through all the rigamarole of converting the car over to 12-volt negative ground when the 6-volt positive ground system works and has always worked adequately. I just want some insurance that it will continue to do so. Any leads?? Hope to hear from someone soon. Thanks.

Geoff

Not wanting to dampen your enthusiasm or question your motives, but what is wrong with the existing system? The original auto-Lite regulators are an incredibly reliable and trouble-free system, and I have had over 45 years service out of the one I have fitted to my '28 Essex, with 2-brush generator. In that time I have cleaned the points once, and adjusted the voltage twice. Nonethe less, if you find the source of the said regulator, I would be interested for future reference. Good luck,

Geoff.

Unknown

It is not an Auto-Lite; it is a Delco-Remy. It is for a '54 Kaiser Manhattan and the Gen II Kaisers used Delco-Remy generators and regulators. I have had both in to my local auto electric shop and this is Trip Number Four. I used a continuity tester on the regulator and found the field lead properly grounded, the battery lead to be open, but the armature lead has a short (the test light glows dimly with the alligator clip on the body of the regulator where it mounts to the fender well and the probe on the "GEN" lead). The generator has also failed. I made as exhaustive a check on the car's wiring as is possible and I can find nothing amiss. This includes the connections from the generator to the regulator; everything was hooked up correctly. There is an outfit in Beloit, Wis. that makes 6-volt, positive-ground alternators and I may go this route (unfortunately I would have to design a new mounting bracket). I also question the competency of my local auto electric shop, although they claim that they get 6-volt-pos-ground stuff in often enough and that they have the equipment there to fix it. (If so, then why is my stuff there for the fourth time in eleven months??) :mad: :mad: I figure that finding someone who will convert the regulator over to solid state will at least keep the car looking original and maybe less prone to failure.

harry54

Geoff,

What is a reasonable amount of time to expect out of a typical Hudson Ignition system during the Stepdown era ? 45 years from a voltage regulator is pretty amazing. What about points , coil , wires and so forth. The reason i ask is because I have bought a few stepdowns in the last 2 years and haven't replaced everything. I just don't want to get caught on the road when I should have just replaced something. My motto has always been , " If it's not broke "

Geoff

I have had my Jet for 35 years, and in that time I have never replaced the points or condensor. I do have a spare rebuilt distributor in the trunk, just in case I do have problems at any stage. I have cleaned the points twice by dressing with a very fine stone, and have checked and adjusted the gap. Otherwise apart from a drop of oil in the centre and in the oil cup every now and again the system is pretty well trouble free. The maxim "If it aint broke don't fix it", is certainly applicable. Under normal circumstances if the coil and condensor are the proper match you won't get pitting or burning of the points and they should last indefinitely, governed by wear on the breaker arm block. The condensor is primarily to provide a path for the collapsing field of the coil when the points open, and if of the correct capacity there will not be any arcing and the points will not burn.

Martin, I have had very little experience with D-R equipment. I would have thought a competent auto-electrician would have sorted out your problems. The principles of operation are similar, and obviously you need a new regulator, so good luck with your hunt for solid state solution.

Geoff.

[Deleted User]

Martin

I've looked on the net and haven't been able to find an automotive application, I did find a couple of British bike suppliers who advertise 6v solid state regulators. While they may not be what you are looking for, perhaps one of them can steer you toward the right product. If they're in the business, they probably can tell you who is doing what for which. The site at www.aoservices.co.uk/data/v-reg.htm has a lot of data on their products for bikes. Also, PODtronics/DC-regulator.htm offers 6 and 12v pos and neg ground solid state regulators. Somebody out there knows. Keep trying.

Joe

Unknown

Well, I got part of my problem solved today and also got a lesson in CAVEAT EMPTOR (buyer beware) via the incompetence of certain shops. The first time my generator failed and I took it to my local auto electric shop, they replaced the fields in it. Bear in mind I told them "SIX-VOLT POSITIVE-GROUND" and I saw them mark it on the order sheet as such. Now several months and two more trips to the shop for various troubles later, the shop calls me to tell me what they've found. Both armature leads were just about burned off, and then he tells me, "Looks like there were twelve-volt fields in there!" WELL GEEZ, GUYS, IT WAS YOUR SCREW-UP AND I GOT THE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: I wouldn't be surprised if this eventually screwed up the regulator as well. And this is no fly-by-night operation either; this place has been around for several decades and has a couple dozen employees working for them... I think it boils down to a severe lack of communication rather than experience because this shop DOES have equipment for repairing six-volt stuff. Bottom line: probably best to find a reliable, SMALL auto electric shop where your stuff doesn't have to sit on a crowded shelf or get passed through a lot of hands, inviting a communications breakdown.

Unknown

Shame you are not in Hanover, Pa. Small shop I deal with (father and son) are the best. Did starter and Generator for a 1919 Essex. Cost me $125.00 for both.

Unknown

Martin,

For a solid state conversion of your 6V, POS ground regulator, try

Wilton Auto Electric

Robert Jeffers

603/654-9852 after 4pm

[email]HETbobj20@adelphia.net (delete the HET)[/email]



Bob converted the regulator in my 52 WASP, he does a lot of Lucas work also.

Mike Bergeron, Wilton NH

Unknown

52wasp wrote:

Martin,

For a solid state conversion of your 6V, POS ground regulator, try

Wilton Auto Electric

Robert Jeffers

603/654-9852 after 4pm

[email]HETbobj20@adelphia.net (delete the HET)[/email]



Bob converted the regulator in my 52 WASP, he does a lot of Lucas work also.

Mike Bergeron, Wilton NH

Thanks, Mike. I sure appreciate it. I will e-mail this fella as soon as I get a chance. -Tom-