Voltage regulator Options

[hydroliftin]

I'm having difficulties with the regulator and my mechanic wants to replace the voltage regulator on the relay board with this one that attached directly to the alternator. I've never heard of this on a 914. Is this legit?

Here's the part:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/134774442106?chn=p...bd362f3f0dc9e7f

[iankarr]

Not familiar with that one. Amazingly, you can get new VRs from autozone and o’reilly’s (and probably others). Just set your car as a 914 and search their site. They’re about 45 bucks and work well…

[Dave_Darling]

It would require either cutting up the alternator wiring harness, or at the very least some janky adapter magic.

Why does he want to use that specific one?

--DD

[Spoke]

Interesting the only place I've found this part number 73ZBVT is on ebay.

Also found this one:
Voltage Regulator For 1973-1975 Porsche 914 2.0L H4 1974 YX586WW

Again only on ebay. Neither part shows up anywhere else.

I've disassembled and reassembled the alternator in my 914 and I don't recall the brushes being on a carrier like the one shown. I would say this item will not fit an OEM 914 alternator.

[914Sixer]

Total BS, NOT a 914 voltage regulator.

[GregAmy]

Even if you could, I question the value of doing it.

Right now, the failure of the VR requires a 10-minute replacement job (I killed mine yesterday, coincidentally). If you did the VR on the alternator, it's an afternoon of up-down-up-down being unhappiness (but I'm sure beer would be involved).

EDIT: and to the original problem, "having difficulties with the regulator" is possibly difficulties with the relay plate...I really wish someone would build a solid state version of these.

[VaccaRabite]

difficulties with the relay plate...I really wish someone would build a solid state version of these.

Someone did!
But it was expensive and no one wanted to buy it at the time. I want to say this was around 2017 or so.

Zach

[hydroliftin]

Okay. That's what I was thinking as well. I will tell the guy to use a regulator that fits on the board.

[GregAmy]

Someone did!

I remember that now. And I remember at the time thinking "that's cool but it's a bit pricey maybe I'll consider it lat...and it's gone".

@hydroliftin , removing and inspecting the relay plate is not difficult. Look for the area below the VR to have gotten hot and the resin maybe melted away. The electrical tracks may even be rusted. This is common with the mechanical VR, as it tends to get hot.

To avoid this heat, you can either get a solid state Hella VR (though I read recently that they're NLA) or NAPA sells an Echlin one that can work with some slight mods: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHVR503

I've mounted the NAPA one external to the board, and then ran a jumper from the plug to the board so the GEN light works (and the alternator gets 'excited' properly).

You can flip the stock-type mechanical VR and add the jumper the same way to avoid putting the heat on the relay plate. I actually recommend that for everyone.

Greg


P.S. Ignore the diode in the photo; that's for my Microsquirt install. Car wouldn't shut off with the key; turns out the Microsquirt ECU is so power-efficient that it was just fine getting power through the GEN light circuit...the D-JET computer couldn't survive on such low current so it was not required on the stock setup.

[Superhawk996]

EDIT: and to the original problem, "having difficulties with the regulator" is possibly difficulties with the relay plate...I really wish someone would build a solid state version of these.

Be careful what you wish for. The current relay boards are still operational 50 years later.

Printed circuit boards and electrolytic capacitors (often associated with solid state anything) don’t age particularly well.

Agree with Zach - if you search the site you will turn up an offering for solid state relay boards. It was interesting but personally, I’d rather keep the original that has beefy copper traces and very little within the board to fail.

Historical link
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=259295

Interestingly enough, it still used the same vintage, plug in style voltage regulators as our OEM relay boards.

[emerygt350]

Technical Precision Replacement for WAI Global IB301A https://a.co/d/6hmzZ58

[iankarr]

Plug and play. The only difference is that the screw holes don’t quite line up. But it’s a snug fit anyway…

https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting...-vr650/2840_0_0

[930cabman]

just get the right one, unless you want more headaches

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[emerygt350]

I have 2 unadjustable solid states, two old school Bosch, including the original and a Brazilian, and an AutoZone. They all still work. None of them work as well as that Volvo adjustable solid state I posted above.

[VaccaRabite]

Technical Precision Replacement for WAI Global IB301A https://a.co/d/6hmzZ58

I really like these VR units.

The standard VR puts out about 13 - 13.5 volts. With the adjustable unit you can have 14 volts. Just a little more cushion.

I have an oldschool mechanical in my car right now and have been meaning to switch over to the adjustable solid state.
Zach

[Literati914]

A whole upgrade kit here, comes with a 34" harness replacement and brushes (don't know if the brushes part is usable w/ our alt.) (you may have to scroll up):
https://www.prancingmoose.com/AdjustableVol...tml#partnumbers

[DC_neun_vierzehn]

About a year and a half ago, I scored 8 NOS Bosch VRs. I offered them up to folks here for $80-90 shipped and it took nearly 2 years to sell them all. The aftermarket VRs and reconfiguring folks are going to when NOS Bosch VRs are still out there for under $100 is surprising to me.

[emerygt350]

Yeah, sadly this particular one works really well. Sometimes you just have to give in. I rarely do, but this, the 123dizzy are a couple of examples when you should. And modern tires.

[porschetub]

Total BS, NOT a 914 voltage regulator.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) looks a lot like the ones used on the VW mk2 Golfs that I used to own .