Very Weird Voltage Regulator Problem

[DonsBolt]

Hey all
I am having some werd Voltage Regulator peoblems, that have me a little stumped.

Ever since I bought my Bronco, my voltage guage has allways read about 15 volts. A few weeks ago I saw a post that said to replace the older style regulator, with a NAPA # VR440SB solid state regulator.

So I picked up one of those regulators, installed it, and started up the truck. When I first started it up, the guage read 14 volts, so I shut the truck off, shut the hood and went to take a ride. As soon as I started it the 2nd time the guage spiked to at least 16 volts, and the battery started to boil.

So I imediatlly shut it off, reinstalled the origional regulator, and while it read 15 volts everything was fine.

I decided to bring the NAPA Regulator back, and got a 2nd NAPA # VR440SB. I installed it, and I thought everything was fine. I drove it for 4-5 days, the whole time the guage read a perfect 14 volts. In those 4-5 days I drove to maine, new hampshire, and cape cod, prob put a good 300 miles with no problems.

Then yesterday I was working on my truck, adjusting my carb, and all of a sudden it did the same thing as the other Napa regulator, spiking to at least 16 volts.

So I threw the origional regulator back on, and all seems normal again, though reading 15 volts.

So to say the least I am stumped, and don't know what to do. I have a fairlly new(about a year old Die Hard) Battery. Never had any other electrical issues, other than my volt guage reading 15 volts. I know all my battery wires are good(new from Rayy last year) All my grounds are good( new grounding plate, new wires,

I am thinking of going to a 3G altenator, with a single wire setup, but don't know if that will solve my problems.

SO if anyone has any ideas let me know.

TIA

 

[70_Steve]

The voltage regulator needs to sense the system voltage. It will turn the alternator on and off to maintain a preset (inside the regulator) system voltage. If I remember right, it's the green w/red stripe wire that the voltage regulator uses to sense the system voltage. If there is a problem getting the proper system voltage to the regulator on that wire, it will turn the alternator on constantly.

Check the regulator connector.
http://www.wsu.edu/~i6735189/75_77wd1.gif

 

[airman]

I was doing the same thing. Thats why I went to the 3G 1 wire. Then I killed a regulator in that. Thats when I got rid of the dual battery setup. Works great now. Cleaned up a bunch of wiring too. On that same train of thought another thing that I am glad I did was get a relay headlight harness from BC. No more pulsing headlights.

 

[DonsBolt]

Just off the Phone with Rayyyyyyyyyyy, and just ordered a one wire Delco Altenator.

Thats should solve my problems