Voltage Regulator question - have above 15 Volts when engine on

Hi folks,

I measured voltage at battery when engine is running and get between 15.1 and 15.4 Volts. This seems a little high for me and I wanted to adjust the voltage as mentioned in the chassis service manual. Sure enough my regulator does not have the adjustment screw the manual shows, see pictures. This thing cannot be adjusted, right?

What to do, leave it or aim for a correct regulator?

 

I’m not sure how much is too much, I’m running around 14 volts. Over 12 is very normal.

I dumped the external and switched to a one wire alternator and love it. Don’t have the original engine, etc any more. I kept the external regulator on the firewall just for a more original appearance.

 

Your adjustment is the bolt on the under- arm of the contactor, you adjust the space between the points of contact, it will engage and disengage depending upon the amount or demand placed on it by the car by the entire electrical system.

 

Thanks!
Just for clarification: I indicated the only bolt I see with a green arrow. Do I get you right, after loosening this bolt the L-shaped metal part under it can be moved up or down which in turn de- or increases the gap between the points?
I would assume the lower the gap the lower the voltage gets?

 

Yes, the arm is slotted, but as far as up>volts down < volts you'll have to experiment which way it is. I struggled with these for years and bought the best expensive ones made in America $80, and gave up and bought the $29 electronic from Rockauto and never looked back. And whats even better, you can take this original style cover, and make it fit the new cheap regulator for the correct look if you want.

 

Yep, that's what I did. No worries.........................yet.

 

Thanks! Does anybody have a reference no. of that electronic regulator? If I look at rockauto for my car I seem to get offered conventional ones...

 

Sorry no. Its like $29 tho.

 

The description is usually pretty vague, but if it’s 20-30 bucks it’s the electronic one. The price is scary cheap, and inside they don’t look like much, but they work.
Patrick

 

I buy the new ones, they work great. Then I remove the cover (it's just glued on), drill the holes and put on the original Delco Remy cover.

 

Yes exactly the cure fore this ailment .....