Voltage regulator just so you know!

[califkid_66]

Well I got a surprise today
While driving my Europa this morning my ampmeter was showing 30 amps +my alternator was hot
So I thought ok needs adjustment I wanted to keep my Europa as original as can be so when I had replaced my voltage regulator I bought what I believed to be a mechanical one from a 70s car same shape same size same hole and same wiring
 Well I opened it up and this is what I found
So I can’t do nothing with this so I am officially out of service until I find something to replace this
Ps I always keep my old parts the new one is the one with the black cover

[BDA]

I can't speak to your voltage regulator but I don't think there is an "original design" replacement for some things unless you find a pack rat who still has some NOS bits. For example, the voltage stabilizer behind your dash is replaced by a similar looking can with a solid state circuit inside. Your voltage regulator may be in a similar situation.

[BDA]

These guys have some old looking stuff: https://www.holden.co.uk/displayproductsByMake.asp?carMakeCode=L4&carMake=Lotus&pageno=1

[dakazman]

  I’m not a pack rat but I just salvaged a bunch of parts .  One looks newish.
 Is this what you want?
Pay for shipping and their yours. Pm me!
Dakazman

[jbcollier]

Why not carefully clean and adjust the old one?

[califkid_66]

Thank you Dakazman really appreciate your offer but my problem is solved
I had ordered an solid state one from rd That I gave to my friend but he’s not using it                         so I’m just going to put it on
 And  Jb the reason I changed the old one was the point were worn out but I still
Tried to put it on passed a 600 grit sandpaper but it doesn’t make the blue sparks like it did
I suspect something in the electronics is wrong maybe a diode cause when all connected I push on the points and there’s no reaction no sparks nothing on the multimeter

[jbcollier]

Abrasive papers leave grit behind which holds the points from closing.  Get some 1000 grade abrasive and give it another clean.  Then finish with clean white paper.  Repeatedly use new clean sections of the paper until it pulls through and comes out completely clean.

[Kendo]

I remember reading about some of the electronic stabilizers having a grounding/shorting problem where the case would short to a component or maybe the edge of the PCB. Might check on that.

[califkid_66]

Well being the type of person who like to fix stuff!! and having had success in rebuilding my ampmeter
I decided to try my luck at restoring my voltage regulator so I decided to take it all apart and clean and verify every part and wiring had to do some reading on diodes 2 of them in parallel tested both supposed to be anode and cathode power supposed to travel one way tested the diodes power went both ways so they are both not doing what they’re suppose to do but what I didn’t get is if the power goes through it should have worked when the points were closed it should have sent power to the exciter in the alternator but didn’t and I cleaned the point really good so I suspect bad wiring so the plan is clean up rewire clean and reweld every connection  it might take a while but it’s ok and get new diodes I’ll just bring them to the electronic store to get equivalents

[Gary_t]

I don't see diodes in any of your pictures. If it's the close up of two components (4105.jpg) that's a capacitor (disc) and resistor (maybe brown-orange-black-gold = 13 ohm 5% tolerance).

Sorry if this is obvious to you, and the diodes are hidden from view.

Resistor colour code calculator:
https://www.digikey.ca/en/resources/conversion-calculators/conversion-calculator-resistor-color-code

Gary

[jbcollier]

+1 on no diodes.  The resistor “throttles” current flow and the capacitor damps voltage spikes with the opening and closing of the points.  This reduces EMF and extends point life.

[califkid_66]

My bad !!  I really thought they were diodes thanks for the info that was all the electronics that were in there nothing else hiding I was going to bring them to the electronics store I would have looked pretty stupid !!  Now I have to read up on resistors and capacitors!! But anyway it looked pretty simple so I’m gonna have a go at it just for fun thanks for helping me

For the resistor I have 22  red red black gold so it should be good
The capacitor I have 3.1 but not sure of the colours looks like gold a black stripe  and yellow

[Kendo]

Old caps are frequently the cause of old electrics going bad. So replacing those if you can determine the values could do the trick. Anyone else with an unmounted regulator who could read off any capacitor markings?

[Kendo]

I went looking for a schematic of the VS. Didn't find that, but found a troubleshooting guide.

[Grumblebuns]

Aren't the diodes built into the alternator?

Also the troubleshooting guide appears to be for the voltage stabilizer for the dash instruments.