The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Faulty Voltage Regulator?

Got a problem that is driving me up the wall, and I think it is related to the voltage regulator. Situation: '50 Chev 3100, bone stock 6 volt system. All the wiring is brand new, all wires have been checked against the installation instructions for correct position. Had a problem with intermittent loss of power and cured that with a new ignition switch. The genny had been checked for output, and it is in good shape. The problem is that I have a constant discharge indication on the dash meter when any lights are on, and the needle goes back only to center with lights off. Run the truck for any length of time and the battery runs out of juice. Put a new USA- made AC Delco voltage regulator(ACD# C645,GM#19106577) on the firewall, polarized as is called for, expecting the discharge condition to go away--NOPE! Took the cover off, pressed the battery coil with the engine running and it started charging. Killed the engine and it would not go back to the charge condition. BTW, the regulator is marked 6 volt positive/negative. Methinks that I have a bad-out-of -the -box regulator. Anyone have any ideas of what I could be missing, or am I on the right track?

If you got a "new- - -USA made Delco regulator" it's the only one in the world. Nothing with the Delco name on it has been made in the USA in the past 20-something years, at least. Back then, the name was "Delco-Remy". Try shopping on Ebay for the real thing- - - -they're still out there. Another option would be to find an old geezer like me who knows how to adjust the one you've got to work properly.
Jerry

Unfortunately that part number has a "Country of Origin" of USA. Which is a fancy way of saying it was made in a random sweatshop and they put it in the retail box in the US.

They want you to think it is made here, but it isn't. There is a reasonably good chance that the new regulator is just bad out of the box. Many (most?) are these days.

An original from ebay like Hotrod Lincoln recommended is going to be your best bet. The procedure for adjusting them is available and they last better than the modern junk.

You are probably right about country of origin. It is stamped on the backside Made in USA, but who knows.

Regitar makes the Delco Remy style vr in the USA

6v Part # 231-12-020

Maybe take a look at this post. There is a link to the adjustment procedure there.

Doesn't cost you anything other than a few minutes to see if you can adjust that one to do what you need.

Do you have a source for that? I would be particularly interested in parts actually made here, but everything I can find from them says they have a warehouse/distribution center in Alabama. Nothing about where their stuff is actually made.

The various corporate profiles I can find for them list them as having less than 50 employees.

See pics above.

Regitar USA is the name of the company. Wherever that one is made, it appears to be good quality from the images.

Somewhere else on it or on the one on the Cadillac it actually say "Made in USA"

Those pictures aren't even close to the real Delco-Remy item, in design or quality. I'd take a well-adjusted original over a wheelbarrow full of the clones, any day. The lack of screwdriver adjustments on the clone is a dead giveaway about the quality, or more accurately, lack of it.
Jerry