The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Voltage Regulator for Third Brush Generator

Does anyone make a voltage regulator that fits in the cutout case mounted on the third brush type generator of early 30s Chevrolets? I know they make them for F@rds, but they are cylindrical rather than rectangular.

TIA
Baldy

The third brush is the voltage regulator. Cutout is to prevent discharge of the battery through the generator.

Dunfire is correct....the third brush serves as the regulator. The way it worked was you were supposed to move the third brush over to the right to increase the generator output at night to keep the headlights bright (?) then remember to move it back in the am when the electrical load was less so you did not boil all of the water out of the battery.

The cutout simply allowes current to flow into the battery when the generator has an output and stops the flow of current in the opposite direction when there is no generator output..

With no output from the generator the voltage in the battery was (or should be) greater than it was at the generator end so the current would flow the opposite direction....draining the battery. -

The cutout was there to control the direction the current flows...like a traffic cop.

Fifth Avenue sells a solid state cutout that is in the rectangular box and has no points to stick, It mounts ontop of the generator like the originals. They are still used on a lot of farm and industrial applications.

Class dismissed. Pass your papers to the front and do not forget to sign your name in the upper right hand corner.

Randy

Thank you Randy,

I do understand the difference between a cutout and a regulator and know that it is the third brush and the vehicle driver that regulates the voltage. I have adjusted my third brush output to provide a couple of Amps with the headlights on, but it still overcharges on long drives and I turn on the lights to prevent this. Some early Chevrolets had a resistor in the headlight switch that reduced the generator output unless the headlights were on, thus keeping the generator cooler and less likely to throw lead. Mine does not have this feature.

There are some companies making true regulators for Fords that fit in the cutout case, I just wanted to know if there were any available for stovebolts. Possibly the market is too small for anyone to bother.

Baldy