John Popelish said:
This page has some schematics (poorly reproduced, sorry) that show a
1970s version.
Which page is that, John??
BTW, this thread reminded me of my first exposure to automobile voltage
regulators. I had never paid them any mind until I saw this article.
It came in the form of an idea for design in an old Electronics Magazine
Designer's Casebook. It used a 555 timer as a PWM regulator of sorts to
switch the field current of an alternator. I actually built one from the
article and used it to replace the defunct regulator in an Opel Manta that I
once owned. Darn thing worked like a champ for the 3-4 years that I had the
car. I guess it was still working when the car finally went to the junque
heap. I scanned the article and posted it to A.B.S.E. under the same
subject line.
I've used the circuit idea for a few other things too... like a thermostat
for fan control, battery charger, etc. I even thought of using it to
replace the old mercury switch in my home HVAC system, but never got a round
toit.
--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just subsitute the appropriate characters in
the address)
Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!