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Voltage Regulator for dash dials?
Moorron - 2/3/16 at 08:49 PM

Hi guys, knowing some of you here know something about all this Elec trickery stuff I need some advice.

My dash water temp and fuel tank level seems to give different readings when the engine is running and when not which points to the available voltage in the car (14v vs 12v). As these gauges are just volt meters using a potential divider they will get effected by the different volts.

Is there an easy way to regulate their supply voltage to 12v all the time regardless of the engine running or not? I was thinking of supplying my entire dash loom with it so must handle 2 amps?

I can solder and make up a circuit but you guys might know of something off the shelf that is small and safe to use?

Cheers


ken555 - 2/3/16 at 09:37 PM

Lucas style voltage regulator, just use a simple 7810 to keep the voltage at 10V.



How I did it.

of course you don't need to put it in a case, just bolt it to something metal as a heatsink.


[Edited on 2-3-16 by ken555]


tegwin - 2/3/16 at 11:11 PM

Nothing wrong with the solution above BUT if you want to run anything sensitive then I would put in a couple of filtering capacitors at the very least to smooth out any ripples from the altenrator


ken555 - 3/3/16 at 09:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
Nothing wrong with the solution above BUT if you want to run anything sensitive then I would put in a couple of filtering capacitors at the very least to smooth out any ripples from the altenrator


I'm assuming Bi-Metal Gauges, if they need a regulated voltage that would seem to suggest an older "Smiths" style gauge.


big-vee-twin - 3/3/16 at 07:00 PM

Smiths make one it's a bi metallic switch I used this for my Smiths guages Smiths Gauges BR1308 Voltage Stabiliser BHA4602 for MGB & Negative Earth Cars


Moorron - 3/3/16 at 07:03 PM

Cheers Ken, looks nice and simple.

Will empty my fuel tank and re calibrate it once I have fitted the little regulator under the dash.


steve m - 3/3/16 at 07:11 PM

I used one of these , with my smiths clocks

Smiths Gauges BR1308 Voltage Stabiliser BHA4602 for MGB & Negative Earth Cars

steve