KAE Voltage Regulator Uneven Brush Wear
05-30-2014, 02:12 PM
#16
I ordered the external one. I haven't decided where I'll mount it yet. I was thinking on top of the driver side shock tower. Only because of ease of adjustments. But inside the wheel well would make sense because it would be cooler. Any input welcome.
05-30-2014, 03:20 PM
#17
Chronic Tool Dropper
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Inside the wheeelhouse area because it's cooler, cleaner, out of sight, and less likely to be disturbed. Maybe some firesleeve or zippertube for the connecting wiring, and possible fusing. The wiring needs to come out of the cooling cover through that foam grommet with the other wiring, maybe secured and sleeved with that wiring.
05-30-2014, 05:39 PM
#18
I think you're right. When I receive it in the next couple of days I'll put the car up on the lift bars and get a better look. I'll try and take pic's. I'll start a separate the when I do.
05-31-2014, 12:20 PM
#19
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By the way I have had a lot of Bosch alternators apart and I have always found one brush and slip ring to be worn a great deal more than the other. Slip rings are quite thick and not a huge worry.
06-07-2014, 05:47 PM
#20
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Thread Starter
Happy to report that Earl and I fixed my power fluctuation issue, and the voltage regulator was the culprit. Here is what we found out.
The alternator had a KAE voltage regulator which is the one in the picture. I replaced it with another voltage regulator which was wlso KAE. Still had the same issue.
Looking at both regulators, both seem to have that little nick in the end of one of the brushes after use. The rest of the nicked brush was unblemished and never touched the commutator.
Earl suspected that the KAE voltage regulator brushes were not seating correctly due to a possible defect.
I then ordered the internal voltage adjustible regulator from Dave Barton at Dave's Volvo Page. Earl and I then compared the brushes and noticed that the KAE did not line up with the Dave's adjustible one.
Once I installed Dave's unit, there were no spikes at all. Smooth voltage. All we did was adjust the voltage slightly to make sure that the current was a strong 13.9V at idle.
I am so relieved that we got this resolved and cannot thank Earl enough for his help. And I also want to thank you guys, and you found the regulator that solved my problem!
The alternator had a KAE voltage regulator which is the one in the picture. I replaced it with another voltage regulator which was wlso KAE. Still had the same issue.
Looking at both regulators, both seem to have that little nick in the end of one of the brushes after use. The rest of the nicked brush was unblemished and never touched the commutator.
Earl suspected that the KAE voltage regulator brushes were not seating correctly due to a possible defect.
I then ordered the internal voltage adjustible regulator from Dave Barton at Dave's Volvo Page. Earl and I then compared the brushes and noticed that the KAE did not line up with the Dave's adjustible one.
Once I installed Dave's unit, there were no spikes at all. Smooth voltage. All we did was adjust the voltage slightly to make sure that the current was a strong 13.9V at idle.
I am so relieved that we got this resolved and cannot thank Earl enough for his help. And I also want to thank you guys, and you found the regulator that solved my problem!