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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Solid State Regulators

To give credit where credit is due, I received this from my local MG T chapter here in New England.

<<Hi All!

Kathy Ahrendt has started a new business which takes up where Bob Jeffer's left off, converting our T-Series regulators to digital solid state. For all of us (me included) who never got around to sending off your regulator to Bob for conversion, now we have a reprieve. Please see the attached ad for more information.
Bob Doc>>


Frank Cronin

Great news...thanks for sharing!
Gene Gillam

Yeah, Thanks Frank. Interesting for $150. Today's components can only be an improvement. But my old Relays are still doing the job. Perhaps not nearly as efficiently or accurately though.
Mike TF-8257
M Brand

A question for the experts in such things. I noticed in the add for solid state regulator conversion reference to positive or negative ground conversions of regulators. If you change your car to negative ground and have a stock regulator not converted to solid state do you need to change any of the wiring connections ?
F. Driver

Great news. I procrastinated while Bob was doing the conversion.
Tyler
Tyler Irwin

F. Driver, the answer to your question is -no. Standard regulators are not polarity sensitive. The solid state regulators have polarity sensitive components in them.

I have a Bob Jeffers regulator that I installed 10 years ago. Only time the cover's ever been off is to show the internals to folks. The Ahrendt's are top notch folks. Bud
Bud Krueger

Let me clarify that. There are wires that you will want to change, e.g., ammeter & coil but not at the regulator.
Bud
Bud Krueger

I looked at this regulator very closely on Saturday while at the GOF in Strasberg Pennsylvania. These units are VERY well made, VERY high quality and a great deal at this price. The control board is purpose built for this application. I strongly recommend these units. A huge thank you to Dave and Kathy for making this product, and for having this option available to us again.
-David
D. Sander

There always has been an alternative (UK side) - www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com
They also have great LEDs.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Thanks Bud, When wiring the car or for that matter anything else that I am not sure of I like to ask others for their thoughts.
F. Driver


Chaps

At the huge risk of asking a dumb question. What is the benefit of a solid state regulator? I appreciate the points can get sticky on normal regulators and need to be cleaned at times...is there any thing else?

I guess what I am really asking is this a good modification?

Regards
Doctor Bob

My theory is, if it isn't broke, don't fix it, but if it is, modernize it if you can. PJ
Paul161

Hmmmm

Yes I see that...it's a good theory that I suppose can also be applied to women.




Doctor Bob

Doctor Bob,

No more points, no more sticking, no more adjustments.

Things don't have to be broke to fix 'em.

Gene
Gene Gillam

I saw one of these a few months ago. Very nicely done. Sticking point is (at the time) you had to send them your regulator.

I hope they build up an inventory of cores for exchange to quicken the turn-around. I don't like disabling the car.

...
MAndrus

I am no electrical engineer, but I suspect these regulators are more efficient than mechanical ones, resulting in less wasted electricity , more even current flow, and more efficient battery charging.
-David
D. Sander

"I suspect these regulators are more efficient than mechanical ones, resulting in less wasted electricity , more even current flow, and more efficient battery charging."

Thatīs not necessarily true. A well tuned Relay contact (which is what the old regulator has) is nearly lossless when it is clean. A Semiconductor switch element always has a resistance and hence generates a loss in transmission.

However, the relay contact - from opening and closing multiple times and sparks being generated - will burn, corrode or get dirty and increase its resistance over time. This then generates losses and also changes the operating parameters.

The semiconductor will keep its specs until it breaks (which rarey ever happens if the components are of good quality and within their safe operating range).

So the main gain here is high reliability at no maintenance, since there are no moving parts.

Rgds, Mike
Mike Fritsch

Fred,
I don't have your email (something about MNMGTR dues?), but most of the answers are accurate, but maybe a bit incomplete. There are some polarity sensitive devices you need to be concerned with.
Certainly the ammeter and the coil, which have been mentioned. But there are more if you have changed (upgraded?) to some modern components. These include:
- electronic regulator
- electronic fuel pump (not in your case as I have ensured yours are polarity neutral)
- electronic ignition such as a Pertronix
- LED lights, tail, head, instrument, etc.
- radio
- etc.
But with a stock car without electronic dodads, only the ammeter and coil need be changed.
Lew3

Fellas this subject has been beaten to death, why members dont look in the archive and use this valuable resource astounds me.

Yes there is a new player on the block, this needs to be bought to everyones attention however I cannot see the merit in rehashing all the pros and cons of a solid state regulator.

You can construct your own anyway and no one except the unscupulous that would remove you regulator lid will ever know of its existence.

Incidently the build yourself variety has two versions to match either polarity earthing system on your vehicle, no auxiliaries require wiring to be altered, fit and forget is the reward.
G Evans

Mr Evans

I am sorry the current discussion "astounds" you. But just because it doesn't interest you or that it has been discussed before doesn't mean others do not find it of topical interest again.

We could all post "look in the archives". If we did that we may as well shut the forum down.

The whole point of this forum is for like minded people to share and discuss our cars.

There is not one aspect of the MG that has not already been discussed and debated before - and all of this is in the archives. Does it matter if we discuss it again?

If you are not interested in a topic - then we suggest that you don't read it. You have no right to censure those that are.

Warm regards






Doctor Bob

G,
This thread started with announcing Daves NEW Solid State Regulator, and that is not in the archives!!!!!!
Steve Wincze

It's a rare day that a rehash doesn't include some new bit of information or some new person's new point of view. I say "Rehashes Rule." Jud

Ps, I also really appreciate specific referrals to archival threads.
J. K. Chapin


Hi all,

I'm one of the two partners producing the new digital voltage regulators. I don't want to be the shameless commerce division but I thought I'd add a few comments.

Our regulator is polarity sensitive. It is built for either positive or negative ground configurations and cannot be changed in the field. This is generally the case for any solid state device. Our regulator will not be damaged by accidental wrong polarity but it will not work if wired incorrectly.
We also need to know the model number of the generator installed so we can configure the current limit setting to prevent overtaxing the generator.

Our turnaround time of two weeks as stated in the website is a worst case situation. If you notify us that a regulator is coming to us and provide the necessary information we can generally return it to you within 1-2 days. We sometimes spend more time cleaning up the returned core than we do with the electronics. Some of the cores we've received looked like they were dug up from a farm field.
If we are travelling to a GOF or other meet then we will let you know and you can plan accordingly.

We prefer to rebuild your core but we do have a few cores in stock. Obviously, if we need to provide the core there will be an additional charge depending upon the regulator type. Contact us for details.

We are always looking for cores so contact us if you have some to offer. We will reimburse shipping and depending upon the quality and type of the core may pay a small bounty.

This device came about by necessity. An original Lucas regulator will work fine for many years and many thousands of miles. But they do eventually fail and it's the replacements that are the problem. The current crop of far east reproductions are not accurate or reliable. Just remove the top from an original Lucas and a new replacement and compare the internals. We have replaced several of these locally because they were constantly drifting and either over or under charging the battery.

If you have any questions please contact us via the website: www.vintagemecha-tronics.com

Dave Ahrendt
David Ahrendt

Thanks Dave. We met at Furhman this summer. I'll be sending the unit that came with my A in a few months, it's in really good shape. I'll also send one that came in one of the parts boxes... in a little worse shape <grin> for core parts.

Your piece looks great. I can't imagine taking the time to fiddle one together myself, I've got a car to restore.

....
MAndrus

Awhile back I posted this info from a Dr. Hugh Holden's site.This is for primarily the RB106 conversion, however it also works with others. I have personally completed several of these conversions and am pleased. Cost of parts for each conversion is less than $5 depending on exactly what components you choose and where you buy them. Each conversion uses a single transistor, a diode, and a resistor. Con be made either positive or negative ground depending on the transistor and orientation of the diode. Easy enough!

Go to: http://www.worldphaco.net

Regards,
Brian Warmuth
ZBMan

Brian,
Where did you find the constantan wire?
Lew3

As I communicated previously, constantan wire is procurable from thermocouple manufacturers. I got mine for the cost of postage because you require such a small quantity.

If you have no success I can assist.
G Evans

Lew, I will provide you my e-mail next time we meet. The only reason I am going to negative ground is for my CB radio. However my back up fuel pump which is solid state is wired for negative ground as is the SU pump.
F. Driver

Lew3
I just used an off-the-shellf 100ohm 1/4 w resistor. Think I got a whole pack of them at Radio Shack for a buck or two.

Brian W.
ZBMan

This thread was discussed between 07/09/2015 and 11/09/2015

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