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MG TD TF 1500 - SOLID STATE VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Anyone know where I could find something like this?

http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et232.htm

Rich King TD 8732

Their creator, Bob Jeffers, died last year. There is no re[placement. Bud
Bud Krueger

FYI, about the time that Barney created that webpage he and I did some testing of the VW regulators. They were not compatible. Bud
Bud Krueger

Google bosch solid state dynamo regulator and open up www.worldphaco.net You will find instructions by a Dr Holden on converting a Bosch 30019 solid state regulator to work with a Lucas dynamo. This is by far the easiest and cheapest way of converting to solid state regulation. These regulators are hard to find in the UK but there are plenty in the states. I would have given the full web address but it is about a page in length.



Jan T
J Targosz

This address will provide the full and complete explanation and construction information that anyone would need. The only difficulty I see is in obtaining some of the specific parts/materials Dr. Holden specifies. Maybe it they are well known to the electronic types of our BBS group.

http://www.worldphaco.net/uploads/The_Simple_Electronic_RB106_MK2comp.pdf

Jim Merz

Jim, I think that, if I weren't yet retired, I'd have a chance at making one with the contacts, equipment, technicians, etc., that I had in my old lab. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud, if anyone could scrape up the parts the good doctor put in his bill of materials, it would be you, even in your retirement years. For example, as I read through his treatise, he mentioned constantan wire and beryllium washers. A poor electronically uneducated tinkerer like me never heard of such things.
Jim Merz

There is only one problem that I see in using this modification, it is designed for the generators in the MGAs and early MGBs, which use the CP40 generators, rated at 22 amps, not the 17 or 19 amps put out by the CP39 generators used in the TD or TF. Unless the regulator could be limited to the 17 or 19 amps that the CP40 generator is rated at, it could be detrimental to the generators. Bob Jeffers' regulators could be individually calibrated to limit the output current of the generator being used. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

If you want an original looking regulator, then don't bother reading further.
The full spectrum of old car regulators can be complicated and scarey, but I took a simple "Ford" type regulator and adapted it to our Lucas generator. I scored a beautiful Edsel regulator with the clear cover, New Old Stock, cheap, off eBay! The old "Motors Repair Manual" can provide quite a dissertation on the subject. I pretty much just tweaked the amperage cutoff down to under 20 amps max (or whatever you desire), a bit of bending that spring support. Presto, a heavy duty regulator!
JRN JIM

The one I was referring to is described on the www.worldphaco.net site Bosch 10039. There are very few additional components required - all available from eBay and if you kow what you are doing you can do a simple mod to the dynamo and the Bosch unit will work without any changes at all


Jan T
J Targosz

How many other British cars used the same regulator as used on the MG T series? I wouldn't think the regulator used on our cars would be unique only to the MG. PJ
Paul S Jennings

A friend of our hobby and owner of an auto electric shop near Orlando is designing an electronic regulator that will fit inside an original Lucas case. He is close to going to prototype which will be endurance tested in the shop and then in the real world.

I'll post an update when the testing is completed.

Let me know if you want to contact him in the mean time.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Rich

No problems at all with Dr Holdens solid state regulator conversion running on my 1250 TF with the original fitment generator.

I have built 2 of these units. Constantan wire is a little difficult to source, if you talk nicely to thermocouple manufacturers they might give you some for free. A great gentleman in Aus provided mine.

Berylium washers arent mandatory, good zinc plated washers will outlast your ownership of the car.

Some of the solid stste components are tricky to source, you may have to research some equivalents with like performance characteristics. If you are having trouble drop me an email.

Check my "archive" posts I posted heaps on my conversion.

Graeme
G Evans

All this effort is commendable, but is it necessary? I own 7 cars with points regulators and have serviced precisely 4 of them in the past 20 years. Two MGB, one MGA and one T-Series. Never had a complete failure either, and probably never will. They are a very robust and reliable component!
Steve S

I had bob convert one of my dead spares a few years ago..I keep it as a spare..the stock one just keeps chugging along..so the transistorized one sits in the cabinet. Regards, tom
tm peterson

This thread was discussed between 29/06/2014 and 01/07/2014

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