Re: [T3] New VR Warning

["Daniel Baum" <daniel@type34.info>]

<x-flowed>Is the VR in a different place in the Type 3 than the Type 34?

I've got one of the new-type VRs, and I don't think there's any way it can 
touch anything.

Maybe I should look again. . .

Daniel


> On 18 Jul 2005 at 10:41, Matthew Jones wrote:
>
> > I just spotted a potentially serious detail on the new
> > Bosch voltage regulator:
> >
> > The whole outer metal shell is D+. This means that when
> > the engine is running, it is at 12 to 14v.
>
> This sounds like a serious flaw. Was there any warning with the VR, or was 
> this
> something that you had to discover for yourself?
>
> > This picture shows the old & new side by side:
> > http://vw1600e.org.uk/regulator/reg1.jpg
> >
> > This picture shows a side view:
> > http://vw1600e.org.uk/regulator/reg3.jpg
>
> I can't quite tell from the photos, but is it clear that the D+ terminal 
> is NOT
> insulated from the upper case? I can see that the other 2 terminals DO 
> appear
> to be insulated. Is there a ground connection point that is separate from 
> the
> upper case?
>
> > I think an appropriate safety device may be an old
> > margarine tub over the whole thing.
> >
> > I replaced the vinyl "insulation" next to my VR with duct
> > tape covered in PVC insulating tape. PVC tape on its own
> > isn't sticky enough, and gets saggy when hot.
> >
> > There's a good reason for this design, I think. You can see
> > 3 electronic components pressed into the shell. By doing this
> > they get a nice big heat sink area.
>
> The heat sink is a good reason, but I don't understand why the new VR had 
> to be
> larger than the old one. It should have taken up quite a bit less room.
>
> Unless there's something wrong with the one you got, I'd say that this is 
> a
> serious design flaw. Most people would not have noticed this, and this 
> would be
> likely to lead to damage to the generator or VR. That would have PO'd a 
> LOT of
> people.
>
> Can anyone else out there confirm Matt's observations?
>
> --
> Jim Adney
> jadney@vwtype3.org
> Madison, WI 53711-3054
> USA
>
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