Voltage regulator on engine side?

Esser · 10-10-2017, 12:18 PM

Sorry for the load of electrical posts but I’ll be bugging everyone for a bit.

Is there an issue with putting the voltage regulator on the engine side of the firewall? Or is my only option to extend the shielded wires off the internal alt.?

jrevens · 10-10-2017, 01:15 PM

I believe that many people have located them on the engine side. Perhaps there is more potential heat there, especially after shut down, but that is mitigated by air flow when the engine is running. Air flow is good. I put my Silent Hektik unit behind the firewall and extended the leads. That's where my over-voltage relay and capacitor are, so it made more sense to me to group those together, wiring wise, and the SH unit has a higher amperage rating as well as more heat-sink area than the Ducati.

AirFox · 10-10-2017, 02:55 PM

I put my voltage regulator on the firewall above the Battery so it is in the air flow. It is working out much better than behind the firewall. Also the Rotax connector has caused some people issues. I just installed connectors right to the blades on the voltage regulator.

good luck Josh.

jiott · 10-10-2017, 04:53 PM

John, where and how did you get your hands on that Silent Hektik regulator. You must know someone who bought it for you in Europe, the sent it to the US privately?

jrevens · 10-10-2017, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiott

John, where and how did you get your hands on that Silent Hektik regulator. You must know someone who bought it for you in Europe, the sent it to the US privately?

Yes, I think I wrote about that on my build thread. I have a friend who goes to Holland frequently - his wife is from the Netherlands, and he knew a RANS builder there who was willing to buy one and ship it here.

dcsfoto · 10-11-2017, 05:53 PM

put it on the engine side.

if the regulator burns out the fumes are toxic

D Kelm

Av8r3400 · 10-11-2017, 07:56 PM

I have seen several burn out on many planes and not one has made any "toxic" fumes.

I just replaced the one in the Mangy (inside the cabin away from the engine heat). No fumes.

Floog · 10-12-2017, 06:53 AM

3 years ago I 'smoked' a Ducati inside the firewall. The cause was a loose ring shank terminal on the C to L circuit. Though the smoke in the cockpit got my attention, there was no evidence of overheating. The regulator and wiring looked like new. Weird. Recently, I added a 40 amp alternator in parallel with the existing Rotax system. It's now a 'backup' to the external alternator. With all the extra power, I'm considering a seat warmer and A/C (:

jiott · 10-12-2017, 10:57 AM

I also had a Ducati fail, mounted on the cockpit side of the firewall, with no toxic fumes.

Rodney · 10-21-2017, 01:40 AM

Also had the Ducatti regulator inside the cockpit fail. No toxic fumes I was aware of.

In doing some research on the Vans RV-12 forum, ( they mount their regulators on the engine side of the firewall). I came to the conclusion that heat may be a factor contributing to failures.

I replaced my regulator with one from NAPA and mounted a 5 inch dia. 12 volt cooling fan about an inch away from the regulator. Fan wired into master switch.

That was a little over a year ago and so far, no problems

Rodney