Jump to content

When to polarize a voltage regulator


Recommended Posts

Hi and thanks in advance. Do you have to polarize the voltage regulator when disconnecting the battery or just removing the voltage regulator and replacing the same regulator to do some detailing?

Some say to polarize the voltage regulator or gen. every time the battery is disconnected?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In all frankness, this is the first time in my 3 score + 9 years that I have ever heard anyone say a VR should be polarized every time a battery is disconnected.  I would agree that when a VR is replaced polarization should take place.

 

Polarization is the restoration of a magnetic field, which can be lost if a car sits for a long time without having been run.  The magnetic filed in question is in the GEN, not the VR.  That said, as the VR is connected to the GEN, it is easier to perform the task at the VR terminals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It can never hurt to polarize.  To be safe, I would do it.  If the gen light does not go out when the engine is running, that COULD be an indication polarization is needed.  As I say, it can't hurt anything, so go ahead and do it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is the generator that needs to be polarized. The field coil electromagnets will not work, unless they have a tiny bit of residual magnetism to begin with.

 

You only need to polarize a generator if you are replacing it with a new or rebuilt unit, or sometimes if it has been out of commission for years.

 

New coils do not have this tiny bit of magnetism. If you take a generator apart to rebuild, they can lose their magnetism especially if knocked about. If a generator, or a car, sits around for a long time (months or years) they can lose their magnetism.

 

In this case you need to remagnetise or polarize the field coils. It is a simple procedure that costs nothing and only takes a few minutes so if you do any work on the generator and it doesn't work, give it a try.

 

Alternators do not need to be polarized because they work on a different principle.

Edited by Rusty_OToole (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...