1952-59 Ford Instrument Panel Voltage Reducers/Regulators

A recent discussion started by chopd top included stuff about the dash/instrument panel voltage reducer or maybe more commonly known as a 'constant voltage' regulator. I looked around some other Ford sites on the 'net and found a pretty good article at the Ford & Mustangs page about them. I think this is what some of y'all were talking about re: converting 6volt to 12volt systems, and how to protect the gages?


Part of it reads:
". . .On the back of your Ford’s instrument panel is the voltage limiter (also called an instrument voltage regulator). When you turn the ignition on, roughly 12-14 volts of electricity flow to the voltage limiter from the ignition switch. The voltage limiter reduces 12-14 volts to approximately 5 volts which is where gauges are happiest. If we ran a full 12 volts through the gauges, the damage would be swift and permanent. With a regulated 5 volts going to the gauges, it’s then a matter of completing the circuit from the gauge to the ground (negative)..."


The entire article is here:
http://www.mustangandfords.com/techarticles/interior/75259_instrument_electricity/index.html


Hope this helps.

 

It helps me alot! This is one of the questions Ive had on my mind since I bought my car and have been wondering what to do. Thanks for this it helps tremendously

 

Thanks, Ron. The article you referenced is excellent. Simple and concise. I've bookmarked it for reference when I get to doing the instruments on both the Victoria and the Merc. I plan to retain the original guages on both cars and this should really help. Thanks again!

 

EXCELLENT! Thanks for posting, Ron! This is a BIG help! I started my wiring today and I'm taking pictures. I'll get them on a new thread once I get it finished.

 

I was looking at the new Mac's catalog (one with the green '56 Country Squire on front) and noticed there are 4 different voltage reducers listed at page 289. Prices range from $11.75 - $34.95.

 

in borg warner its a vr1 available at most parts stores

 

I bought one of those solid state deals on Ebay for $22.50 and figured I'd give it a try. I've got most of the wiring done on the car, just waiting on some new pigtails for the dash and I can get that wrapped up. It may be a week or so, but I WILL post some pictures of the results.

 

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!- Montgomery Burns

 

Here is the CVR that I got off Ebay

 

This is where I mounted it. It comes with velcro backing and you can stick it just about anywhere.

 

This is a shot of the back of the dash with it wired in. I've completed all the wiring in the car and everything works like a charm, except the two gauges that I have this thing wired to. I'm not writing this CVR off just yet, the gauges may have been toast before I started. I say that because almost all of the old wiring showed signs of burning. The jackets were dust and the wire itself was discolored. Oddly enough, the wires that DIDN'T show these signs were the horn wire and the turn signal harness on the column, both of which I kept.

 

I'll try and update once I get the gauges out and tested.

 

Any luck with the CVR? I've been looking at these on Ebay and would like to know how they work.

 

No, nothing to report yet. I haven't had a chance to get the gauges tested.

 

Update: My gauges are toast. I got 2 other sets only to find they are toast as well. I also found that my speedo is trashed. Since this is just a beater, I'm going to get some new gauges at the parts store and retro fit them into the dash. The CVR wasn't working but I did get one at the bone yard for $3 that works like a charm.

 

Thanks for the update. I ended up getting one from Dennis Carpenter (part #D-10800) that works great.

 

I heard that when you go from pos+ grd 6 volt to 12 volt- neg you should reverse the connections on the gauges,before you decided they were "toast" did you do that? Also could you check the voltage coming thru the CVR to make sure it is functioning.

 

I heard the same thing, Jeff. I tried it (reversing the connections) but to no avail. Someone at some point in time had been in the gauges. The others that I got, looked about the same. I checked the CVR and nothing. It was supposed to be adjustable and still, nothing. Thats when I went to the bone yard and got one off a truck, tested it and found it was good. I went back and tested everything again with the new CVR and still, nothing. If it were something other than a daily beater, I would have a set of these rebuilt, but, it's a beater.

 

This is an idea for '54 Ford guys a 52-53 ford dash will bolt into a '54 and then you can take your pick of these:http://stores.ebay.com/Old-New-Part...LH_***leDesc=1&_fsub=132059016&_sid=230600146

 

Thought I would throw in this link as they have a lot of "back in the day" new stuff as I bought some gauges from them you will find Cal Custom/Hawk Sun,Dixco,RAC Stewart Warner and Sun and others they also have some Cal Custom and Eelco and more accessories:http://stores.ebay.com/TUSCOLA-TRAD...l?_fsub=2&_sid=98967784&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

 

Great stuff, Thanks Jeff!!