Upper left: the resistance-wire wrapped bimetallic element of an old-fashioned thermal Voltage Stabilizer.
Lower right: a solid-state electronic voltage regulator that can be used to replace it.
How To: Replace Your MGB's Thermal Voltage Stabilizer
Install a Solid State Regulator Inside the Lucas Case
as published in BritishV8 Magazine, Volume XVI Issue 2, October 2008text by: Curtis Jacobson
photos by: Jim Miller
Notes: this article references MGB equipment, schematics, etc., and the information may not be transferable to other vintage cars.
Background Information
Are you using original fuel level and coolant temperature gauges on your 1968
or later MGB? Unlike modern aftermarket gauges, these two old-fashioned gauges
are thermal ("bimetallic") devices. Their indicator needle is connected to a short
beam constructed of two dissimilar metals. The beam is wrapped in resistance wire,
which warms-up proportionally to the amount of electrical current passing through it.
The gauge needle's position is determined by flexion of the beam due to the differing
thermal-expansion rates of the two metals. To work properly, the MG fuel level and
coolant temperature gauges need to be used with an external Voltage Stabilizer.
(Note: the 1968-1972 MGB oil pressure gauge is also a thermal device. However,
because of the unique nature of its sensor, it doesn't require a Voltage Stabilizer.)
The schematic drawing below, "Stock MGB Voltage Stabilizer Circuit" illustrates
how the fuel and temperature gauges are wired. In summary, the gauges are designed
to receive a constant supply voltage of 10 Volts and it's the job of the Voltage
Stabilizer to provide it. The fuel level and coolant temperature sensors, downstream
of their respective gauges, are connected through their mountings to chassis/ground.
The sensors act like variable resistors; their resistance changes with fuel level or
coolant temperature respectively.
The Voltage Stabilizer itself is nominally provided 12 Volts. However, we know from
experience that the "voltage in" isn't so stable or predictable! A number of factors
affect the supply voltage available, including: the battery's state of charge, the
output of the generator or alternator at any given moment (which may be affected
by engine RPM), and whether various loads on the system are "on" or "off".
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Regardless of how stable or predictable the 12 Volt supply is, the Voltage
Stabilizer's purpose is to iron things out. As a generalization, you might say: "If
the Voltage Stabilizer provides more than 10 Volts, both gauges will read high. If
it provides less than 10 Volts, both gauges will read low."
However, this generalization isn't strictly true - because the original MG Voltage
Stabilizer doesn't actually regulate voltage at all! Instead, it cycles power "on"
and "off" to achieve an average voltage (over time) of about 10 Volts.
If you take an old-fashioned Voltage Stabilizer apart, you'll find a bimetallic
element with a resistance wire wrapped around it (much like an automatic-reset circuit
breaker, and not entirely unlike the gauges themselves.) Heat in the resistance wire
causes the bimetallic element to bend. The bimetallic element actually bends back
and forth quite rapidly, and in turn it rapidly opens and closes a set of contact
points. Thus, it switches between a nominal supply voltage of about 12 Volts and
a disconnected state (i.e. zero volts!) That suits old-fashioned, single-coil
MGB gauges pretty well because they have a lot of mechanical dampening built
into them. If your gauges are sufficiently damped, you may not see that their
needles constantly wiggling as the Voltage Stabilizer chatters on and off; you'll
only perceive the "average" readings they're showing you.
By modern standards, thermal Voltage Stabilizers are inaccurate and inconsistent.
Their output varies a lot between summertime and wintertime because their accuracy
is affected by ambient temperature. Heat under the dashboard (e.g. when your windscreen
defrosters are turned "on") can cause a significant shift in gauge readings. Output
may also vary over the life of the Voltage Stabilizer as the bimetallic element
fatigues, as internal contacts grow dirty, etc. If the resistance wire breaks, the
Voltage Stabilizer will simply pass-through electrical current at continuous and
unregulated voltage, so the old-fashioned thermal gauges will read high.
If your Voltage Stabilizer is old or broken, or if you just want to improve the
accuracy and consistancy of your fuel level and coolant temperature gauges, you
may want to consider converting to a modern solid-state electronic voltage regulator.
IMPORTANT NOTE: if you replace your original MGB gauges with aftermarket gauges,
you should probably remove and NOT replace your old-fashioned thermal Voltage Stablizer.
(Jumper across the Voltage Stabilizer connections.) Modern dual-coil gauges provides
accurate information regardless of supply voltage, but they may not be adequately
damped to accomodate the abrupt on/off cycling of a thermal Voltage Stabilizer.
Shopping List
Solid state voltage regulators are inexpensive, but they may be difficult to find
locally. The easiest places to purchase them are online. "Google" the part numbers
to identify potential suppliers.
National Semiconductor's "LM2940T-10.0" and NTE Electronics' "NTE1953" are
low dropout (LDO) solid-state voltage regulators. If you supply either of them
with a DC voltage between 10.5V and about 30V, they will provide a constant output
voltage of 10.0V. Similar to an old-fashioned bimetallic Voltage Stabilizer, they
can't boost voltage: so if the supply voltage drops to below about 10.5V, these
LDO's will "dropout" and simply pass through whatever supply voltage is available.
Note: there are other alternative voltage regulators that could also be used. One
example is Texas Instruments' part number "UA7810CKCS" (a.k.a. "7810" or "LM7810")
which frankly you're probably more likely to find at your local Radio Shack. The
main advantage of the National Semiconductor or NTE Electronics devices is their
somewhat lower dropout specification.
Also needed: just a few basics including a soldering iron, solder, about six inches of
insulated wire, heat shrink tubing (or possibly electrical tape), etc.
Optional extras: a small LED lamp and a 1000 ohm resistor.
Solid State LDO Voltage Regulator Pin-Outs
left-to-right: VIN, "GND", VOUT
Make sure the solid state regulator is solidly grounded to the metal cover.
Directions
1. Disconnect the car's battery and remove the original Voltage Stabilizer
from the car. (Note: the Voltage Stabilizer is mounted on the drivers-side
firewall just above the steering column.)
2. Open the voltage regulator by carefully prying back the tabs that clamp
the metal cover to the plastic base.
3. Cut and remove the old bimetallic regulator mechanism, being careful to
leave enough of the two terminals for soldering wires onto them later.
4. Prepare your solid-state voltage regulator by cutting off the center of
its three terminals. (This terminal is nominally a "ground" connection, and it
would be redundant with the mounting tab in our installation. They're connected
internally...)
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5. Using a short length of wire, jumper between the solid-state voltage regulator's
VIN (12V in) terminal to the "B" terminal on the plastic base.
Carefully solder both connections.
6. Using a short length of wire, jumper between the solid-state voltage regulator's
VOUT (10V out) terminal to the "I" terminal on the plastic base.
Carefully solder both connections.
7. The LED indicator is optional. Its purpose is just to show that the system is powered
and grounded, and that the voltage regulator is functioning. The LED is connected at one
end to the voltage regulator's 10V "OUT" terminal, and at the other end it's connected
to ground through a 1000 Ohm resistor.
8. To function properly, the solid-state regulator must be electrically
well-grounded to the rest of the vehicle. Accomplish this by (first) connecting
it to the voltage regulator's metal cover with a machine screw and nut. Note:
the voltage regulator itself must in turn be grounded to the car by its mounting.
If the fasteners are corroded or dirty, they should be cleaned at this time.
Gently fold the edges of the metal cover back over the plastic base.
An optional LED simply indicates that the voltage regulator is powered, grounded, and functioning.
Views expressed are those of the authors, and are provided without warrantee or guarantee.
Apply at your own risk.
Photos by Jim Miller for British V8 Magazine. All rights reserved.
The schematic drawing "Stock MGB Voltage Stabilizer Circuit" was derived from an Advance Auto-Wire schematic,
and was used here by permission.
