How does this elderly Voltage Limiter work?
This is a Voltage limiter, for my Fuel, coolant temp, and oil pressure gauges in my '89 Dodge van. It plugs into my gauge cluster and is not extremely simple to access. My Factory service ...
Forum Discussion
That's a classic!
It has a bi-metal piece of metal in it that heats up and breaks contact, then cools and makes contact again. It repeats this cycle several times a second and keeps the average voltage at about 6 volts or so (that's why it's so erratic). When they fail they stick closed and send full battery voltage to the gauges which often ruins them.
You can go to NAPA and get a modern electronic version that is longer lasting and safer.
In the days of slow analog meters, you could measure it and get a fairly steady reading. But todays DVM's are way too fast and accurate to be fooled by that.
It has a bi-metal piece of metal in it that heats up and breaks contact, then cools and makes contact again. It repeats this cycle several times a second and keeps the average voltage at about 6 volts or so (that's why it's so erratic). When they fail they stick closed and send full battery voltage to the gauges which often ruins them.
You can go to NAPA and get a modern electronic version that is longer lasting and safer.
In the days of slow analog meters, you could measure it and get a fairly steady reading. But todays DVM's are way too fast and accurate to be fooled by that.
