Test voltage regulator

[the_engineers]

Is there a way to test a voltage regulator to see if it's bad?  I know they're relatively cheap, but the process always seems to be to swap them or test around them.

[Alaskan_TA]

Yes, but you will have to pirate a bad one to make one of these. I made this over 20 years ago, so it needs a rebuild.

To make one, solder a wire to the back of the pin shown. Rivet a plastic shield to protect it some.

To use it, plug the regulator harness into it & attach the aligator clip to a good ground.

I only used this in situations where the car would not start. If this allowed the car to start I would replace the regulator. If there was no change I would look elsewhere.

Leaving it on could fry other components, so use with caution. 

[Alaskan_TA]

These are from 1969, but they may help you as well.

The book;

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/MTSC/1969/ChargingSystem-03.shtml

The video parts 1 & II;

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/MTSC/1969/ChargingSystem-05.shtml

[ShelbyDogg]

Whoa Barry,

That grounds an alternator field terminal and will put your system at full charge. It could melt your battery. You could use it for a minute to test that your alternator is working, but you could do the same thing by grounding the correct field terminal at the alternator.

Is there a way to test a voltage regulator to see if it's bad?  I know they're relatively cheap, but the process always seems to be to swap them or test around them.

The only real test I use is swapping it with spares and a volt meter on the battery. I didn't read the links Barry posted yet though.