Voltage Regulator Protector

Description

This project is for those who have an alternator, either the issued Chrysler type or the 1-Wire GM type.

Alternators are designed to be run with a load on the circuit, i.e. the Battery. Running an altenator without a battery will cause the voltage regulators to overheat and destory themselves.

If you need to run your Mule without a battery, there are 2 options

• Change/remove the belt to prevent the altenator from running.
• Create a load on the charging circuit.

The simplest way to put a load on the charging circuit is to place a resistor anywhere in the positive circuit to ground. The most convienent place is to connect the resistor between the battery terminals since the battery is not there.

The resistor is ~ $1.50. Very cheap insurance.

Materials

• 3 Ohm Resistor (Minimum 10 Watts.)
• Alligator Clips (Qty. 2).
• 18 gage wire, 6" (Qty. 2).
• Heat Shrink Tubing.

Tools

• Wire cutters
• Soldering gun/iron
• Solder
• Heat Gun/torch
• Screwdriver

Steps

Note: This is not polarity sensitive. The Red and Black clips came in the package.

1. Strip both ends of the wires.
2. Solder one end of each wire to each side of the resistor.
3. Cover the bare resistor wires with heat shrink tubing. Make sure to hold the tubing next to the resistor so it does not pull away while heating.
4. Slide the alligator clip covers over the wires.
5. Attach the alligator clips.