Regulator polarity question

[Tim S.]

Hello. I'm Tim Schaffer from Yarmouth, Maine. Currently trying to complete a frame off resto of my 1961 before the snows arrive. I wish I'd been aware of the forum before as it would have saved me alot of time.Better late than never, and I have a question: I recently purchased a rebuilt voltage regulator on E-Bay, which appears identical to the OEM. Both are # 1119. The original is dated 3E. The rebuilt is dated 1D. HOWEVER the new one came with a pink tag which warns "This Rebuilt Regulator is for a POSITIVE Grounded battery Only." Visually, the two regulators are identical. Is there a way to check this out without actually installing the regulator?
Thanks.

[John H.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

I'd call the seller and find out what's going on with that tag - vintage British cars had positive-ground electrical systems, but I've never seen a domestic car with anything but a negative-ground system.

[Tim S.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Thanks John. I haven't heard of any domestic cars with positive grounds either. I'll let you know if I learn anything different.

[Terry M.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Something in the back of my mind is telling me my 1937 Cadillac is + ground, but I can assure you a 1119 regulator will NOT work on that car. It (the Cadillac) is a 6-volt system anyway. So this tid-bit while it is almost not applicable to this discussion I must point out that ALL the content of that car is domestic, which is more than we can say for anything more recent.

[Chuck W.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Something in the back of my mind is telling me my 1937 Cadillac is + ground, but I can assure you a 1119 regulator will NOT work on that car. It (the Cadillac) is a 6-volt system anyway. So this tid-bit while it is almost not applicable to this discussion I must point out that ALL the content of that car is domestic, which is more than we can say for anything more recent.

Terry,

You are correct. Many of the early (pre-war) domestic "Classics" are positive ground.

[John F.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

My very first car, a 55 Ford had positive ground. Most people would put the battery in wrong. Then you had to polarize it to turn the generator light off on the dash.

[Joe L.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Hello. I'm Tim Schaffer from Yarmouth, Maine. Currently trying to complete a frame off resto of my 1961 before the snows arrive. I wish I'd been aware of the forum before as it would have saved me alot of time.Better late than never, and I have a question: I recently purchased a rebuilt voltage regulator on E-Bay, which appears identical to the OEM. Both are # 1119. The original is dated 3E. The rebuilt is dated 1D. HOWEVER the new one came with a pink tag which warns "This Rebuilt Regulator is for a POSITIVE Grounded battery Only." Visually, the two regulators are identical. Is there a way to check this out without actually installing the regulator?
Thanks.

Tim-----


Of all places, Yarmouth, Maine! I was there just a few weeks ago and stopped at my favorite roadside stand, Day's Lobster and Seafood. Ate several lobsters and a couple of pounds of steamed clams there. Lovely day, too. Wish I was there today, but I'm nearly 3,000 miles away at home in California, now.

[Jack H.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Let's make sure we're reading the part correctly. The PN should be on one side of the mounting ear and the date code on the other side of the same mounting ear. The PN will be stamped in two passages: "1119" and "001 x" on the line below. For a typical 1961 Corvette, you'd expect the full sequence to be 1119001D where the 'x' or 'D' indicates the design revision level of PN 1119001.

On the opposite side of the same mounting ear, you should find the voltage regulator's voltage rating "12VN" for 12V negative ground and the date code "NX' stamped below. N=last digit of year made and X=alpha character for month of year production.

I'm not saying you're reading the numbers wrong, it's just I've never heard one refer to 'half' of the voltage regulator's PN before like you did when you quoted "1119". Most drop that portion of the PN and simply talk about their Corvette voltage regulator as a "001C" or "002E". So, let's make sure we aren't confusing the PN sequence for the date code sequence...

[Tim S.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Thank you Jack! The full part # is 1119-001D. And on the other ear of the mounting bracket is stampted "12VN" and below that 1F, so I assume the regulator was originally manufactured in Feb. 61. That makes sense since the car was purchased i(by my father) early in the summer of 1961. (VIN 10867S109889).

I guess the pink slip is simply a mistake, since I doubt that Delco would have rebuilt it as a positive ground and left the 12VN stamp. There are also some penciled notations above the three relays (preceding from the mounting tab): "6" above the F tabbed relay; "3" above the GEN relay; and "11" above BAT, if that info means anything.

Your message also suggests that the regulator I took off of the car must have been installed during a repair, since it the P/N on it is 1119-003E (FI maybe?). It also is stamped 12VN and a date of 5K.

[Tim S.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Joe: Wild coincidence about Yarmouth. You should be here now as the weather is fabulour-at least for a few more days!

[Jack H.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Yep, if memory serves the '003 was a later, higher amperage rated regulator. the '001D is what I'd expect to see on your '61 and the fact that it's stamped "12VN" says you should be good to go!

[Tim S.]

Re: Regulator polarity question

Thanks Jack.