Having read the various ideas on the operation of the stabilizer, I
decided to pull one apart. From my observations, the voltage stabilizer
has a bimetal strip with a length of wire wound around the bimetal
strip. One side of the wire is connected to the high voltage terminal
and the other side to ground. This results in a continuos current flow
through the wire and heat is generated just like in an electric stove
element. As the voltage changes, the amount of heat produced varies and
this causes the bimetalic strip to flex. The bimetalic strip is also
connected to the high voltage terminal and the other end of the strip
rests on an adjustable contact that is in turn connected to the
stabilized terminal. As the contact makes and breaks, the voltage is
chopped/stabilized. If the battery/generator/alternator voltage drops
below the setting of the stabilizer, the voltage to the gauges will also
drop. If you look at the stabilizer, you will see a wad of ? stuck over
the adjustment screw. If you need to, you can adjust this to increase or
decrease the voltage.
On the operation of the temperature and petrol gauges, a similar
bimetalic strip with a length of wire wound around it deflects in
proportion to the amount of heat generated based on the current flow
through the wire. The current flow is regulated by the sensing element
such as the tank and temperature sensors.
Hope that this explanation stabilizes the group.
Larry Ternowski
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