On Feb 18, 8:02�pm, wrote:
> Just tried my '66 GTO's mechanical voltage regulator on my friend's
> '69 Firebird and it started charging his battery again. *Even though
> he had bought a new voltage regulator a month or so ago. *(And then an
> alternator.) *His does not have the condenser installed on the voltage
> regulator like mine does, but there's a terminal for it.
>
> I'm wondering if the condenser is necessary, maybe to keep the
> contacts from burning? *I'd heard it was to prevent radio
> intereference, which we don't care about. *I can't find anything in
> the service manual about it. *If it's necessary to prevent contacts
> burning, maybe his new voltage regulator fried its contacts.

I could be wrong, but I always thought they were for radio noise only
since most don't have them. The points on the voltage regulator
solenoids don't open and close at over 1000 times per minute like the
igniton points (only when key is turned on/off), therefore they won't
burnt out nearly as quick.

Hank