Re: Electrical one offs - radios, alternators, switches

[e6941tb@gnn.com]

Joseph Yakubik wrote:
> 
> A while back I asked about the voltage regulators for the Bosch alternators due
> to my battery dying regularly and got a few replies ranging from: "Yep, it's
> busted" to "Yeah, mine too." or "Check your current flow".
> 
> After it died again I took the least painful course and checked current draw:
> Pegged at 250mA+ (sorry, low tech analog multimeter).  A little plug and play
> with the fuses:  my radio draws lots of current when "off".  A  little playing
> with the switches and I determined it only draws this current in its "standby
> mode".  It can sit in "standby" for up to three hours after ignition off.  A few
> days of this with short, high electric usage trips (heaters, defog, blower, etc)
> can kill a battery I guess.  BTW aftermarket Blaupunkt radio.  Factory Audis
> (Gammas w/ traffic warning excepted, maybe) don't have a "standby" mode.
> 
> I did do a (very) little research though into the "electronic voltage
> regulator".  Hella makes replacement "on-board" replacement electronic
> regulators for Bosch alternators.  (pages 109-113, 94/95 catalog.  Apps from
> Audis to John Deere, complete with Engineerd (sic) perfection).  I don't know
> how these compare to the "off-board" Motorola modules a la EC; but if very
> similar, I'd rather keep the cable traipsing to a minimum.  I've got high
> ignition-off current draw, but I might have a bad regulator, too, jury's not in
> yet.

Joe, 

you might wanna look into the Jan issue of the EC mag. They have a
detailed procedure on your case EXACTLY.
It's for a Volvo, but it does not matter: a Bosch is a Bosch anywhere.

Igor Kessel
'89 200TQ