RE: IML: voltage limiter question

[Tim Durrer <tdkd99@xxxxxxxxx>]

No, I don't have a battery hooked to the voltage
limiter. The limiter plugs into the back of the
instrument panel which has been removed from the car.
Just for kicks I probed the disconnected blue wire
that goes back to the tank and to my amazement there
was a pulsating voltage on it with the ignition on!

It just didn't seem to ring true with what I was
seeing on the wiring diagram to have voltage on that
wire when the limiter was disconnected and removed
from the car.

Tim

--- Dick Benjamin <dickb@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> All the voltage "limiter" needs to produce that
> pulsating voltage is 12
> volts on its input wire, and ground to its mounting
> point, so it must have
> those somehow, even though it's sitting on the
> floor.  
> 
> You do have a battery hooked to it, right?  
> 
> If not, consult your local magician for the secret -
> you may have a source
> of perpetual motion staring you in the face.  Apply
> for a patent, quick!
> 
> Dick  (Electrical problems: I love them too, but
> some are truly confusin',
> even to me, and I've been chasing electrons around
> the block for many, many
> years).
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Tim Durrer
> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 6:43 AM
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: IML: voltage limiter question
> 
> Thanks, for your reply Dick.
>  So why am I getting the pulsating voltage on that
> blue wire with the instrument cluster and voltage
> limiter out of the car sitting on the floor of the
> garage?
> 
> I love electrical problems!
> 
> Tim Durrer
> 
> 
> --- Dick Benjamin <dickb@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > The pulsating voltage is correct, that is the way
> > the voltage "limiter"
> > works. Its job is to produce approximately 5 volts
> > (average) to operate the
> > gauges, so it puts out 12 volts for about 42% of
> the
> > time, and 0 volts for
> > 58% of the time, that is what makes your meter or
> > test light show a variable
> > voltage. Since the gauge display units are heat
> > operated, they don't react
> > quickly enough to be bothered by the pulsating
> > voltage.  
> > 
> > The situation you describe is what it should be,
> > except that when you put
> > the dash back in, something connected to the
> > pulsating voltage wire is
> > coming in contact with bare metal, somehow.
> > 
> > Dick Benjamin
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf Of Tim Durrer
> > Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 5:08 PM
> > To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: IML: voltage limiter question
> > 
> > Hello all, I am also having gauge problems on my
> 73.
> > I
> > have read all the information on the website,
> > studied
> > the FSM and have concluded I also have a faulty
> > voltage limiter. My problem started when the fuel
> > gauge moved past full and the fuse protecting the
> > gauge circuit blew. Upon replacing the fuse, it
> blew
> > again in a matter of seconds followed by a small
> > puff
> > of smoke out of the top of the dash. I have pulled
> > the
> > instrument panel completely out of the car and I
> am
> > awaiting the delivery of the part.
> > 
> > My question: The blue wire that was attached to
> the
> > back of the fuel gauge according to the FSM wiring
> > diagram goes back to the fuel tank sending unit
> > which
> > is grounded. Why does my test light come on and
> the
> > light pulsate on this wire when I turn on the
> > ignition
> > switch? In reading the wiring diagram, current
> > should
> > flow from the limiter, through the gauge to this
> > blue
> > wire, to the sending unit and then to ground. If I
> > am
> > reading this right why am I getting voltage on
> this
> > wire if the dash is completely out of the car?
> Could
> > I
> > have a short somewhere else? Incidentally, the
> fuse
> > now holds with instrument panel out of the car.
> > 
> > Help!
> > 
> > Tim Durer
> > 73 Lebaron
> > 
> > --- stephen dilley <stephendilley@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > 
> > > 
> > > hi, i am back from a hot rod weekend here in in
> > the
> > > uk, whilst having 
> > > problems with failed gauges and high reading oil
> > > pressure- now smoke came a 
> > > wafting out of the indicator stalk hole on my 60
> > > crown. ??? still works 
> > > mind. the car is a star and wish to keep it so
> ...
> > > am using it for a wedding on saturday just hope
> > she
> > > dont go up in flames !!! 
> > > how do you get to the cluster??? for limiter?
> > should
> > > i just fit some remote 
> > > modern gauges and leave well alone ? back to the
> > > indicator smoke , wots all 
> > > that about? also i have a power drain somewhere
> > > which leaves a low glow on 
> > > the handbrake on light. unable to locate source,
> > so
> > > av bin removing battery 
> > > lead to prevent flat.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > best wishes, steve.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > >From: randalpark@xxxxxxx
> > > >Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >Subject: Re: IML: Stupid mistake NOW voltage
> > > limiter question
> > > >Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:23:34 -0400
> > > >
> > > >My experience on the voltage limiter has been
> > > solely on the 1960 through 
> > > >1963 models. I am not aware of the need for it
> in
> > > others being as great as 
> > > >in this group of Imperials. On 1960 through
> 1963,
> > > it is SUPER easy, and 
> > > >must be done to have working gauges.
> > > >
> > > >The limiter is attached to the back of the
> > cluster.
> > > The attachment point 
> > > >acts as a ground. The power input is connected
> to
> > > it, instead of the gauge 
> > > >with the limiter in it, the output is routed to
> > the
> > > first gauge with a 
> > > >jumper from the new limiter, and then to the
> > > remaining gauges with the 
> > > >existing wiring.
> > > >
> > > >I suspect that it is similar to install in
> other
> > > years, but the other years 
> > > >may have an external limiter to start with that
> > is
> > > replaceable. I just 
> > > >don't know. I haven't had reason to do it.
> > Outside
> > > of 1960 through 1963, 
> > > >the gauges in my Imperials have worked fine and
> > not
> > > changed their function 
> > > >in any way over time or with mileage. 1960
> > through
> > > 1963 have ALL required 
> > > >replacement of the limiter. This is a chronic
> > > problem for those cars. The 
> > > >problem has ceased to exist in the 1960-63
> models
> 
=== message truncated ===


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 


-----------------  http://www.imperialclub.com  -----------------
This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please 
reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be 
shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the
Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm