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The Datsun 1200 Alternator uses an external voltage regulator. This is a precision device with magnetic coils and moving contact points. They generally last about 10 years of normal driving. B110 regulator uses spade terminals, and so is different from B210 which uses round pins. It controls the alternator output to between 13.5-15.0 volts, by rapidly vibrating moving point. Newer regulators are available that are more reliable with solid-state circuits (no moving parts).
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Location
The voltage regulator is mounted in the engine compartment, on the left strut tower. It is the rectangular box mounted on front of the strut tower (left strut, right side of photo)
It is in the same location for coupe and sedan, RHD and LHD.
1974-up 1200 utes have the alternator on the other side of the engine. The regulator may be in a different location.
Testing
The regulator should keep voltage output of the alternator between 13.5 - 15.0 volts (exact specs vary by temperature, see the Factory service manual. If out of specification, it is possible to adjust the regulator. But it is far easier to replace the regulator.
First: Check the Fuse Box. The 'M' fuse (Meter/Reverse/Regulator) powers the voltage regulator. If this fuse is bad, the alternator will not charge the battery.
To test the Regulator:
- Put a voltage meter across the battery terminals
- With engine running, at 1200 RPM:
- Battery fully charged: Voltage must be at least 13.5 volts or battery won't be properly charged
- Battery low: Voltage must be at least 12.5 @ 1100 RPM with headlights on
- Voltage must be no higher than 15.0 volts or battery damage may result
If it is too high (over 15.0 volts):
- Test output at Regulator, from A terminal and Ground terminal.
- If in spec here, but too high at the battery, there is a wire corrosion problem somewhere. Clean and inspect the wires at battery, cable and wiring harness.
- If output is too high at regulator, replace or adjust Regulator
If it is too low
- Test output at Regulator, from A terminal and Ground terminal.
- If in spec at the regulator, but too low at the battery, there is a wire corrosion problem somewhere. Clean and inspect the wires at battery, cable and wiring harness.
- If too low at the regulator, peform Regulator Bypass Test
Regulator Bypass Test
- With key off, unplug T-connector from the alternator
- Insert jumper wire with spade connector to the F terminal in the T-opening.
- Place voltage meter across battery terminals
- With engine running, touch jumper to A terminal on alternator (+12V).
- If voltage jumps to 13.5 volt or more, the regulator is bad
- If voltage is still low, replace or repair the Alternator. Often it just need a $10 brush replacement.
Also see Alternator Wiring
Voltage
Voltage for a standard lead-acid automative battery depends on temperature. Here are specs for a typical a Datsun regulator:
Temperature, Voltage 14F 14.0-15.5 32F 14.5-15.5 50F 14.8-15.3 68F 14.2-15.2 88F 14.0-15.0 104F 13.9-14.9
Advanced Battery
If you have an advanced lead-acid battery (AGM, Optima, etc), follow the manufacturer's recommendation on charging voltage. While these batteries can handle a wider range of charging voltages, they will last longer if the voltage is tightly controlled.
For example, Optima recommends this charging for thier AGM batteries:
Optima Yellowtop - Alternator: 13.65 to 15.0 volts, no amperage limit
Optima Bluetop/Redtop - Alternator: 13.3 to 15.0 volts, no amperage limit
Adjustment
Wiring
See main article: Alternator Wiring
Part Numbers
B110
Male Blade Terminals, six terminal Female rectangular connector 12V Negative Ground
Nissan 23500-N3300 (same as 70-73 240Z, and 68-73 510) * replaced by: 23500-29906 $103 USD (which also replaced 70-72 521 pickup) * 23500-29901 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI TL135) * 23500-29902 -0972 <> 23500-29901 * 23500-N3300 1072- <> 23500-29902 $84.12 * 23500-29911 $75.67
Aftermarket www.rockauto.com* Standard Motor Products VR121 $30 USD * Airtex/Wells 1V1250 $18 USD * AcDelco E661 (88925052) $40 * GP Sorensen 265003 $48 USD
Interchange
SMP VR121 * 1061462C1, 12303548 * 23500-14802, 23500-14814 * 23500-16513, 23500-16514 * 23500-29901/23500-29902/23500-29903/23500-29905/23500-29906 23500-29910/23500-29911/23500-29912 Datsun 1200 * 23500-73000 * 23500-89900 * 2350089904, 2350089910, 2350089911, 2350089914, * 23500-N3300/23500-N3300MP Datsun 1200 * 478333C1, 478333C3, 487291C91 * E606 * GRE524
Airtex 1V1250 2350014602, 2350014802, 2350014803, 2350014804, 2350014811, 2350014814, 2350016500 2350016502, 2350016503, 2350016504, 2350016510, 2350016512, 2350016513, 2350016514 2350029900, 2350029901, 2350029902, 2350029903, 2350029904, 2350029905, 2350029906 2350029910, 2350029911, 2350029912, 2350029913, 2350073000, 2350073010, 2350073011 2350086400, 2350089900, 2350089901, 2350089902, 2350089904, 2350089910, 2350089911 23500L0400, 23500L2910, 23500N3300, 88925052, VR728
Types
6-spade terminal Type (for 35A system) RockAuto 23500-29901/23500-29902, 23500-29911, 23500-N3300
6-bullet terminal type (for early 50A system) RockAuto 23500-N2200/23500-N2201
6-female pin Type (for late 50A system) RockAuto 23500-N6001/23500-N6003/23500-N6010/23500-N6011
6-male pin Type (for Datsun 620 system) RockAuto 23500-B8000/23500-B8001/23500-B8003
B210
North America
Nissan North America Catalog
USA & CANADA 1974 with A13 0773-0874 23500-29902 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI TLI * for 35A alternator Hitachi LT-135/Hitachi LT-135B/Hitachi LT-135C 23500-N2200 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE <> 23500-N2201 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE FOR SERVICE * for Heavy Duty 50A alternator Hitachi LT-150 (alternators 23100-P0101 <> 23100-H6200/23100-H6201/23100-H6202/23100-H6203)
1975-1978 with A14 0974- 23500-N6000 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI TLI 23500-N6001 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI TLI <> 23500-N6000 * 0275-0876 23500-N6002 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI TLI <> 23500-N6001 * 0976-1076 23500-N6003 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI TLI <> 23500-N6002 * 1176-0777
Aftermarket
B210 1974 RockAuto 35A Standard Motor Products VR121 [Spade terminal type] 35A AcDelco E660C [Spade terminal type] 50A Standard Motor Products VR148 $35.79 USD [Bullet terminal type] * Replaces: 12321668, 23500N2200/23500N2201, E621, GRE763
B210 1975 RockAuto Beck/Arnley 177-0304 $25 BWD/Niehoff R586 $26 Standard Motor Products VR146 [6-female pin Type] * replaces: 12322365, E632 23500-N6001/23500-N6003/23500-N6010/23500-N6011 Standard Motor Products VR526SB Airtex/Wells 1V1233 [6-female pin Type] * replaces: 88925128, VR735 23500-N6000/23500-N6001/23500-N6002/23500-N6003/23500-N6010/23500-N6011AcDelco E674
B210 1977 RockAuto Airtex/Wells 1V1243 $28 USD [6-male pin type] * Replaces 12321669, 23500-B8000/23500-B8001/23500-B8003, 88925054, VR737
AcDelco E662 (88925054) $68 USD [6-male pin type] Standard Motor Products VR146 [6-female pin type] BWD/NIEHOFF R586 $26 Beck/Arnley 177-0304 $25
620
Datsun 620 Pickup
North America
Li'l Hustler Datsun Pickup model series 620
Nissan Catalog
USA & CANADA
1972-1973 L16 6-blade rectangular connector 1974 L18 6-bullet round connector 1975-1977 L20B 6-male pin round connector
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRICAL PARTS MOUNTING 23500-29902 0372-0872 L16 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI) 23500-N3300 0972-0973 L16 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI) <> 23500-29902 23500-N2200 1073-0874 L18 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI) 23500-N2201 0974- L18 REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI) <> 23500-N2200 23500-B8000 0974-1274 L20B REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI) 23500-B8001 0175 L20B REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI) <> 23500-B8000 23500-B8002 L20B REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI) <> 23500-B8001 23500-B8003 -0777 L20B REGULATOR-VOLTAGE (HITACHI) <> 23500-B8002
Alternator Types 0372-0777 ALTERNATOR(HITACHI 35A) 23100-U0100/23100-U0101/23100-U0102 <5> 23100-M0402/23100-M0403 0876- ALTERNATOR(HITACHI 38A)(OP FOR COOLER) 23100-B8001 <4> 23100-B8002 0877- internally regulated LR135 23100-B9800/23100-B9801, 38A 23100-B9805 COOLER.OP+CAMPER(0478-)
Aftermarket
1977 RockAuto AutoTune PT832 $8 Beck/Arnley 177-0312 [6-male pin type]Guaranteed Parts 265010 $24 BWD/Niehoff R586 $26 Airtex/Wells 1V1243 $48 [6-male pin type] BWD/Niehoff R592 $28 Standard Motor Products VR159 $45 [6-male pin type] * Replaces 12321669, 23500-B8000/23500-B8001/23500-B8003, E622, GRE765 AcDelco E662 (88925054) $68 [6-pin male type]
