Has anyone gutted a N3135 regulator?

[TOBASH]

My next project. I want to see how to gut and replace innards with working parts. Before I start, I want to see if anyone else has done it.

 

[Mogman]

I have not, I have however gutted and repaired several different potted modules in the past. I used Acetone, unfortunately it will also remove some of the component markings, electrolytic capacitors that have a plastic sleeve over them for one thing. Sometimes you can"read" the component as it starts to come out of the potting material, keep good notes.
Usually I would use basic knowledge of the circuit voltages and the physical size of the capacitor to "take a guess" has worked so far.
Keep us posted!!

 

[GTUnit]

Any updates?

 

[Mogman]

I did just look at one of my regulators, it has a rather "soft" potting material, it could be silicone based, I have no idea how you would go about de-potting something like that.
I too am waiting for an update!

 

[TOBASH]

This will be a slow thread.

I’ve been dealing with work.

I haven’t forgotten.

T

 

[TOBASH]

Just received a bad 200Amp regulator from Beltfed34 Austin.

Gonna start dissecting it. Trip to Commiefornia to finish work on the M1165 will interrupt.

 

[TOBASH]

Just started gutting my N3135. Neihoff are such a PITA. They potted the unit in silicone containing 1-2 mm gravel chips. Not gonna stop me.

It’s a cross between the 40 year old toy “chip away” and an archeological dig liberating small dinosaur bones from surrounding rock.

Rear is clean. Just ordered mechanic’s picks to continue the process.

I’m gonna make this happen.

 

[mgFray]

Good luck. I hate potting compounds so much for things like this. Could they have been using the chips to dissipate heat or is this purely anti-tampering?

 

[TOBASH]

All about anti-tampering. What bull crap!

Really offensive to me.

 

[TOBASH]

And because

 

[Guyfang]

I did just look at one of my regulators, it has a rather "soft" potting material, it could be silicone based, I have no idea how you would go about de-potting something like that.

Try asking @peapvp as this is something he might be able to shed some light on.

 

[TOBASH]

Outer is soft… then inner has small pebbles.

Outer is a skim coat to make unit look finished.

 

[peapvp]

@Guyfang

normally they are fully epoxied



cannot be easily repaired. The power semiconductors are buried deep inside the epoxy

 

[Mogman]

All about anti-tampering. What bull crap!

Really offensive to me.

You are 100% wrong, it all about making it weather and vibration proof, anyone that is serious about "tampering" with it would have no problem getting into it.

 

[TOBASH]

You are 100% wrong, it all about making it weather and vibration proof, anyone that is serious about "tampering" with it would have no problem getting into it.

Mog.., I respectfully disagree. Silicone is anti vibration. Silicone with rocks and powder is another story.

GM, Ford, and Chrysler regulator products don’t have an ounce of silicone and yet they work well, even on bumps. Same with Bosch.

No silicone in G500 Mercedes and no silicone in GM Hummer H1. Our starters and pcb/EESS are sealed and not potted. This could have easily been manufactured in a watertight box with rubber mounting bushings.

peapvp, thanks for the pictures! I’m not finding epoxy in this unit. This is malleable and soft like silicone.

 

[peapvp]

Mog.., I respectfully disagree. Silicone is anti vibration. Silicone with rocks and powder is another story.

GM, Ford, and Chrysler regulator products don’t have an ounce of silicone and yet they work well, even on bumps. Same with Bosch.

No silicone in G500 Mercedes and no silicone in GM Hummer H1. Our starters and pcb/EESS are sealed and not potted. This could have easily been manufactured in a watertight box with rubber mounting bushings.

peapvp, thanks for the pictures! I’m not finding epoxy in this unit. This is malleable and soft like silicone.

@TOBASH
Thanks for the info. The stuff in this particular unit is rock hard. I am certain that is an Epoxy Resin.
We use silicone conformal coating on our circuit boards we manufacture. This here in my example is definitely not silicone based.
Peter

 

[TOBASH]

So peapvp/Peter, I guess I got lucky with a unit that might be more easily dissected. Seems like there might be differing batches with differing construction.

Glad mine isn’t epoxy.

Thanks for your pictures and your information.

Charles