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Can someone educate me on the difference between a voltage regulator and a voltage cutoff? thanks

A voltage control has no anp regulator, just a cut out and volt control. Thr amps are controled by the 3 brush generatorTh voltage cut out is built into the regulator rather then being a seperate unit o top of the generaor.

The 1938 voltage regulator was quite an improvement over the charging system in prior years. As Gene noted it is a 2 coil unit which controls voltage as well as disconnects the battery from the generator when the generator is not running fast enough to produce enough voltage.

In the prior years you only had a cutout mounted on top of the generator that disconnected the generator from the battery when the output voltage dropped below about 6.7 volts. There was no voltage regulation in that system. I have measured about 8 volts being produced at times on my ”˜37.

Thanks Rusty I appreciate the feedback. Bear with me as I try to explain my dilemma.
I've been having some trouble figuring out whether my 38 master deluxe (6v, 216) had either a voltage cutout or a voltage regulator, or both. Chevs of the 40's only shows a voltage cut out for that year, which I had purchased. However it doesn't look correct. There is only a spot for 2 wires. There is nothing listed for a voltage regulator for that year on their website. The wiring diagram in the shop manual shows a 4 wire voltage regulator, my wiring harness paperwork shows a 4 wire regulator. I'm thinking originally there was a 4 wire voltage regulator. I found a 3 wire voltage regulator in the basement, not sure where that came from and if it is usable. The car was 12v at some point but is going back to 6v. So it sounds like to me that I should be using a " 4 wire" voltage regulator and not a Voltage cutoff. If that is the case, are there any differences between one from a 39?

Thanks Gene!

If yor 1938 has the original type 3 brush generator it will have a voltage control. If it was converted to a 2 brush generato it wll have a voltage regulator.
The volt. control is almost square and the volt. reg.. larger and very retangular.

Gene, would you know how I can tell if the generator I have now is a 2 brush or a 3 brush? I'm still learning.

You can pop the cover band and look inside and count the brushes