Voltage regulator “Performance Module”
 

What is this new type of performance part?
 

I have read some auctions listing a “Performance Module” which is a voltage regulator / stabilizer for car voltages, as many people have asked me about it.

Well, what can I say?  The part is exactly as described, a voltage regulator which maintains the voltage constant or at least within a voltage range at all times and it hooks directly to the battery terminals.  Battery terminals?, You would say.  How can it help performance?

This module has nothing to do with performance if we are talking about engine power and torque.  Maintaining a constant voltage for the proper functioning of electronics sure is very important, but a voltage regulator is already installed in the car’s alternator and what is more, car computers have their own version of voltage stabilizer built in already, including a regulator / protector.  Not an extra horse or any other animal, including small ones, will come out of an engine just by installing this.

The only thing that can affect engine power and is directly related to battery or supply voltage is the car computer.  All other car electronics will work just fine from 11.5 volts (low) through the nominal 13.8 volts, up to 14.5 volts.  At the same time, the most critical part of a car computer related to voltage is injector opening time for precisely keep the air-fuel mixture (AFR).  Even though, if the voltage suddenly gets too low or too high, a special circuit in the car computer is activated to compensate injection aperture time in micro seconds and is programmed to act over a wide range of voltages from several volts up to 15 volts or more.  On the side of ignition, it won’t be affected either when speaking of engine performance.  As a fact, the higher the voltage, the higher the ignition energy.  As you can see, there is no need of an extra regulator here either.

This regulator of course, will do a nice job, though having nothing to do with performance, if the alternator goes crazy and stops regulating, but in that case you won’t care about performance anyway, but about both a new alternator and installation bill.

Lower Vehicle Voltage:
 

What can cause a vehicle voltage to go down bellow 12 volts?  A damaged or poor alternator or a damaged or poor battery.  In that case, the regulator won’t do anything since its job is to protect from higher voltages, not lower.  It can do nothing for low voltages as it is not capable of generating it and will be completely transparent if this happens.

Higher Vehicle Voltage:
 

On the other hand, what can cause a vehicle voltage to go up above 14.5 volts?  A bad alternator’s regulator or if you suddenly disconnect the car’s battery when the engine is running, it will generate a voltage spike for a few milliseconds.  On either case, again, engine power is not important, but fixing the problem and the already mentioned stabilizing and regulating circuits incorporated inside the ecu will take care of that very efficiently.

About this article:
 

I am just making things clear as many people ask about it.  Also, serious performance parts sellers, like we are, are much discredited around the internet because of some other sellers doing either a not so good job or having no knowledge of the products they sell. 

We either manufacture our products or test them for proper functioning if it is not ours.  We even offer customization to certain levels within our possibilities.  I have nothing against new ideas and / or competing sellers.

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide.

Best Regards,

Richard Rodriguez

Auto-Motivo