I am just wondering if the behaviour of the new no-name regulator I have installed is typical (came from FCP in a URO parts bag - doesn't say Hugo).

The old Bosch regulator gave up for good today. It was fortunate that I kept a spare in the car, and when the car failed to start (no crank even) after a break at a roadhouse, I replaced the regulator and got going again.

Now the thing that worries me is the fluctuating behaviour of the voltage gauge that I have never ever seen with the old regulator: The gauge is now reading an enthusiastic 16 Volts when the car is in drive at 60km/h, and at other times around the same speed, it's in the red zone just past 16V. On the freeway at speeds of 110km/h with the rpms around 2500-3000, the needle is just below 16V. When I come to a stop with the car still in drive, the needle reads smack in the middle.

My old regulator generally reads just past the middle of the gauge, to the left. The voltage seems well 'regulated' and doesn't fluctuate at all (which I presume is the purpose of a regulator in the first place).

Is the new regulator working right? I am a long away from home at the moment and I am getting worried that the electrics might just burn out from overvoltage - all the lights inside and out have never been brighter.

Appreciate any advice.

Lucast