Are Voltage Regulators Positive or Negative Ground Specific?

[akconnection]

Oliver Owners, I have a Oliver 88 Standard (gas) that has been upgraded to 12 volt electrical system years ago but retained the positive ground .
Yesterday's Tractor Co. sells a 12 volt Delco style voltage regulator part number K7786D. Question, do any of you know whether this voltage regulator will work on a tractor with a POSITIVE ground?
I called Yesterdays Tractor and asked the question to them directly but they couldn't answer electrical specific questions like this and recommended I ask the question here on this forum.

Thanks for any help

 

[Bob]

QUALITY mechanical voltage regulators from years ago were often polarity-sensitive, but with the "one size fits all cheaply-made reproductions" probably not so likely anymore, unless specifically noted by the manufacturer.

What makes a quality MECHANICAL/vibrating point voltage regulator polarity-sensitive is that they used different materials for the (+) and (-) contacts that were best-suited for that specific use, for long life with minimum metal transfer and pitting.

That is the only component of a traditional MECHANICAL VR that is affected by polarity, and even the style with a specific recommended polarity will work on the opposite polarity, but contact life will be shorter.

<img src = "https://i.imgur.com/B4UvL5P.jpg">

<img src = "https://i.imgur.com/OIOwzI9.jpg">

Source

 

[akconnection]

Bob,
This was extremely helpful and concise. Thanks for taking a few minutes of your time to put my mind at ease and help keep my dads Oliver 88 charging. Ill be buying the Yesterday's Tractor regulator and installing it.
Thanks Again
Jay

(quoted from post at 15:26:54 04/17/19) QUALITY mechanical voltage regulators from years ago were often polarity-sensitive, but with the "one size fits all cheaply-made reproductions" probably not so likely anymore, unless specifically noted by the manufacturer.

What makes a quality MECHANICAL/vibrating point voltage regulator polarity-sensitive is that they used different materials for the (+) and (-) contacts that were best-suited for that specific use, for long life with minimum metal transfer and pitting.

That is the only component of a traditional MECHANICAL VR that is affected by polarity, and even the style with a specific recommended polarity will work on the opposite polarity, but contact life will be shorter.

&lt;img src = "https://i.imgur.com/B4UvL5P.jpg"&gt;

&lt;img src = "https://i.imgur.com/OIOwzI9.jpg"&gt;

Source