After reading the discussion about voltage regulators and heat of a few weeks ago and particularly as I had recentley installed a new Balmar ARS-5 voltage regulator, I was prompted to do a little investigation.
A call to Balmar product support about the issue was useful. They had known about the issues with the 600 series regulators and last winter did a re- design which apparently significantly reduced the internal operating temps of those regulators. Apparently the 512 model had not had the same problems. It was mentioned that they have a replacement program for the 600 series which anyone who has that model should look into.
As I had mounted my 512 in the same location as the old regulator which was inside the engine box, I thought a little research would be in order. It would actually be no problem to get the regulator outside the box as the wiring harness is quite long, so that is always an option.
I was interested in the temps that the reg. in that position was experiencing so I installed a temp probe about an inch away from the 512, in free air, and have now had the opportunity to check the actual temps. that the reg. is living in, at that location. With engine runs at 2400 RPM and outside air temps in the 70's the air temps close to the voltage reg. run consistently between 102F and 104F, this is for runs as long as 3 hours. Measuring the temp of the reg. itself immediatly on shutdown has shown temps in the low 120's. None of this seems too onerious though this is a very limited sample and who knows, even these temps may shorten the life of the regulator, though it somehow seems that this piece of equipment should be able to survive these relatively low temps.