a standard, model, or pattern. 2. general level or average: Two cars per family is the norm in most suburban communities. 3. Education. a designated standard of average performance of people of a given age, background, etc. a standard based on the past average performance of a given individual.
For example, pressure regulators are used in gas grills to regulate propane, in home heating furnaces to regulate natural gases, in medical and dental equipment to regulate oxygen and anesthesia gases, in pneumatic automation systems to regulate compressed air, in engines to regulate fuel and in fuel cells to regulate hydrogen.
Regulators usually are part of the car's alternator, although many cars, particularly older cars and modern American models, have exterior voltage regulators. Alternators or generators are used to generate power, which is fed into the car's battery to maintain a full charge.