Charging system trouble (Regulator/rectifier 1988 Vmax)

**paturoa** · 1st November 2006, 20:12

Originally Posted by Waylander

The ones comming from the stator coil?

yes

...but leave them connected to the rectifier / reg when you measure the voltage.

Put your meter on AC volts, black lead on the bike and red lead on the wire connector, you should be able to slide the tip under the plastic cover thingie.

With the motor running above idle you should see anywhere between 13-20 v ac on each wire

**jonbuoy** · 1st November 2006, 20:12

For some, it needs to be running to get the AC volts - I had a problem with one of the windings on the generator being shorted to the bike frame.

**Waylander** · 1st November 2006, 20:16

Originally Posted by paturoa

yes

...but leave them connected to the rectifier / reg when you measure the voltage.

Put your meter on AC volts, black lead on the bike and red lead on the wire connector, you should be able to slide the tip under the plastic cover thingie.

With the motor running above idle you should see anywhere between 13-20 v ac.

Ok, I'll give that a shot, stay tuned. If I don't come ack in like 15-20 mins then I've electrocuted myself heh.

**Waylander** · 1st November 2006, 20:28

Originally Posted by paturoa

yes

...but leave them connected to the rectifier / reg when you measure the voltage.

Put your meter on AC volts, black lead on the bike and red lead on the wire connector, you should be able to slide the tip under the plastic cover thingie.

With the motor running above idle you should see anywhere between 13-20 v ac on each wire

ok that came back sweet as had 15.6, 15.6 and 19.5.

**paturoa** · 1st November 2006, 20:31

good, sounds like the prob is between the battery and the input to the rectifier

your rectifier tests sound like the unit is lacking some of the magic blue smoke

**Waylander** · 1st November 2006, 20:32

Originally Posted by paturoa

good, sounds like the prob is between the battery and the input to the rectifier

Input to the rectifier? I thought the current went from the Rectifier to the battery?

your rectifier tests sound like the unit is lacking some of the magic blue smoke

ok now you've really lost me...

**paturoa** · 1st November 2006, 20:35

next step, check the voltage at the red wire coming out of the rect/reg leading to the battery without the motor running and then with at idle and above idle.

**Waylander** · 1st November 2006, 20:37

Originally Posted by paturoa

next step, check the voltage at the red wire coming out of the rect/reg leading to the battery without the motor running and then with at idle and above idle.

acv or dcv? And do I just unplug it, red wire one end black wire the other? Then start it and do the same or unplug it after starting it?

**paturoa** · 1st November 2006, 20:38

Originally Posted by Waylander

Input to the rectifier? I thought the current went from the Rectifier to the battery?

the unit just converts AC current to DC current and limits the voltage, so think of it as current flowig thru the device

Originally Posted by waylander

ok now you've really lost me...

"magic blue smoke" is inserted at the factory into electronic devices. This is how they work. When the magic blue smoke comes out, they stop working!

**paturoa** · 1st November 2006, 20:39

Originally Posted by Waylander

acv or dcv? And do I just unplug it, red wire one end black wire the other? Then start it and do the same or unplug it after starting it?

dc as this is what should be flowing into the battery (backwards but lets not go there!)

Red to red and black to an earth point on the frame

eidt: leave plugged

**Waylander** · 1st November 2006, 20:42

Originally Posted by paturoa

"magic blue smoke" is inserted at the factory into electronic devices. This is how they work. When the magic blue smoke comes out, they stop working!

I'll take you're word for it...

So at what part of this process does it return charge to the battery?

**Waylander** · 1st November 2006, 20:42

Originally Posted by paturoa

dc as this is what should be flowing into the battery (backwards but lets not go there!)

Red to red and black to an earth point on the frame

eidt: leave plugged

ok, as before if not back...

**Waylander** · 1st November 2006, 20:47

Originally Posted by paturoa

dc as this is what should be flowing into the battery (backwards but lets not go there!)

Red to red and black to an earth point on the frame

eidt: leave plugged

ok got 12 with bike on but not running and 11.83 with bike running at 2,000rpm.

**paturoa** · 1st November 2006, 20:57

Originally Posted by Waylander

So at what part of this process does it return charge to the battery?

When the voltage of the charging circuit is above the battery voltage
- the current splits and
- part flows normaly thru the bike to power stuff like ignition, lights etc
- the other part flows (backwards) thru the battery to charge it