Subject: RE: Eldo REgulator Performance
Author: Tom Bowes
Date: Sep 3, 2001, 6:01 PM
Post ID: 1708103302
Derek Hamlet wrote:
| Tom, I'm sharing this with the whole list since I'm assuming that other Ambo/Eldo owners may be equally bemused by the chargins system. A couple of more questions. The various internet sites about regulators, generators alternators etc., seem to spend numerous bytes going on about polarizing the system. I always thought that when you put in a new reulator, yo simply unbolter the old one slapped in the new one, turned the key, made sure it was both charging and cutting out then drove off into the sunset. How important is this polrizing. |
Derek,
Polarizing is relatively unimportant, unless you have changed the
generator, or the bike has been sitting for a long, long time. The only
reason that it is necessary is because a generator relies on residual
magentism to get the thing producing voltage. Residual magnetism tends
to disappear over time, or if the generator is dropped or reverse
polarized. This is why they tell you to polarize a new generator because
it has likely sat on the shelf for so long that it has lost its
magentism.
| My other question involves solid state regulators. Is this possible with a generator. The Bosch solid state regulators only seem to have D+, DF and D- pins. The other connections seem to be involved with starter relays and stators and rectifiers (diode boards). Am I correct that one cannot do a solid state regulator on a generator system. |
That is correct. The alternator has a diode assembly which keeps current
from flowing back into it when the alternator voltage is below the
battery voltage, or when the alternator is turned off. This is why the
B+ lead from the battery can connect directly to an alternator, but must
go through the regulator for a generator system. I suppose that you
could add a big diode between the generator and the battery and get
things to work, but it would require a fair bit of experimentation.
| And finally, do I need to worry about the polarizatin on my generator? I did polarize the new (now non regulating) regulator as per the instructions inthe box. |
No, put the new regulator on and run it. The generator should already be
polarized, unless you took it out and dropped it. The regulator does not
require polarizing to work.
Tom
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