my battery looks like it is not getting charged

Magnum Magna · November 23, 2010, 11:15:32 PM

I will give update after I do some investigating but my battery looks like it is not getting charged.

I know one of the plugs from the regulator was not the same as stock so I am hoping it has just came unplugged.

Bad weather is on it's way so I may not get a chance to look at it until the week of Christmas.

TLRam1 · November 23, 2010, 11:19:51 PM

The week of Christmas!

That's too far away, shouldn't take too long to check the connector plugs. If you need help I hear Hoot in Florida is a pro on these regulators, if you need assistance closer, you know where to look.

Magnum Magna · November 24, 2010, 04:23:57 AM

It is possible that the only day off until the week of Christmas it Thanksgiving day.
I had vacations scheduled to add to Thanksgiving holidays but I canceled it. I am hoping to keep my vacations that I have requested for the week of Christmas. I may look at it Thanksgiving day otherwise it will wait until Christmas.

TLRam1 · November 24, 2010, 05:21:05 AM

We will be in Waco on Thanksgiving than we are planning to head somewhere for the remainder of the weekend on the bike, looks to be cold! We should be bundling up pretty good for the weather.

hootmon · November 24, 2010, 07:06:50 AM

Quote from: TLRam1 on November 23, 2010, 11:19:51 PM
The week of Christmas!

That's too far away, shouldn't take too long to check the connector plugs. If you need help I hear Hoot in Florida is a pro on these regulators, if you need assistance closer, you know where to look.

Yes, I'm a pro at killing regulators and ordering new ones.. I'm also now experienced at the difference between burning wires and burning rear brakes..

Cadmandu · November 26, 2010, 06:32:08 AM

Has anybody tried this guy yet. He sells a MOSFET R/R kit. I bought one for my 84 V40 I will be putting on this winter after my drill and tap oil mod.

http://www.roadstercycle.com/

lragan · November 26, 2010, 07:43:09 AM

Quote from: Cadmandu on November 26, 2010, 06:32:08 AM
Has anybody tried this guy yet. He sells a MOSFET R/R kit. I bought one for my 84 V40 I will be putting on this winter after my drill and tap oil mod.

http://www.roadstercycle.com/

I have not tried one, but if (or should I say when?) I fry one of mine, I will replace with one of these units. I downloaded the specs, and am impressed with the detail they provide. This unit should generate considerably less heat at less than full load than the stock ones.

Looking at the derating curve, one can see the problem with where the R/R is mounted on 3rd gen bikes. I may not remember correctly, but I think that I have been informed that our alternator's max output is about 400 watts. Ignoring losses in the R/R unit for a moment (assuming all the power is converted to DC), 400 watts at 14.5 volts (the nominal output of the R/R) gives an output current of 27.6 amps. At this current, the maximum ambient temperature must stay below about 48 deg C. I have never measured the air temperature on a hot day at the mount point of the R/R under the battery box, (my measurements captured the temperature of the case, and the ambient air temperature outside the bike), but my guess is that the air is hotter than 48C. So, I would still mount the device in a new location, as has been discussed extensively in other threads.

The first gen bikes shouldn't have this issue, as I recall the R/R is side mounted.

The manufacturer's data sheet is attached.

[attachment deleted by admin]

TLRam1 · November 26, 2010, 04:07:44 PM

I would like you to test one of these also Lawrence, I would be interested in your findings.

lragan · November 27, 2010, 01:26:17 PM

Gee, Terry, if you would like to donate one to the noble cause of research, I would be happy to install it and test it.

I would even bring the "spare" one (stock that I remove from one or the other of my 3rd gen bikes) to MOOTMAG 9 for a community spare.

Cadmandu · November 27, 2010, 07:36:55 PM

I have a better idea. This guy Jack Fleming is a really nice man. He has answered all my emails and I am sure he will answer yours. He is a helicopter test pilot and a self taught mechanical engineer. He designs and builds these roadstercycles and has a very good understanding of electrical circuits. Lawrence he would love to talk with you about those MOSFETs.

Jack Fleming 310.766.5222

jack@roadstercycle.com

lragan · November 28, 2010, 01:49:14 PM

OK, I will try to contact Jack in the next couple of days. Thanks for the contact info.

Jumbobret · November 29, 2010, 05:51:29 PM

I just got mine in the mail Saturday. Called him Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, Now that's fast delivery. I have not had a chance to install , but hoping.

Magnum Magna · December 11, 2010, 06:01:53 PM

It is the Regulator again. I put my old one on, the one that was over charging.

The one I recently got stopped charging but my old one was 13 – 14 volts. So Thursday I will look at going to the Honda shop.