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[Scalyback]

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Suspicions of my regulator.



Been having ammeter 'drop off' the further I ride with the lights on. Think I tied it down to this...




The little 'toaster' that lives in the toolbox.




Usually, I use Tornado my classic (1994) bullet during the day with an LED (very bright, very low power) and have no issues. I start the engine, the ammeter goes positive for a short while then everything settles down. Ammeter stays in the middle as there is very little power use, all the lamps being led except the front two indicators.



Initially, I had fitted a motovision 60w/55w halogen bulb but the charging system did not seem to cope, thus the switch to LED. Last night, I wanted to go to the Kent REOC meeting and knew it would get dark and the LED lamp is not dippable (day time only), so I went and got a 35w/30w halogen, hoping the system would cope with it. I got there and back ok, but the ammeter was not happy.


Symptoms


Start engine, everything works as expected, ammeter goes into charge with a small increase in revs, lights all work ok.

First junction - I stop for a few moments, ammeter goes negative, I start off and ammeter goes positive, then slowly returns to the centre as expected.

Second junction (five minutes later) ammeter goes negative, I start off ammeter just gets into positive.

Third junction (six minutes after) ammeter goes more negative, I start off, ammeter heads towards positive, but stops a little short, still just in negative.


Half way panic stop - I pull the bike up, turn off the lights, and the ammeter just pulls into positive. I wait five minutes, start the engine and now the ammeter pulls a little more into positive, but nowhere near as much as when cold.



If I leave it for some time to 'cool off' then everything is fine again for a short period.


I assume that the regulator is getting physically hot and it's performance is dropping off. Could somebody with experience of these regulators please tell me if my thinking is correct and if so, should I get the Boyer Powerbox to replace the toaster? Or is there something else wrong that I have not though of?


YOUR ADVICE PLEASE GUYS!






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[Norm]

Apart from the fact the poor little reg gets no airflow over it, they put fins on them for a reason, they generate a lot of heat

[Scalyback]

That's a point, is it supposed to be in the toolbox, or has a previous owner moved it? (military 500 classic bullet).

[Norm]

Obviously somebody has moved it in there the more airflow over these the better they last

[Norm]

Scaly if you get really concerned about your charging fitting a cheap digital volt meter is much better that an ammeter which tells you very little about your charging health, only problem is digital and Enfield really don't go together

[Scalyback]

I'm ok with an ammeter, I just mentally add time into the equation, which tells me approx how much is in the battery! It's just that I think my regulator has been damaged with heat as it's probably a semiconductor and they damage easily if overheated. I just don't want it to suddenly fail.



I guess that I should get a powerbox, as this regulator is 'Enfield' and 9 years old.



Where should the regulator be fitted, as I will move it back for now if possible (Bike had many 'changes' and improvements over it's life)

[PeteF]

That should be under the seat in the airflow. Someone seems to have moved it. From what I see from your picture that's the rectifier anyway.

[Scalyback]

BUGGER!



OK, I'm good at electrics, but never actually physically looked at these before as I never needed to, so the tool box has the full wave rectifier, and the regulator should be under the seat? (never actually needed to remove the seat on Tornado yet.)



well I just ordered a boyer powerbox as something does seem wrong with the existing setup. Hopefully this will solve it.

[PeteF]

The separate regulator and rectifiers have never been good on these bikes. The power box is better but from what I hear, you'll not run without a battery as claimed.

[Scalyback]

That's ok, I got one of them lithium-ion batteries. Just as long as the system can run a halogen, until the led dippable type becomes available.



I'll stick with the 30w/30w one as the 60w/55w motovision bulb possibly is too much of a strain on the older bullet's alternator. On the other hand, my new woodsman has always had the motovision bulb and there have never been any electrical problems. Actually, that bike never has had any problem as far as i can recall, except for the slight oil seep through the J B weld underneath!