Regulator/Rectifier....2nd Generation

[trebor]

I checked my battery several times during the week to confirm it’s good . Reading is 12.5+, the battery is two years old. Somewhere in the “links” , I’m not sure I got this right, there should be no AC across the battery terminals. To have AC is an indicator of a failed reg/rect unit. Your comments would be appreciated.

[V7Goose]

12.5 volts is only about 50% charge on that battery. But you are correct that there should be no AC voltage at the battery.

Goose

[FreezyRider]

12.5 volts is only about 50% charge on that battery. But you are correct that there should be no AC voltage at the battery.

Goose

 

I must not be understanding what you are saying.....surely a battery reading 12.5 volts is not only 50% charged. That would mean full charge is 25 volts!

I almost had a battery explode when my regulator went bad and let full voltage run to my battery (Goldwing). And that full voltage was only 17 volts. Battery bulged, smoked, got so hot that I had to wear 2 pairs of leather gloves to remove it.

 

What am I missing here?

[dingy]

Out of curiosity, I just took some readings on my bike.

 

With a digital Beckman 310 meter I read no AC voltage.

 

I also checked it with an analog Simpon 260 meter. The analog measured 13 volts AC.

 

I also checked it with 2 other analog meters I have with the same readings.

 

I swapped out the rectifier with a spare I have with the same results.

 

A rectifier typically will not give a true DC waveform if viewed on an oscilloscope. Normally there will be a pulsing waveform. This is shown in the picture below. If a smoother waveform is required, capacitance is added to the circuitry.

 

Gary

 

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af193/gdingy101/3phaseregulation.jpg

[V7Goose]

Charging percentages are not a linear scale. Maybe you do not understand the technical specifics of a battery. I suggest you go to the Yuasa web site and download their technical manual. Page 20 shows that 12.5 volts on this type of sealed battery is only 50% charged. Full charge is 12.9 volts or better.

 

There are other charts in the same manual that suggest different charge percentages at that voltage, but the bottom line is that the battery is no where near full charge at 12.5 volts.

Goose

Edited August 26, 2010 by V7Goose

[FreezyRider]

Charging percentages are not a linear scale. Maybe you do not understand the technical specifics of a battery. I suggest you go to the Yuasa web site and download their technical manual. Page 20 shows that 12.5 volts on this type of sealed battery is only 50% charged. Full charge is 12.9 volts or better.

 

There are other charts in the same manual that suggest different charge percentages at that voltage, but the bottom line is that the battery is no where near full charge at 12.5 volts.

Goose

 

Ah, now I got ya. Thanks.

[Condor]

With a digital Beckman 310 meter I read no AC voltage.

 

 

Dang I miss my Beckman 310... Either it got legs or it's hiding somewhere.....