Voltage regulator question...

[dougie]

Put in a new VR from Motobins. It looks exactly like the old one. Went for a 20 minute ride then put the meter on the battery.

At 3000rpm or above I get 14.5 - 14.6 volts. I thought I would see 13.8 - 14 volts. (This is not the high output VR.)
Is that OK?
These things are electronic but I suspect they are not complicated, and should be easy to manufacture accurately.

Should I suspect my Radio Shack digital meter, and if so, can it be tested?

[Duane Ausherman]

Is this VR adjustable? I would want to see about 14.2-14.3 for close in riding. For serious touring, I think that 14.0 is OK.

[dougie]

Is this VR adjustable? I would want to see about 14.2-14.3 for close in riding. For serious touring, I think that 14.0 is OK.

No - not adjustable.
Again, I am wondering about my multimeter. It reads a brand-new-out-of-the-box 1.5v AA battery as being 1.65v.

[Kurt in S.A.]

I have good confidence in my RatShack meter...it's the $25 folding kind. Try it out on another vehicle such as your car. You could buy a 9v battery and measure that...probably should measure something above 9v, though. But yes, they can be tested if you know of a known voltage source. We have good bench power supplies at work.

Kurt in S.A.

[2valve]

Put in a new VR from Motobins. It looks exactly like the old one. Went for a 20 minute ride then put the meter on the battery.

At 3000rpm or above I get 14.5 - 14.6 volts. I thought I would see 13.8 - 14 volts. (This is not the high output VR.)
Is that OK?
These things are electronic but I suspect they are not complicated, and should be easy to manufacture accurately.

Should I suspect my Radio Shack digital meter, and if so, can it be tested?

hi to all. dougie, have a electronic vr ( bosch RE 57) on my R90, cant remember what RPM i tested it at but it was around 14.2 , i suppose if you do a lot of town riding it should keep your battery charged up at those figures youve supplied , but as for touring maybe a bit high, then again do you run with your h/light on , thats somthing else to take into consideration.

[dougie]

Yes - headlight on.

[ME 109]

I've also used a bosch RE57 for the past 100 years. No worries on long trips.

[dougie]

You guys and your Bosch RE57's. You're just being elitist.
I'm going to blame my meter and press on regardless.
Wehrle have been making these things forever. It must be OK.
(Maybe I'll put the old one back in and see what I get. )

[SteveD]

RE57. Me too.

[dougie]

RE57. Me too.