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Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 4:16 pm
by 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?

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:04 pm
by 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.

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:24 pm
by dougie
Duane Ausherman wrote: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.

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:24 pm
by 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.

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:13 pm
by 2valve
dougie wrote: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.

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:15 pm
by dougie
Yes - headlight on.

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:50 pm
by ME 109
I've also used a bosch RE57 for the past 100 years. No worries on long trips.

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 7:35 pm
by dougie
You guys and your Bosch RE57's. You're just being elitist. :roll:
I'm going to blame my meter and press on regardless. :D
Wehrle have been making these things forever. It must be OK. :geek:
(Maybe I'll put the old one back in and see what I get. :?: )

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 7:59 pm
by SteveD
RE57. Me too.

Image

Re: Voltage regulator question...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:00 pm
by dougie
SteveD wrote:RE57. Me too.
Image
:evil: