Re: Voltage Regulation, Re: 1959 Starflite

[legendre]

quote RVPapasso:

I have never seen a 12v mechanical regulator that did not have a current limiting unit. As far as I can determine all the OMC 12v generator mechanical regulators were 3 unit with current regulating.

Very good, thank you. I’ll admit I’m surprised that these are 12V systems. I mean, it’s good that they are, but I didn’t expect it for some reason..

quote :

(…) since the battery after cranking is going to suck a lot of current to be replenished.

"On a Harley.." 😉

Kidding but not.. no offense, either way.

quote :

All Harley generators run faster than the crank speed due to gearing between the crank and the generator gear. The only motorcycle I can remember that had the generator running at crank speed is the 70’s Yamaha 125.

My experience, with gens. on British bikes, is that they run at crank speed. For example, 50’s Triumph T-bird driven off the exhaust cam (running half-speed), but with a pinion gear the same size as the crank pinion. Same for 50s to early 70s BMW and Guzzi, I believe, though at lest the Guzzi run belts.

quote :

I never counted the flywheel teeth on my 1960 40Hp Johnson or the generator pulley to determine the ratio. However the generator is spun faster than the crank.

Teeth.. these OMCs run toothed belts? Really?

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For a generators getting the RPM right for all crank speeds is an interesting science (…) Sorry for the detour from topic.

Can’t speak for the others, but no need to apologize to me – I’m quite interested in everything you’ve written. Very informative and clearly presented. And yes, alternators are superior in every way – particularly when fitted with modern rectifiers and regulators. Hard to believe the industry had to cope with inefficient DC generators for so many years, all for the lack of a compact and efficient solid-state rectifier! They’re so cheap & common today, it’s the sort of thing everyone just takes for granted.