Reg/Rec

[GSXXZRX]

Here's a novel idea. I came across this trying to find if anyone has relocated
the r/r on the Blackbird. I recently had to replace mine and after a short ride
of 3 miles I felt the r/r and it was hot. I mean HOT. Being I have nothing to
compare it to, I did some research and found that this is pretty much normal.
I've since grounded the r/r to the battery and put a copper plate under it to
help dissipate heat. But it still gets pretty hot.
I was going to compare it to the ZRX, but being I never had a problem with
the electrics I don't even know where its located on the bike. But I will this
weekend.
Anyway, I can't do this mod on the Blackbird because of where the r/r is
located, (on the side of the sub frame under your right thigh, where no fresh air
gets to it) but may be something to think about on the GS's. Here's a link.

http://borg20014.tripod.com/service_sectionm.htm

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[posplayr]

Your R/R will get very hot immediately if it is not properly connected across the battery. The R/R should not be hot to the touch at idle, but with poor connections it easily rise above 120 degF.

Verifying the connection voltage drops is the best thing you can do for R/R longevity.

[mustangflyr]

R/r

Mounted my R/R on the front of the frame below the steering head, it's out in the breeze now and no problems.

[GSXXZRX]

posplayr
I realize the importance of a good ground. Like you, (I can tell by the bikes
in your sig) I am very particular. And I'm cheap. The electrical system is
working perfectly. 12.9 across batt. 12.2 with ignition on, 14.2 with engine running.
The way I understand it, The r/r dumps unused voltage to ground usually by
way of the frame, which causes resistance, which causes heat. Grounding
to the battery gives less resistance therefore less heat. As the power connection to the r/r should be spotless and greased also.
But these things still get pretty hot depending where they are located on
the bike. A lot of cruisers have them right between the front frame down
tubes.
This pic was taken right after a ride by a fellow on the Gixxer board .

">

[posplayr]

posplayr
I realize the importance of a good ground. Like you, (I can tell by the bikes
in your sig) I am very particular. And I'm cheap. The electrical system is
working perfectly. 12.9 across batt. 12.2 with ignition on, 14.2 with engine running.
The way I understand it, The r/r dumps unused voltage to ground usually by
way of the frame, which causes resistance, which causes heat. Grounding
to the battery gives less resistance therefore less heat. As the power connection to the r/r should be spotless and greased also.
But these things still get pretty hot depending where they are located on
the bike. A lot of cruisers have them right between the front frame down
tubes.
This pic was taken right after a ride by a fellow on the Gixxer board .

">

I don't know if that guage is right or not but 190 degF is 88 DegC and is beyond the 85 degC upper range of extended temperature range parts. If the outside case is that hot then the junction temperatures are going to be much higher. If you touch that R/R you will burn your skin. That is simply too hot unless you just got off of a 130 mph run that lasted 20-30 minutes.

As an example I mounted my R/R on the GS750 on a copper heat sink which you apparently did somthing similar and I never saw more than a 20-25 degC drop between my R/R temperature (measured with a dual input temperature probes) and frame. So if my frame were running under hot conditions at about 40 degC, then the R/R would be at about 60-65 which is with the +85 degreeC range.

From your description of VERY HOT R/R and that temperature reading Sounds like you have something wrong.

How does your charging voltage at 5000 RPM compare to idle; U did not mention that and that is the key measurement.

Not to picky but, your description of R/R operation is not really correct and you could get the wrong idea from it. All current returns to the R/R (-) to complete the circuit in the stator windings. The currents return from the frame to the R/R (-) and the harness ring lugs (grounds) as well. In fact charging current from the R/R (+) to the battery plus, completes a circuit by returning to the R/R (-) otherwise it will not charge the battery.

[GSXXZRX]

posplayr
Believe me, I'm not trying to beat you up on this. I'm just trying to learn.
I've been reading a lot and have been finding a lot of contradictions. Some things are a little confusing. I don't understand how current can go from the
frame back to the r/r. I thought the purpose of a diode was to allow electrical current to flow in only one direction. And the r/r was to convert AC current to DC current. So if DC current is coming from the r/r, why would it
need to return to the r/r.

BTW: 14.2 @ 5000rpm , a little less at idle.

[Steve]

Nothing is "coming back" to the r/r.

In very basic terms, three wires feed alternating current from the stator to the inputs of the r/r. The alternating current is rectified into an approximate direct current. There is quite a bit of "ripple", but all the voltage is on the same side of ZERO, making it 'direct current' or DC. This DC is now fed to the regulator, which is just a high-speed switch with a reference voltage. When the output voltage is lower than the reference, ALL the output goes to the positive wire and on to the bike. What the bike does not use, will end up stored in the battery. When the voltage is higher than the reference voltage, ALL the output gets switched and goes straight to the ground connection. When the voltage is lower than the reference (and this happens rather quickly with a direct short), ALL the current is switched back to the positive wire. This process happens about 2,000 times per second, so you can see why you need a very good ground connection and also why your r/r might get a bit warm.

.

[GSXXZRX]

Thanks guys. Maybe I should take a little harder look at this situation with
the hot r/r. It seems the charging is doing what its supposed to, except
for the excessive heat from the r/r. If I don't attend to it, It'll smoke another
r/r. This thing won't last long at these temps. And I don't want to take something
else out with it.
I'll let you know if I remedy this. If I don't, I'll be back to bother you some more.

Thanks
Jim

[posplayr]

Nothing is "coming back" to the r/r.



.

Steve, your statement above this is a VERY common misconception.
If you look at this link I have referenced the GS1100E factory manual for additional corroborating evidence that statement above is false. All current that the stator generates has to complete a circuit. That circuit is completed when all return currents flow back to the R/R (-) and complete the circuit as shown in the full wave rectifier diagram.

I was under the same misconception until was investigating the charging system operation and had one of the engineers at work explain it to me the full wave rectifier (I probably understood it 30 years ago but forgot ). Later I even found the manual reference saying the same thing.

This should not be controversial; it is simply a matter of understanding the current flows and polarities of a 3 phase full wave rectified bridge.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=978254&postcount=1

[reddirtrider]

Your R/R temperature is dependant on the power it dissipates and it's ability to dissipate power as heat. That power is the difference between what is generated by the stator and the load the bike requires. Did you permanently connect the third stator coil? Try turning on more loads - mainly your headlight.

Your R/R should not get that hot.

[posplayr]

posplayr
Believe me, I'm not trying to beat you up on this. I'm just trying to learn.
I've been reading a lot and have been finding a lot of contradictions. Some things are a little confusing. I don't understand how current can go from the
frame back to the r/r. I thought the purpose of a diode was to allow electrical current to flow in only one direction. And the r/r was to convert AC current to DC current. So if DC current is coming from the r/r, why would it
need to return to the r/r.

BTW: 14.2 @ 5000rpm , a little less at idle.

It sounds like the R/R is working properly but it is still too hot. Given your voltages and the look of that regulator it appears to be an FET type FH0012A. Those are rated at 50 watts at about 20 degC ambient. There is a power derating if operated at higher ambient temp.

If I did not know anything else I woudl say that it is operating normally and still getting hot then you have a high demand load on the bike. However I took another look at the pictrue of your bike to see how you have it mounted. I cant really tell but it appears as if you have it mounted behind a radiator .

If that is the case then you are trying to cool the R/R with convective flow from the radiator that is at 200 degF . If this is the case then the radiator is increasing the temperature of the R/R and you are exceeding the R/R ambient temperature rating.

[GSXXZRX]

Sorry for the confusion.
That pic was taken right after a ride by a fellow on the Gixxer board . It is behind the rad, and is also the factory location.
The r/r on my Blackbird is bolted to the outside of the sub frame. Sitting
on the bike, its right under my left thigh, between the sub frame and the
tail piece. The only air it gets is from the engine.
">

[Steve]

Steve, your statement above this is a VERY common misconception.

Pos, once again, you are quite correct.

I mis-read his statement to say that some current went to charge the battery, then, when any excess was being 'regulated' (shunted) it would get sent back to the r/r. After going back and re-reading it, I see that I mis-interpreted what he wrote.

Back to the original poster ... GSXXZRX, yes, current does go back to the r/r, but it goes in the back door, like posplayr says. It goes out via the positive wire and comes back in via the negative wire, which also happens to be the chassis ground. It has to complete the circuit. Any excess that is being shunted (the process of regulating the voltage) will go straight to ground (yes, that's a momentary direct short, that's why your regulator is getting warm), the rest of the time it's going to either the electric stuff on the bike or the battery.

.

[bwringer]

The Honda R/R I've installed on my bikes barely feel warm to the touch.

If yours is getting that hot (and it's not from sitting right behind a radiator) something is Bad Wrong.

[Billy Ricks]

I've used a case fan for about 10 years and have posted about it in the past.