r/r questions: how to find out if r/r is series or shunt?

[Gorminrider]

^^ and the "238"..all my Suzukis have these and of course the Honda too. They run cool, their construction is tough and design much better than the Suzuki OEM.

The SH232,238s etc run scrs on all three legs of the stator, which the OEM Nippon Denso did not, I think.

 

[Admiral Beez]

^^Wow that does look old and OEM! It looks like it was mounted in the weather which might have kept it cooler and extended life?...You wouldn't think the solidstate stuff would fail due strictly to age....mileage, and internal heat are more likely...but who knows? The varnish on the stator windings would probably age too, losing flexibility..but, I have some 80 year old electric motors here that still work great, so the OEM varnish might be suspect.

Obviously, I'm not happy with the explanations offered here about the failures - it's too specific to these particular bikes and I lean toward poor manufacture and design. Maybe the oil that gets flung onto the stator has a bad effect. THAT feature is not unque to these bikes but it is not general-my Honda and Kawasaki have NO oil under the side cover... That combined with the OEM R/R not being well cooled, or poor internal components of the OEM R/R...

I’ve now ridden 10,000 km on the replacement shunt-type r/r from Rick’s Motorsports and so far the charging is working perfectly. I’ve switched to LED brake lights and always run a combined volt meter/cell phone charger plug off the battery terminals, but otherwise the electrics are stock. I like how the Rick’s r/r is just swap in and go. I do wonder if the GS650 has fewer of the issues than other Suzukis that demand shunt type mods. Anyway, I can only speak to my experience and so far so good with the standard spec r/r.

https://ricksmotorsportelectrics.com/OEM-Style-Suzuki-Rectifier-Regulator-10_212

 

[hank2]

I believe that the SH775 was something like $45 directly from Polaris about 6-7 years ago. They must have caught wind of what people were buying them for and kept raising the price. I know there had been much discussion on the Stromtrooper forums about them at the time. Some folks initially thought that the Mosfet Shindengens were series type but soon realized that they were not. They are good shunt types. More modern bikes with 450 watts and more really needed the SH847.

I've only had my '81 GS650G for a bit more than two years, but had to replace the oem R/R about a year ago. I found that the oem charging had dropped from 14.0 at idle, 14.4 at 5k rpm to something like 12.6 at any speed. I installed a very nice used SH775 for about $70. Just barely made it in the original mounting spot on bottom of battery box. Eliminated the headlight loop. Charging went to about 13.9-14.0 at any rpm. I expected to see an increase at high rpm. The oem R/R seemed crusty and undisturbed enough to be original, so that would be 40 years. I'm leaving well enough alone for now, but have a new spare Rick's stator to install sometime. I still haven't tested the stator. I have no idea if my stator is original or aftermarket. I have read accounts that the same voltage at any rpm is how Electrosport stators roll.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Charging went to about 13.9-14.0 at any rpm. I expected to see an increase at high rpm.

My motor with the Rick?s r/r now generates a steady 13.7-14.0 at all speeds above idle. So, it?s charging and operating well, I?m not going to worry about this.

 

[tom203]

My motor with the Rick?s r/r now generates a steady 13.7-14.0 at all speeds above idle. So, it?s charging and operating well, I?m not going to worry about this.

Your shunt r/r is making stator produce about 270 watts, when bike only needs about 160 to keep everything happy - this is a lot of extra heat generated in stator to satisfy the r/r?s hunger . It?s worse if you?ve gone to LED lighting. Look for a sh-775

 

[salty_monk]

I tested a few that claimed to be series with Posplayr in the early days. You can't tell without hooking them up and a scope...... The SH847 is a larger footprint (I think it can take more power) but is essentially the same as the SH775 for our purposes.

I have a couple of the FH shunt type around for anyone who wants to go that route.... One is literally brand new.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Your shunt r/r is making stator produce about 270 watts?.Look for a sh-775

I get you, I do, and I admire and respect the evangelical zeal and technical merits of the SH-775 promoters. But I?m just not that interested. My original r/r and stator lasted over forty years and over 30,000 km. The new r/r from Rick?s is now on its second season and over 10,000 km now and still charging strong. That?s good enough for me.

 

[hank2]

I tested a few that claimed to be series with Posplayr in the early days. You can't tell without hooking them up and a scope...... The SH847 is a larger footprint (I think it can take more power) but is essentially the same as the SH775 for our purposes.

From what I've read here and there, the SH775 has a max capacity of 30 A. Some say more like 29 A. More than enough for an old GS. The SH847 is nominally rated at 50 A. I know that the Suzuki DL1000 V Strom has used the SH847 for some years as has H-D. Not sure how many others do. Those using the SH775 on DL650 V Stroms were cutting it fairly close. At least after they went to 450 watts from 2008, on.

This website has been selling those as well as the Mosfet units and harnesses etc. for years. For those that may not have seen it. Prices are up there for the convenience. Lots of good info if you look around, like dimension charts and templates.

http://www.roadstercycle.com/

 

[salty_monk]

Yeah TPO of my husky bought an upgrade from there and went for the Shunt type FH. Put less than 300 miles on it before I bought it. Not sure why, probably just didn't know any better. Easy for me to swap out but a waste of a brand new RR now sat on my shelf!

I'd not bookmarked the link so thanks for that, definitely useful to have!

 

[Guest]

My Compufire Series RR is still purrring after 14 years.

 

[pdqford]

I'd not bookmarked the link so thanks for that, definitely useful to have!

so after spending some time on Roadstercycle.com, where should the positive output and ground of the SH775 be connected?

To the battery a-la Roadstercycle.com or to the original Suzuki wiring harness?

Or does it depend on if the R/R is series or shunt or MOSFET?

 

[bitzz]

As close to the battery as you can. I usually go directly to the battery.
The new R/Rs don't pull much power.