Author Topic: Charging issues!!  (Read 929 times)

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Offline wenman999

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Charging issues!!
« on: June 25, 2017, 02:59:18 AM »
Hello all,

I'm getting some charging issues on my Cb550f 1977! It's killed my £200 antigravity battery and I'm now trying to figure out what's happened!
Bike is all stock apart from rear led hoop!
Tested combined reg/rec seems to be okay.. stator checked and stator rotor fine, field coil resistance high, should read 0.35 +- 10% and I have 0.9!!

I'm thinking maybe the reg/rev I have is wrong? It's from DSS and plugs straight into harness! The only other wire I have is a black red wire that has two spade connectors on and instructions state to plug these onto the green and white wire off the old regulator and discard green from old regulator??
See pic

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks

Aan

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Charging issues!!
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2017, 10:49:49 AM »
0.35 ohms takes impeccable technique to measure with standard DMMs.  Did you subtract out the meter and lead's inherent resistance?
Anyway, the stator is likely fine unless there is obvious physical damage.
The rotor is a lump of metal.
You need to measure the field coil resistance and report.  Your measurement is clearly the stator resistance,not the field coil.
Stator; three yellow wires, Field; White and green.

You do need to better define what "charging issues" mean to you.

Does it make too much voltage?  Not enough?

Was the regulator you purchased intended for your bike? 
Does the reg section have a three wire connection? 
Do you have a wire diagram for it?  Can you post that?
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline wenman999

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Re: Charging issues!!
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2017, 03:17:08 PM »
Thanks two tired!

To be slightly more accurate on the definition of charging issue...
when out on a ride the other day approx 30 minutes stopped for fuel and would not start on the button, kicked it over and it cut out about 100 yards down the road! Battery read 5v ish when I finally pushed it home!

The field coil is within spec around 4.7 ohms I f I remember correctly!

The readings were including subtracting the resistance between probes!

I believe the combined reg/rec was intended for my bike.
No wiring diagram just instructions on how to fit which was outlined in initial post.
It only has the stator plug for original harness (3 yellow 1 green 1 red in the plug) then 1 black/red wire with 2 spade connectors on the end??

Thanks again twotired
« Last Edit: June 25, 2017, 03:29:03 PM by wenman999 »

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Charging issues!!
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2017, 05:32:59 PM »
The Blue/red @ the Alternator plug is for the oil pressure switch.  LG/R is for the neutral switch.

Do you have a good battery to check regulator function?

Need to compare the actual battery voltage to the voltage seen by the regulator at it's input terminals, normally the black and green wires connecting to the reg.

The regulator can't power the field coil without a good voltage input, and it can't properly sense the battery state if it gets an altered report of actual battery voltage.
« Last Edit: June 25, 2017, 11:08:07 PM by TwoTired »
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Bodi

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Re: Charging issues!!
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2017, 06:50:29 PM »
Even with subtracting base resistance most meters are wildly inaccurate measuring below a couple of ohms. A Wheatstone bridge is required to get an accurate measurement, but yours seem "close enough". Unless you get a large difference in readings taken between all three possible measurements between the yellow wires, the stator is likely OK, they are super durable. Same with the field coil.
You can test that the field coil is working fairly easily. Hard way:Take the alternator cover (with coils) off and switch the bike on (don't start it unless you want an oil bath!). With a decent battery you should have a strong magnetic field from the field coil, enough to pull a steel tool strongly against it. Easy way: A smallish wrench should stick and hang on the outside of the cover with key ON.
If no field... check the wiring from the coil to the r/r. The connections under the side cover are very suspect. If all good, check the r/r connections. The field coil polarity is not important but it should get close to battery voltage between its two wires with key ON and a good battery. If the field seems strong, check those connections... the stator wires need to have solid connections all the way to the r/r as well. With OK stator and field coils, good strong magnetic field when ON... the alternator itself has to be working well. The rotor is just a complicated metal lump that bends the magnetic field and, if intact, it has to work. That leaves the rectifier and the battery connection as suspect.

Offline calj737

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Re: Charging issues!!
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2017, 07:43:02 PM »
The Black/red @ the Alternator plug is for the oil pressure switch.  LG/R is for the neutral switch.
BLUE/RED is oil, TT. I thought BLACK/RED is a late model 550 color scheme for switched power?

It would be nice to know exactly what the intended purpose is for BLK/R from the manufacturer ??? Is it intended to be the switched voltage sensing wire?
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

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Offline RAFster122s

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Re: Charging issues!!
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2017, 08:24:13 PM »
It is possible that it was assumed to be a plug and play affair, but you really need to pull out or download the instructions for the wiring identification to make certain your thoughts about it being plug and play are true for your bike.
The LIthium batteries are totally intolerant of overdischarge.  A battery protection/management board for the battery might be worth the $20 investment...several are available on ebay.

David
David- back in the desert SW!

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Charging issues!!
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2017, 11:07:37 PM »
The Black/red @ the Alternator plug is for the oil pressure switch.  LG/R is for the neutral switch.
BLUE/RED is oil, TT. I thought BLACK/RED is a late model 550 color scheme for switched power?

It would be nice to know exactly what the intended purpose is for BLK/R from the manufacturer ??? Is it intended to be the switched voltage sensing wire?

You're right Cal.  My magnifying glass is 700 miles away as well as good lighting.  My wire diagram is small for old eyes.
Black red is actually switched headlight power from the starter button.

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.