Blown Bulb. Any way to put a regulator in the circuit?

[Cheburashka]

I've got a halogen headlight system from Charlie's Place on my CA77. It works well, but the filament on the low-beam side has burned out after only a few hundred miles. The The only cause I can think of is excess voltage now that I've got the moter broken in and I'm allowing it to run at higher revs now.

It may not be voltage at all, but in case it is, has anyone installed any kind of diode or other device inline with the headlight? I've got a modern rectifier which is supposed to increase the voltage and a newer battery that's in a good state of charge. Hoping someone has suggestions.


Thanks

[G-Man]

Charlie's Place also has regulators......

Google Podtronics. There is a discussion on regulators on the forum, too.

G

[cadman]

Operating halogen lamps at a voltage 10 percent higher than recommended can reduce the lamp life by 35 percent.

If you have standard wiring the headlight is tied in with the third leg of the alternator when it is on. This probably causes a temporary spike in voltage when the headlight is switched to the on position. In addition voltage is not regulated so you get what you get. Try a voltmeter across the battery light off and on at about 3000rpm.

You might try turning the head light on at idle to try and avoid the possible voltage spike.

[G-Man]

http://www.charlies-place.com/PAGES/Sto ... r_new.html

http://www.podtronics.net

http://www.rexcauntracing.com/pages/regulators.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Voltage-Regulat ... 3f1c16293b

I bought the one from Rex Caunt

G

[cadman]

What is the maximum VDC allowed by any of these? 14.5VDC cutoff would not be unusual which would shorten the life if your bulb.

Next what is the potential AC output of the Dream alternator? I haven't been able to find out. I have seen 50VAC but it could be higher with more RPM. The only way to really know is checking the voltage at the battery.

Since we are dealing with "old" stuff there is no way to know what the variables are. Old stator, magnets, old rectifier, wiring connections, etc. If you want to talk about later model three wire alternators I am fairly familiar with them -

[cadman]

If you have a Service manual look at page 153 - This chart gives you charging volts and amps "daytime" - Looks like starting at 3000rpm you are getting close to 16VDC and 3.5 amps.

Page 154 shows "night" - which is still about 16VDC but lower amps - somewhat less than 3 amps.

In either case you are getting over 15VDC at the battery and just enough amps to keep the battery charged unless you are riding around at 3000rpm or less in which case the battery is discharging.

[Cheburashka]

I'm going to get the Kohler one that's referenced above.


I wish I had known about this when I bought the new selenium rectifier. It looks like the Kohler replaces both parts.

I'll let you know how it works out.