Some may recall I threatened to report on what happenes if you change the >way the standard 3 lead alternator

is wired...... > >First off I took some measurements of alternator output using different >regulators and methods of connection, then I changed the way the 2 sets of >alternator coils are wired and measured the output again > >Conclusion is that the rewired configuration does produce more power >putting it another way, it balances the load at lower RPM. > >Measurement of output is a little bit of a challenge, as it's the max >capability at any rpm that needs to be measured - and the regulator may be >doing it's job and reducing the output depending on the battery state. So >I recorded the rpm at which various loads were balanced. > >I put a 0.022 ohm resistor between the battery + terminal and the wiring >harness, and put a digital voltmeter across that, so 0 volts => alternator >output was balancing the load. Biggest inaccuracy was measuring rpm with a >(new) smiths tacho. > >I took measurements of rpm needed for load balance with just the RITA >ignition (with 3 ohm twin output Dyna coil), ignition plus >side/pilot/instrument(side) lights, ignition plus side lights and 55W dip, >and finally ignition plus side lights and 100W main. > >First configuration was the stock set-up and 3 lead regulator > >load rpm for balance >------------------------------------->RITA 2,250 >RITA + side 2,400 >RITA + side + 55W 3,250 >RITA + side+ 100W 3,800 > >Next I replaced the regulator with 2 diodes to see if the regulator was >losing any power - red wire left connected to + and white wires connected >via diodes to ground. Results were identical, so the stock regulator works >just fine. > >Next configuration was to disconnect the red wire (centre tap) and to >connect the white wires to the AC terminals of a bridge rectifier. As >expected, the output is much higher at low rpm, but it never balances the >higher load > >load rpm for balance >------------------------------------->RITA 1,400 >RITA + side 1,700 >RITA + side + 55W 4,000 >RITA + side+ 100W N/A > >Finally I reconnected the alternator leads at the alternator, and i guess >this needs a bit more explanation > >Here's the stock arrangement: > > ____white >/ >\ >/

>\____red___ to +ve >/ >\ >/ >\____white > >The outputs of the white leads are out of phase - when one goes positive, >the other goes negative. Stock regulator therefore uses the output of only >one of the white wires at any point in time: they take it in turns to >contribute current. (and just to confuse, the regulator does this by >connecting them to ground) > >If you take the stator out of the cover, you'll see three terminals to >which the solid copper wire of the coils and the output wires are soldered. > I unsoldered the centre terminal and took one of the solid copper wires >off and connected it to the end terminal - move the one that measures open >circuit to the terminal you're going to solder it to. I reconnected the >red wire to the end one with both sets of coils attached, and the loose >white one to the middle > >Before: > ____ --------white >/ >\ >/ >\____ > ____ --------red >/ >\ >/ >\____ --------white > > >After: > ____ --------white >/ >\ >/ >\ > ____ -------white > / > \ > / > \____ > ________ -------red > >This arrangement has both coils contributing IN phase: thay both go >positive at the same time. If both coils had the same number of turns you >could connect both white wires together and use a 2 lead regulator - I'll >check some time. Not being sure, I kept the wires separate and used a 3 >phase 400V 35A bridge rectifier (they have 3 AC terminals and contain 3 >pairs of diodes) I put a Lucas zener diode in as a regulator. Rectifier >and zener (on a heatsink) are mounted on an ally plate where the rear air >filter used to be. > >load rpm for balance >------------------------------------->RITA 2,100 >RITA + side 2,300 >RITA + side + 55W 3,100

>RITA + side + 100W 3,400 > >So, it'll run a 100W headlight at 400rpm less. May not sound much, but it's >quite a lot in the context of the rev range used in town or traffic. I'm >confident I'll now be able to use an 80/100 headlight and am leaving the >alternator like this > >I measured the charge rate at 4000 rpm with main beam at about 1.5A and >when I get time I'll take some output current measurements and compare with >the data in the workshop manual for the stock system. > >Regards, >James