Voltage regulator

[Winger 82]

:cool!: Anyone out there know where abouts the voltage regulator might be located on an 82 Aspencade ?? She's been hard startin the last couple of weeks and I was kinda thinkin battery since the water level has been below the lowline twice now in the last 2 years. but that does not explain why she was showing 14.5 on the volt meter at an idle the other day, idle was set about 1200-1300 at the time (not quite sure why it was that high ) backed it of to about 1000-1100 and the volt gauge dropped back down to about 12-12.3, don't have a bunch of extras on her (lights)
:thanks: Winger 82 :hi:

 

[jdegase]

hiya winger,
the regulator is under the false tank on the left side of the bike right next to the flasher stat.
you might be right in checking it...
it really shouldnt boil the battery ...
I know I'd like to have a steady 14.5 from 1500rpm through the full rpm range.
but mine will fall to around 12 at an idle and pickup to around 14 at 3000 rpm... with a load it will fall back to around 13 under normal riding.. but when stopped with brakelights on.. it gets down there 12 or below.

 

[dan filipi]

12 volts at 1000 rpm and less is pretty normal and 14.5 to 14.8 volts at higher rpm is ideal.

Don't trust the readings you get from the onboard volt meter, they can be way off. Mine reads 1.5 volts low.

 

[Winger 82]

:cool!: Thanks for the replies, was kinda concerned about the volt meter cause it has never read 14.5 at idle and always read 12 or alittle higher at idle without the brake on them climbed as you brought the RRRRR's up. I did put a new battery in her wed. but have not had a chance to take her for a nice ride or even short ride to see if she'll start after a short break. I'm on vacation this week and the better half has me paintin the house :rant: maybe this weekend I'll get to see if that did the trick, but still think I might just change out the regulator just for the heck of it , it is original parts as far as I know.

Winger 82 :hi:

 

[AApple]

I would suggest a check of the actual voltage reading at the battery before condemning anything. I don't have the gauge package, so my only choice is to check it at the batt. Mine must be weird, but it stays at a fairly steady 14> at all times, until I turn on my driving lights....then it drops to around 12-12.75v. Other than that, I can have every light I have on, high beam, turn sig, and brakes, and still, at an idle, it will carry 14v. Perhaps this is why I have to keep a close eye on the electrolyte in my battery... :headscratch:

 

[Winger 82]

Thanks AApple, will have to find somone that has a tester, I don't have one or even know how to use one :head bang: , not real good when it comes to the electrical parts or wiring :doh:
Winger 82 :hi: :thanks:

 

[stratocat]

It sounds like your regulator/rectifier is probably good. You should definetlycheck it with a volt meter at the battery. It's easy to do. You can get an inexpensive multimeter at any hardware or auto parts store. I just replaced my rectifier and now I get 14.5 volts at the battery with rpms above 2500. I'll have to check what it is at idle.

 

[Winger 82]

:cool!: Well got to take her for a short ride tonite (sat) and the volt readings seem to have went back to normal from my prior post, will still keep a close eye on that volt gauge .

Winger 82 :hi: