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I am currently in the process of changing the engine in my restored to standard GP200 6v battery model Electronic to an engine with a 12v AC Electrex system, looking for some help with questions below. I will be changing the rear light to a 12v Led item also, all the headset lamps to 12v.

Do I also need to change the horn to a 12v item?
Will I be able to use the existing wiring loom?
I plan on mounting 2 Cdi’s & 2 Regulators. Question is, will BGM CDi’s & Regulators be compatible with the Electrex kit?

I am very much a novice on Electrics, so any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks Tim.

Your scoot is already a DC battery system so to change from 6v to 12v you change all the bulbs to 12v versions including the speedo bulb.
The horn will probably work on 6v but not very well so yes you'll need a 12v DC version .
You just need to be sure you order DC stuff not AC.
You shouldn't need to make any changes to your loom other than those required to extend the wiring to attach your new regulator and CDi's if you are positioning them somewhere different to the original CDi placement.

Why are you mixing BGM and Electrex units ?

why did you not buy a fully integrated charging and ignition system from BGM like this one
http://www.bgmproducts.co.uk/spares/bgm-parts/electronic-ignition-kit,-gp,-dc-version,-bgm/mbgm0411.html
It contains your CDi (capacitor discharge ignition), your flywheel , the stator and the coil ...

Elextrex also supply a fully integrated system although theirs is based on a PMA (permenant magnet alternator) as is used on most modern motorbikes . You get the stator , rotor ,stator fins , combined Rectifier & regulator and coil .This will give you a very powerful charging output .
The problem you have is that the BGM rectifier & regulator will not be designed to cope with the output from any PMA like the Elextrex

http://www.electrexworld.co.uk/acatalog/STK-720.html

Thanks for the info Johnny, just to add a little more.

The system will be 12v AC non battery. Will a regular 12v horn be ok?
I have the complete Electrex system, just want to add an extra CDI & regulator. Not sure if Electrex sell them seperately hence going for BGM.

Hope this makes things a little clearer.

Thanks Tim.

Stick with the 6 v horn it'll sound louder.

Tim_Craig wrote:Thanks for the info Johnny, just to add a little more.

The system will be 12v AC non battery. Will a regular 12v horn be ok?
I have the complete Electrex system, just want to add an extra CDI & regulator. Not sure if Electrex sell them seperately hence going for BGM.

Hope this makes things a little clearer.

Thanks Tim.

apologies Tim I misread your post. You currently have a AC system and you're sticking with it so you'll need 12v AC bulbs not DC .
As Wack says try the 6v horn before buying a replacement ,it might work fine .

Wack wrote:Stick with the 6 v horn it'll sound louder.

Thanks Wack, will do.

The 12v system is AC Johnny, current wiring loom is for an original GPE 6v Ducati DC system. Will the loom be ok to use for the new 12v AC system?
Also what about inter changing the BGM CDi & regulator with the Electrex system if one of the Elextrex items fail?

Appreciate the help.

Thanks Tim.

I think you can buy a 12v universal horn that will work on both ac and dc.

johnnyXS wrote:

Tim_Craig wrote:Thanks for the info Johnny, just to add a little more.

The system will be 12v AC non battery. Will a regular 12v horn be ok?
I have the complete Electrex system, just want to add an extra CDI & regulator. Not sure if Electrex sell them seperately hence going for BGM.

Hope this makes things a little clearer.

Thanks Tim.

apologies Tim I misread your post. You currently have a AC system and you're sticking with it so you'll need 12v AC bulbs not DC .
As Wack says try the 6v horn before buying a replacement ,it might work fine .

Bugger I was having problems getting those 12v DC bulbs the AC ones should be easier to find... I hope

MK Monty wrote:

johnnyXS wrote:

Tim_Craig wrote:Thanks for the info Johnny, just to add a little more.

The system will be 12v AC non battery. Will a regular 12v horn be ok?
I have the complete Electrex system, just want to add an extra CDI & regulator. Not sure if Electrex sell them seperately hence going for BGM.

Hope this makes things a little clearer.

Thanks Tim.

apologies Tim I misread your post. You currently have a AC system and you're sticking with it so you'll need 12v AC bulbs not DC .
As Wack says try the 6v horn before buying a replacement ,it might work fine .

Bugger I was having problems getting those 12v DC bulbs the AC ones should be easier to find... I hope

I use 12volt AC bulbs in all of my scoots they seem to work exactly the same as the dc bulbs I used before we went decimal.

Thanks for the info so far however, I am still looking for answers to the below 2 questions.

Will I be able to use the existing wiring loom?
I plan on mounting 2 Cdi’s & 2 Regulators. Is it worth it & will BGM CDi’s & Regulators be compatible with the 12v AC Electrex kit?

Appreciate the help.

Tim.

Tim, it's difficult to say for certain without having details of the electrex characteristics, which will be tricky as they're not common.

That said, I'll be very surprised if it doesn't work with the bgm regulator. Also I'd expect it to work with the cdi too.

Do you have any details of the electrex system? A wiring diagram would be great.

Also electrex systems had fixed timing but i heard that they now have an auto retard/advance system. Do you know what you have?

One point though; I've used electrex parts on lots of bikes (not lambrettas) and they have NEVER failed. I may have been lucky, but i suspect that they're just good quality.

Try contacting Brolam scooters on 01302 300 486. They will know the answer to the Electrex query as they did some work with them . Good people.

dickie wrote:Tim, it's difficult to say for certain without having details of the electrex characteristics, which will be tricky as they're not common.

That said, I'll be very surprised if it doesn't work with the bgm regulator. Also I'd expect it to work with the cdi too.

Do you have any details of the electrex system? A wiring diagram would be great.

Also electrex systems had fixed timing but i heard that they now have an auto retard/advance system. Do you know what you have?

One point though; I've used electrex parts on lots of bikes (not lambrettas) and they have NEVER failed. I may have been lucky, but i suspect that they're just good quality.

Thanks for the help Dickie.

Only details I have of the system is what is on their website, no wiring diagram. It was purchased late last year.

Thanks for the number Nick I will give them a bell when I get chance.

Fitted one to a mates bike last year, I think he kept the wiring diagram so I can ask him for you.
I used a standard loom, after all, the CDi is practically identical and the outputs from the regulator are both AC and then a cd feed for a possible battery circuit or charging line etc.
Now he has since fitted another regulator to the lighting output, in effect running 2 regulators, so the answers are both yes and yes to your questions, I think
By the way, it hard the auto retard system, starts and runs well. I rode with him to Switzerland last year and it never missed a beat. The Electrex system is a great piece of kit, it's just Electrex themselves have appalling customer service, so I've no idea what if any replacement parts will work etc etc , for more info see my jet set piece on the system. If they sorted this out, I believe it would be THE system of choice bar none.

soullad wrote:Fitted one to a mates bike last year, I think he kept the wiring diagram so I can ask him for you.
I used a standard loom, after all, the CDi is practically identical and the outputs from the regulator are both AC and then a cd feed for a possible battery circuit or charging line etc.
Now he has since fitted another regulator to the lighting output, in effect running 2 regulators, so the answers are both yes and yes to your questions, I think
By the way, it hard the auto retard system, starts and runs well. I rode with him to Switzerland last year and it never missed a beat. The Electrex system is a great piece of kit, it's just Electrex themselves have appalling customer service, so I've no idea what if any replacement parts will work etc etc , for more info see my jet set piece on the system. If they sorted this out, I believe it would be THE system of choice bar none.

Thanks for the info Soullad.

I believe any CDi will work with the Electrex system, not sure about the regulator. I will give them a call to see if they sell parts of this kit seperately.
I am also sure the 6v GP200E wiring loom should be useable, not sure how it would be wired though. This is where a digram would come in handy if anyone can help.

I have emailed Electrex but as you say customer service is terrible, lets see if I get a reply.

Thanks Tim.

Exactly,
I asked bout the CDI, specifically if this does contain the retard circuitry? if so swapping out for a regular Ducati item en route would mean running at 15 degrees BTDC. which isn't great. I've yet to have an answer. Let me know if you do.

I think the issue here is the fact that as Lambretta riders, often our distances travelled aren't understood, nor the comforting need to carry a lot of spares, something based on often poor component parts over the years. So along comes Electrex, they make a great system and all we want to know is how to fix it when it goes wrong! Electrex never dream of it going wrong, so they probably think "what the hell is that guy doing bothering me with emails about spare CDI's, BTDC marks and flywheels holders etc etc etc. after all he's only going to the seaside once a year?????

There's something very reassuring about carrying a spare BGM Stator and Ducati CDI, wouldn't you agree?