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Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 10:51 pm
by tottn15
My sip speedo appears to have broken because my regulator went as normal all the bulbs went, but I didn't expect the speedo would break.
Is this normal for sip speedos

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 10:53 am
by foremanbob
tottn15 wrote:My sip speedo appears to have broken because my regulator went as normal all the bulbs went, but I didn't expect the speedo would break.
Is this normal for sip speedos


in my honest opinion a regulator failure allowing high voltage... would kill any device attached to it.... minus regulator a 12 circuit can reach 50 or 60 volts easily

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 11:39 am
by Toddy
Are the sip speedos not fused ?

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 3:40 pm
by tottn15
unless it is in the control box i guess not

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 4:24 pm
by Nelly
Yep,
A regulator pumping out unregulated voltage could very easily fry a SIP speedo. I would always recommend fitting a fuse to at least attempt to save the electronics in the event of a regulator over voltage. There's a good chance it would still fry due to the voltage that would appear but the fuse would limit the flow of current, which should limit the power going through the electronics.
I don't seem to remember the speedo having a fuse fitted as supplied. I fitted a 2A fuse to mine, I seem to remember.
Funny stuff electrickery.

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 3:30 am
by Fast n Furious
If i remember correctly.......The Sip speedo regulator regulates your incoming DC (Circa 12volts) down to what the clocks electronics need, which is 5Vdc.
So, is it the clock that's f@@ked or the Sip linear regulator?
Use a multi meter and the shit book that came with the speedo to identify the regulator output wire colour.
break into this wire or carefully poke a thin bit of wire down the connector and see if the 5 volts exists. (you'll need 12v on the input side of course)

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 3:51 am
by Fast n Furious
Nelly wrote:Yep,
A regulator pumping out unregulated voltage could very easily fry a SIP speedo. I would always recommend fitting a fuse to at least attempt to save the electronics in the event of a regulator over voltage. There's a good chance it would still fry due to the voltage that would appear but the fuse would limit the flow of current, which should limit the power going through the electronics.
I don't seem to remember the speedo having a fuse fitted as supplied. I fitted a 2A fuse to mine, I seem to remember.
Funny stuff electrickery.


Unfortunately, Fuses do not protect electronic semiconductors from failing through the application of excess voltage. They are there to prevent damage (fire) to the PCB tracks and associated wiring as a result of the failed component now drawing excessive current because it has been damaged through the application of excess voltage.
A good lammy stator full wave rectified can output as much as 150Vdc open circuit. During the day, the regulator is only supplying an already charged battery and the SIP clock. So the output current is very low and the shunt regulator is working very hard to regulate a high incoming voltage by dumping most of it to earth. If your generators 'shunt regulator' fails so that the output voltage is the same as the incoming voltage, the input side of the SIP linear regulator (That's the little black remote box) has to try and regulate 100+ incoming volts down to 12. That's a big ask for a linear regulator.
The shunt regulator box has a zener diode internally. If this component fails open circuit, there is no longer any regulation and so the output voltage will equal the input voltage.
If you ride with main lights switched on during the day it will place less stress on your generators 'shunt regulator', especially on long high speed runs and its a good idea to run with lights on all the time anyway.
Win win!
Strangely, I don't use the stock type shunt regulator for this very reason. They are very primitive by design and rarely regulate to an ideal correct voltage for charging a 12V lead acid battery. If you've ever wondered why your batteries don't seem to last any more than a couple of years then this and vibration is the reason..... Overcharging = overheating and overheating destroys batteries.

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 3:17 pm
by tottn15
could it be the little black box rather than the speedo itself

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 7:29 pm
by Fast n Furious
tottn15 wrote:could it be the little black box rather than the speedo itself

Yes.... Highly likely ..... When your generator reg failed and all your lights went very bright and then blew, did the backlight on the speedo get very bright as well? If it did, then this would be indicative that the sip reg failed in a way that it allowed more than 12volts through to infect and damage the speedo. If not, you may get lucky and only need a new sip reg.
I haven't got the SIP speedo book to hand to advise on the wiring colours but if you follow the advice in my post you can determine the state of the sip regulator yourself. You'll need a multimeter of course.
You could just take a gamble and fit a replacement regulator box. MB sells them circa £30.

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:29 pm
by tottn15
it was the little black box i have put in anew one and all is ok but the clock it now reads 3f 5c but i can live without a clock ,thanks to everyone for you time and help

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 1:10 am
by Fast n Furious
tottn15 wrote:it was the little black box i have put in anew one and all is ok but the clock it now reads 3f 5c but i can live without a clock ,thanks to everyone for you time and help

Yeah well I wouldn't worry about the clock either. In my experience they seem to have a mind of their own. I got fed up having to re-set the time every few days so, I don't bother anymore. Besides I can't read the bloody thing when riding anyway.

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 10:04 pm
by kdodd
any know if the vers 2 speedo is a change in the black box or speedo, mine runs a vers one and would be if the analogue dial read speed not revs wondered if i could purchase a vers 2 black box and leave everything else in place to update it, shame sip dont do an upgrade vers for it

Re: Fryed sip speedo

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 1:58 am
by Fast n Furious
I think........ V2 just allows you to interchange the analogue meter so it can display either Speed or Revs.
The regulator and wiring are the same. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
It would be better if the temp display could be in centigrade but leave the odometer as MPH.
Obviously designed for the Continental and American markets. Odd, considering most of the customers for this product are probably British!
This product is begging for a better design, like being able to read the figures whilst riding (the small ones)