Rectifier

[Marty ULC]

Blown a couple of bulbs this week.
BGM AC stator, bgm ac/dc regulator, main beam running off the ac all the other lights from the dc.
Been working fine for a couple of years.
Should I be looking for bad earths or replacing the rectifier/regulator?

[coaster]

Get hold of a volt meter and measure the AC volts with the lights on as you rev the engine. The regulator should 'clip' the voltage at somewhere between 12 to 14 volts depending on revs. any more than that and lamp life could be reduced. Your idea for checking connections and earths is a good one as intermittent connections is another bulb killer.

Colin

[piskie]

Speak to anthony tambs on facebook he will sort out for peanuts he will bore you in to submission but hes a top bloke

[coaster]

Speak to anthony tambs on facebook he will sort out for peanuts he will bore you in to submission but hes a top bloke

Agreed, he knows his stuff, I think he has something to do with the Gamatech speedo?

[Marty ULC]

Thanks for the replies, I'll get a couple of ordinary bulbs to try once I've cleaned and tightened all the connections then fit another halogen one once I'm sure it won't blow straight away.
Will a v*spa 5 pin rectifier fit as a direct replacement if that doesn't do the trick?

[coaster]

..............Will a v*spa 5 pin rectifier fit as a direct replacement if that doesn't do the trick?

I would think so, are you running a battery on your set up? The 5 pin regulators only provide a trickle charge so won't have much output for powering your rear light/brake light unless they are LED's.

[Marty ULC]

Yup, 12v alarm battery fitted and powered by the trickle charge, stop, tail and speedo all led. Town light is filament but it charges the battery well enough with enough spare to charge my phone.
Doesn't seemed to be much of a price difference between the bgm ones and a genuine ducati one so I might go for what I know works.

[coaster]

Yup, 12v alarm battery fitted and powered by the trickle charge, stop, tail and speedo all led. Town light is filament but it charges the battery well enough with enough spare to charge my phone.
Doesn't seemed to be much of a price difference between the bgm ones and a genuine ducati one so I might go for what I know works.

Or put a Wassel rectifier/regulator on there and go full DC, sounds like just a couple of small wiring changes would be necessary

[grandpa]

Hi Marty
Agree with Coaster.The wassell is a worthwhile improvement no dimming of lights when you brake and no need for LED rear lights .I also have conventional 23watt indicator bulbs.

Voltage goes up to indicated 13.8 when running with lights on.(front spots have 27 LEDs in each spotlamp (as daytime running lights )

Grandpa

[kennystag]

Hi Clive,
I love your volt meter.
Cheers
Stag

[foremanbob]

Should I be looking for bad earths or replacing the rectifier/regulator?

I'd check the easy things first... get a multi meter (continuity tester mode) and check that you have an earth path between the headset earth and the regulator earth, and the regulator earth and the rear light earth...

Then look at the regulator... could be the earth at the regulator that is corroded