Electrex

[rossclark]

I've just swapped out the motor in my GP, the old one was standard AF Ducati electronic wired for DC with Wassell.

The new motor has an Electrex ignition.

Has anyone any success wiring this to work with the Wassel? I'd like to keep the advantages of the battery / DC.

[dickie]

If You send me the electrex wiring diagram I'll do you one for your set up.

[rossclark]

Thanks

What come out of the stator is a red, white and a green for the CDI plus two yellows and a white.

I found a diagram that says the 'spare' white should go to earth and the two yellows should go to a small BGM style regulator, with output as a yellow to the loom, a red to the battery and a black to earth. I'm presuming that I can just connect the two yellows as they were from my old stator to the Wassel unit and leave the rest alone.

I'll take some pictures and post it later on.

While we're at it anyone know if there's anything different about the CDI used with this kit?

[dickie]

I found a diagram that says the 'spare' white should go to earth and the two yellows should go to a small BGM style regulator, with output as a yellow to the loom, a red to the battery and a black to earth. I'm presuming that I can just connect the two yellows as they were from my old stator to the Wassel unit and leave the rest alone.

Yes, this will get the battery charging ok. Not sure about the cdi though.

[rossclark]

Thanks, here is the diagram I found

image.jpeg

[coaster]

I could be wrong but I thought the electrex was 3 phase? the Wassel you will have been using is single phase

[rossclark]

I'd have expected more wires for three phase, I've had it years but never got round to fitting it, originally came from Brolam but not sure if they're still trading?

The supplied reg looks very much like the BGM one - will see if it gives a clue and post a pic in the morning.

[dickie]

I'd have expected more wires for three phase, I've had it years but never got round to fitting it, originally came from Brolam but not sure if they're still trading?

The supplied reg looks very much like the BGM one - will see if it gives a clue and post a pic in the morning.

Yes, for 3 phase you'd have 3 x yellow wires, but these are single phase. To get 3 phase you'd realistically need an external pick up or there wouldn't be enough space for the charging coils.

[rossclark]

Interestingly it does have an external pick up and plenty of coils, not much to see about how these are wired though.

image.jpeg

[dickie]

That's not really what I mean. The pick up needs to have no influence on the charge coil spacing otherwise you can't make a sensible 3 phase alternator.

I think Anthony tambs is trying to get one made at the minute. Hopefully on my next one.

[rossclark]

I think see what you mean - you'd need three (or six or nine) evenly spaced coils to generate the three pulses 120 degrees apart.

[dickie]

I think see what you mean - you'd need three (or six or nine) evenly spaced coils to generate the three pulses 120 degrees apart.

Yes, that's right, plus the magnets need to be arranged so that they hit each set of magnets 120 degrees out of phase with each other.

[rossclark]

Ok to answer the question on the CDI.

I started it today, having connected the Electerx up to the genuine Ducati CDI (from my 80s AF kit) which was fitted to the frame and had been working fine on my Rapido motor which has just come out. Once started it would tick over but not rev at all just bogged off like it was way too rich when you rolled the throttle on. Having my suspicions about the CDI compatibility I got the strobe out and it showed good timing at tickover but this broke down as soon as any revs were applied.

I then connected up the (unbranded) CDI that comes with the Electrex kit and bingo up it fires, revs out cleanly and Is steady on strobing with what looks like 2-3 degrees of retard.

For curiosity I added the Augusto, which had also been connected to the Ducati ignition, and it wouldn't start at all.

[carlos fandango]

Hi Ross
Just seen this thread , ive been running a Electrex for 9 or so years, i converted it to run a wassell about 4 years ago.
My electrex is 3 phase , same as yours ( they used to do a single phase version) but running a "master igniter" cdi/coil.
From memory, the original set up was run as a single phase ac system . leaving aside the ignition/cdi side, mine had 3 yellow wires, 1 was blanked off , 1 was earthed and 1 went to the small regulator.
To convert to wassel i just connected the earthed yellow and the reg. yellow, to the wassell , much the same as you would do with converting a "normal" stator to a wassell full dc system.
You can buy a 3 phase wassell , it has 5 wires instead of 4 , and you use the 3 yellow wires connected to the 3 on the 3ph wassell . This was going to be my next step some years ago , but tbh it powers enough for me so i havent bothered
Electrics arnt my thing tbh and i have no idea if its a "true" 3ph system ....or even if 3ph would be better than 1ph
Russ

[dickie]

The advantages of 3 phase are that the current is reduced for a given power and a smoother voltage; less ripple as the sum of the phases at any moment is zero.

Probably neither hither nor thither on a lambretta unless you're running pathfinders etc.

[bsso78]

Do you want to sell your original ignition?

[rossclark]

Do you want to sell your original ignition?

Not yet thanks - I still need one for that engine.