[image: View Post]Tightwad, on 29 December 2010 - 04:25 PM, said:
[image: View Post]DaveB, on 29 December 2010 - 02:59 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Tightwad, on 29 December 2010 - 10:55 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Misspent Youth, on 27 December 2010 - 06:16 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Tightwad, on 27 December 2010 - 02:14 PM, said:
I don't understand from their information where the excess voltage being generated is going. The Stator creates the power no matter what...RPM dictates just how much, but the same amount is there.
I don't know, but if I had your knowledge of electrics I'd ask Decosse on the Triumph board (among many others). See post #14 at
http://www.triumphra...-upgrade-2.html
He says the regulator "goes open" when no more juice is needed. He also says (I'm sure he's also paraphrasing the Suzuki guy who pioneered this mod) that a series regulator is easier on the stator for some reason I don't understand. If you get the answers to these questions, I hope you'll post them up for those of us who remain curious.
This is how I assumed it worked (and what I read) but I am a bit confused about how you open such a high amperage circuit without some arcing. I am not an electrical engineer, just someone who has a mechanical aptitude and basic understanding of how things work...
I'm an electrical engineer and will try and explain how a regulator works.
Think of the regulator as a valve or faucet for electricity it automatically adjusts to conduct a lot of electricity or a little which is why it is called a regulator. In actuality is does this by adjusting the firing angle of 3 Triacs or the switch on point of 3 MOSFETs, the actual mechanism is not important and there are different ways of doing it, but the result is the same it automatically regulates the flow of electricity.
The conventional shunt regulator adjusts the amount of current dumped to ground causing the stator output voltage to drop due to its internal resistance. So if it takes 40 amps to reduce the stator output voltage to the required 14.5 volts but the bike only uses 15 amps to run with headlamps on then the regulator has dump 25 amps to ground. The point being the stator always supplies 40 amps and runs at maximum output gets hot and eventually burns out.
On the other hand the better engineering solution the series regulator adjusts the flow of electricity to just allow the required 15 amps to flow with an output voltage of 14.5 volt. As the current demands of the bike change the voltage dropped across the series regulator changes to keep the output voltage at 14.5 volts no matter how much or how little current is required. So the stator only supplies the current need by the bike which in most case will be 20 amps or less hence it is not under such a high load, does not get as hot and should not burn out.
I've attached a power point with more information and explanation
Yes, I understand how the standard MOSFET and SCR type of R/Rs work to reduce limit the amperage, but how is the Compufire controlling how much power the stator generates? the Stator is generating a set amount based on the size of the magnet and the rotational speed (RPM) at which it spins. Unlike a car alternator with a field that can be turned on/off, the Stator is fixed at max output.
The stator only generates the amount of power you take from it up it its maximum load. If open circuit it generates no power. The stator windings, magnates and RPM dictate the maximum power available. Power is not generated if it is not used.
The stator generates a voltage think of voltage as the strength of the electricity i.e it's ability to over come resistance, current is then the amount of electricity that flows when a circuit is connected to it
power in watts = volts * amps.
If the stator is not connected to anything (open circuit) then it generates a high voltage I think I've read about 200 volts at 5000 RPM , but no current flows until it is connected to a circuit so with no connection it generates high voltage but no current so the actual power output is zero
200 volts * 0 amps = 0 watts of power.
The stator generates a voltage the fact that power is available does not mean it is generated or used. The generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy so when there is no electrical load it does not put any mechanical load onto the engine i.e it is easy to rotate it. When it is connected to a circuit or the bike and current is drawn hence electrical power is taken from it it will put a mechanical load on the engine and so it is harder to rotate like going up a hill.
So the generator only produces electrical power when you take current from it otherwise it is effectively freewheeling and the mechanical load on the engine varies with the electrical power drawn from it. So the series regulator reduces the power drawn hence puts a smaller load on the engine and you'll get more mechanical power (HP) available for the bike.