There are cables connected to what appears to be a bolt, each side of the inner Z plates .
One is red and green/ yellow. the other is red and white /green
What do they do?
I believe these are zenner…
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Zeners…
Yes, as Michael says, these are zener diodes. What they do is transforming excess alternator output into heat above their set voltage. Their body is earthed (red and likely pos.) via the heat sink, the green/white or gr/yellow are the alternator side - your commando should have two zeners. Many modern Regulators/rectifiers do away with the zeners - there is a discussion on this elsewhere in the forum!
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Zeners
A significant point here is this is a MKIII Commando with original factory wiring. The 2 Zeners are on the alternator side of the rectifier ie the AC side. ALL earlier Commandos (except JPN) and featherbed 12v Machines will have 1 Zener on the DC side of the rectifier.
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Zenners, blue things et all...
Nigel, I would strongly suggest fitting a Trispark rectifyer , or similar and bin all the other gadgets. After 40yrs of Commando ownership I've finally seen the light.!
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I believe these are zenner diodes and using the z-plates as heat sinks.