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Voltage regulator A Reg One fitted to Mk.lll Commando

Submitted by ashley_cutler on Sat, 07/09/2013
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Electrical

Having used the old recitfier and zeners for years, I decided to get the above and fit it. It was easy enough to fit under the seat being smaller than the podtronics unit. Wiring instructions were easy to follow, but the export model coloured wiring proved to be different from the OEM manual diagram. White and blue does not feed the battery! when I sussed this it was straight forward to fit, and considering I have removed the Capacitor (twice the cause of the only 2 breakdowns in 18 years) I used the left over earth terminal to earth the unit.

I have decided to leave all wiring in place and keep the existing rectifier and Zeners in place and tape back the connectors, leaving the original system on the bike in the event the A Reg One should fail.

The reasons I chose this unit is, it's smaller and cheaper than the Podtronics unit, rated at 25A, and it can be fitted to the MKIII.

Submitted by david_lord on Sun, 08/09/2013

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Ashley

I have used several of these on other bikes for quite a few years with no problems at all. As you say very easy to fit.

David

Submitted by phil_hannam on Sun, 08/09/2013

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Way back in 1975 I converted my Atlas first to 12 volts andthen added a Carello headlight conversion. A brilliant move.....ha! ha! The icing on the cake was to then to dump the old Lucas rectifier fora solid state version plus a Zener to control the current in the charging system. This set-up was still on the bike nearly 30 years later despite 2 full re-wirings. However, 3 expensive Zeners had succumbed in that period. Experience with the other Nortons, I owned over the years, resulted in the Zener being identified as the weak link in the system. If you connected 2 in parallel, this was a part solution to them coping with a 100watt plus alternator.

Duringmy most recent Norton 99 rebuild, I weighed up the cost of originality and reliabilty of various electrical components against the fitting of modern electronic gear. A replica old stylerectifierwas £30 and a Zener around the same. But for under £30 I could get the two as a combined unit.

So a Voltage Regulator A Reg One was purchased and fitted. Three years later it has been a fine example of reliability and the battery, on that particular Norton, has never needed removal for a recharge.

The unit was supplied with an excellent sheet of 'easy to follow' instructionsthat covered both 2 wire and 3 wire alternators. The colour coding of the wires is a bit strange but no worse than a modern appliance plug. Themodule is small enough to be fitted, out of sight, inside the battery. However,I chose to mount mine between the oil tank and battery box top brackets where there is a good flow of air.

Submitted by ashley_cutler on Sun, 15/09/2013

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Having used it in anger this morning, the assimilator decided to wake up (it was a bit eratic with the old system) interestingly the warning light got brighter as the revs rose and when switching on the headlight it dimmed!! I decide trust to the modern technology and just ignore it as the indicators were flashing nice and quick so it did not seem to be running the battery flat. After stopping and having a coffee it started first kick and run fine all the way home. Once home measured the voltage with the bike stopped and it was 12.2V. For the time being I'm just going to ignore the strange indication of the assimilator, but may invest in a battery monitor in the future. It seems that the old assimilator looks like a device just for crudely checking the output of the alternator against the output of the old rectifier via the ignition switch and not much else.

And as I have found way back in the past it was not that good at that if the engine was running, having made it home only to find a connector that had come of the rectifier. There was lots of spitting and popping when the indicators were switched on with just the usual dim red glow of the inginiton warning light that is common when riding at night.

Submitted by peter_mcdermott on Sun, 15/09/2013

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Previously christopher_haley wrote:

Sorry for my ignorance, I've only recently returned to Norton.

Can somebody explain what a "Voltage Regulator A One" is and where they can be bought? I've searched google without success.

Thanks

chris

Hi Chris,

There are several solid state regulator/rectifier versions available on eBay and elsewhere but you will find the one you mention listed below.

http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/goffyelectrex.htm

Brgds,

Pete

Submitted by alan_osborn on Mon, 11/11/2013

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Previously christopher_haley wrote:

Sorry for my ignorance, I've only recently returned to Norton.

Can somebody explain what a "Voltage Regulator A One" is and where they can be bought? I've searched google without success.

Thanks

chris

Chris,

I also sell (and test) the A reg. Yes they are good and they give a good stabilised voltage but the Zener is not to be abandoned just yet. Snags with Zeners-they can have variable voltages, ie too high or too low occasionaly ( I can test them) The original type rectifiers need to be overlooked as they were/are delicate in the long run. The newer ( I have been selling them for 40 yrs!) encapsulated ones are virtualy bomb proof. If you want to keep/add a backup battery charge system on the bike, then keep a modern rectifier bolted on it or in the tool box, you won't need a Zener as keeping the lights on will keep the battery voltage safe enough, but I do recomend the LED type battery voltage indicator-keep an eye on the thing at all times.

And another thing, the original 3AW tin box assimulator is NOT to be trusted for any thing except for 'stopping' the charging system. It is notorious for failing, if it fails with a rectifier Zener sytem you lose some/all charge untill you change it. If it fails with an A reg or similar reg/rect. then the later is damaged! Fit the BSM or a similar LED voltage monitor.

Al aoservices.co.uk

Submitted by ashley_cutler on Fri, 27/12/2013

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A little update. It seemd that my 4 year old Bosch battery was not up to taking a charge which gave no end of problems, of which I investigated and all seemed to point to the alternator and battery. When I fitted the rectifier / regulator I used the alternator wires that went to the old Lucas rectifier and kept the old assimulator connected. This I believe was the start of my issues, as the alernator AC output is used as an input to the assimulator as well as sitting across the old zeners which were disconnected and taped back.The current back to the battery was poor despite the voltage being reasonable - it could be improved.

I ran wires direct from the alternator to the rectifier / regulator and purhased a new battery and the current back to battery has greatly improved. The assimulator was also disconnected. I also purchased a 9 x Superbright LED BA9S pilot light to keep the current drain low for daytime running as I was previously using a 24W lamp for this purpose

I did not fully appreciate that the MKIII alternator output was used in more places than I originaly thoght, and when looked at closely, it contains a lot of connections that I no longer needed with the new rectifier / regulator, it was most probably these that where more of hindrance in the charging circuit.

I have fitted the Al Os BSM and which was an easy fit as all the connectiond can be made locally. So now I have an efficient rectifier and regulator and a nice BSM to indicate the goings on of the alternator and charging system for reassurance.

The next job will to design a new loom incorparting the improvments above and doing away with the no longer used parts of the circuit. I will also take the opportunity to include a cigar and USB charging pionts for modern gadgets.

 


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