| Author | Message | ||
     Grianp |
I currently have a universal voltage regulator system identical to the one found here: http://www.racinglab.com/sunhyvosytmr1.html installed on my car. I was thinking about removing it from the car to install it on the XB (if it will even fit under the seat) to possibly gain some extra performance. My question is, has anyone else tried this or something very similar? Do you think it will help or hurt the bike or give you any performance gains? The company also makes a more compact unit made for motorcycles but I assume that it is identical other than size. Any thoughts or feedback is appreciated. Thanks! -Brian | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I doubt it would work. Bike alternators have permanent magnets for the field. Apples and oranges. | ||
| Reepicheep |
If it's really two wires, it probably will, it's probably just a shunt regulator. You will need to make sure it can handle the power the stator puts out (if it was made for a car, it probably can). You won't get any more bike power from it... the entire charging system of a Buell uses less then 1 horsepower of motor potential. I don't think it'll improve performance by having "better DC" either... that sounds like snake oil to me. The only reason for it could be if (1) you have a dead VR and (2) It's cheaper then the stock VR and (3) you can find a place to mount it cleanly where it can get cooling. I'm guessing at least two of the three are not true. | ||
| Union_man |
+1 to reepicheep...no benefit. | ||
| Froggy |
In the short term I see no benefit, but it might be useful come 10+ years from now and parts start to dry up. | ||
| Mmcn49 |
My 72 Beemer came with a mechanical VR. As it aged you had to regularly file the contact points and bend a contact arm. I replaced it with an aftermarket electronic VR for far less than a BMW replacement. The electronic VR does a fair job of keeping the battery charged, but the charging light comes on below 1500 RPM. Unlike the mechanical VR there is no way to adjust the output. Like Froggy said we’ll probably all have to purchase something similar in the future. | ||
| Nik |
The unit linked to is only a regulator, not a rectifier, so it couldn't replace the stock regularator/rectifier. It's really just an overpriced zener diode in shiny packaging. http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/9/195/7315/ ITEM/MSR-Racing-Voltage-Regulator.aspx does the same thing and I bet you could find a similar part from digikey or other electronics component supplier for even less. Not as pretty though. Probably doesn't come with horsepower boosting stickers either. | ||
| Hughlysses |
It'd be nice to know which (if any) Sportster parts are interchangeable here. I know that Accel used to make an aftermarket stator and VR that would work on tubers. | ||
| Grianp |
Thanks for all the feedback. I think I will just leave it be on my cager. | ||
| Gowindward |
"It'd be nice to know which (if any) Sportster parts are interchangeable here. I know that Accel used to make an aftermarket stator and VR that would work on tubers." I went the other way last winter and fitted the three phase charging system on my '02 S3T. It would be just as easy going back the other way on the XB although you would lose some output. The tubers charging system output is only 22amp while the XB 3 phase (earlier versions) have 38 amps. | ||
| 1324 |
This unit isn't actually a voltage regulator in the typical sense; it claims to 'stabilize' the vehicle's electrical system, not regulate it. You still need to leave the stock VR in place and this gets wired in parallel off the battery. Guys have been using these things for a LONG time on Japanese cars. I've heard people claim all sorts of gains, but never used one or knew anyone who used one. Might be BS, I don't know. Electrical systems are nothing to overlook though, especially with today's vehicles requiring more and more energy just to operate. One of my vehicles benefited GREATLY from adding/augmenting grounds. The factory design was minimal at best to save money. And no, this car wasn't old, I bought it brand new. Snake oil? You'd either have to be a good electrical engineer OR buy one and carefully monitor performance to see what happens. Admittedly, I am not an electrical engineer, so with that...my $0.02. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I went the other way last winter and fitted the three phase charging system on my '02 S3T. It would be just as easy going back the other way on the XB although you would lose some output. The tubers charging system output is only 22amp while the XB 3 phase (earlier versions) have 38 amps. Gowindward- thanks for that info; nice to know they're interchangeable. We may have to get inventive in (hopefully) another ~10 years or so. | ||
| Grianp |
1324 is correct. This isn't meant to replace a traditional VR but is a stabilizer to help with the stress of electrical loads. More so with cars (which it is designed for), the amount of components drawing electrical power can put a lot of stress on a battery ( i.e. lights, radio, A/C). This unit helps reduce the load and strain of the battery by allowing for a supplement of power when the load on the battery is high. |
