| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
Because the voltage was often high, around 15V as I recal, bulbs would blow frequently, so they fitted that diode which stabalised voltage to 12V or so. Excess voltage was turned into heat and bled off, hence those big fins. Rocket in England | ||
| Reepicheep |
Rocket is correct, a Zeener diode is simply a normal diode fabricated in such a way that its reverse breakdown voltage (the voltage at which it allows current to flow) is very low, and fixed (for example 12 volts). Below 12 volts, when reverse biased, it is an open circuit and no current flows (like a normal diode). Above 12 volts, it lets as much current flow as it can, which regulates the voltage at a near constant 12 volt drop, and the power is (hopefully) dissipated by the diode and an associated large power resistor. These things can run away easily if the voltage goes too high, and overheat and blow. The reverse breakdown curve of current versus voltage is basically a step function, and you are tying to get it right in the middle of the step. A little extra voltage can generate huge amounts of extra current if the rest of the circuit is not carefully designed to dissipate power, and even under the best of circumstances, the zeener will be dumping a bunch of power. Normal diodes will do the same thing if sufficient reverse bias is applied, but unless you use special doping methods, the reverse breakdown voltage is around 300 to 600 volts, which would never come out of anything made by that prince of darkness, Lucas Electrics  | ||
| Gstewart |
Ccryder I havent decided. I just don't like it right behind the hot exhaust and down ther catching trash off the front wheel. Theres got to be a better place that will allow it to cool and stay clean....and preferrable be out of sight. I saw a pic of one mounted just behind the rear header guard, which is better but I don't know if I like that locaton either. I was hoping someone had relocated and had some pics of their handy work. Thanks | ||
| Road_Thing |
Rocketdude: Do these bring back any night-time roadside memories? (Maybe I should have taken them by the light of a cigarette lighter, to simulate actual field conditions...)    road_thing (with a Commando project coming together) | ||
| Bomber |
AHHHHHHH . . . I shouldn't have looked . . . . .. sheesh, and the nightmares had finally stopped, too . . . . . . . . | ||
| Road_Thing |
Bomber: kwitcher whinin' or I'll post a pic of of some British breaker points! r-t | ||
| Buellzebub |
the good ol british battery free ignition setup, never ever had a battery that would hold a charge [for long] on my old brit bikes [gotta love those big capacitors] | ||
| Rocketman |
I'm a long way from an electrician for sure, but them diodes are familiar. Still got the Triumph, in a million pieces. One day ! Rocket in England | ||
| S2no1 |
Best bumper sticker ever? "LUCAS REFRIGERATORS - WHY THE BRITISH LIKE WARM BEER" Arvel | ||
| Gstewart |
If anyone is interested....Relocated the regulator today. It is now located under the seat, just behind the oil tank. Fabricated a bracket and re-routed alot of the wiring. I can post some pics if anyone wants to see it. It sure did clean up the front end. G Stewart | ||
| Blake |
Pics? Yes! Please! | ||
| Gstewart |
I'll take a few shots tonight. | ||
| Jmartz |
Is anyone running a 6:1 starter in their Buell? Your impressions would be appreciated. Jose | ||
| Bomber |
Roadthing (am I the only one that hears the Trogs in my head when i read that?) . . .I still got points in my old flattrack scoot . . . .I keep threatening to hang lights on it . . .. .p'raps one day . . . . . | ||
| Road_Thing |
Trogs! Whoa, Bomber, you must be as old as I am! r-t | ||
| Tonyinvabeach |
Anybody know about the new part number Buell has for the speedo sensor? I just lost my second sensor at 16K and they are replacing it with a new Buell part number instead of the older sportster sensor. Anybody know if this one has any of the homegrown fixes talked about on this board? Better electrical protection? v/r Tony | ||
| Gstewart |
Here are photos of the voltage regulator relocated under the seat.  | ||
| Gstewart |
My dialup is too slow to ge tthem all at once so here they are one at a time. | ||
| Gstewart |
3rd time is a charm!!!!!!!!!!!!!    | ||
| Gstewart |
One other thing...... When I removed the 2 bolts that attatches the front shock mount and front muffler bracket, I noticed the threads on the top bolt were in shear...the shoulder wasn't long enough to reach the shear point where the shock bracket mates to the engine. The length outside to outside is exactly 5 inches which is what the shoulder on the bolt should be. I ordered 2 AN-6 bolts with a 5 inch shoulder and replaced the originals. Here is a phto of the old and the new.  | ||
| Jmartz |
A while back after modifying my engine I needed to make ignition timing changes. Rather than just rotating the pickup plate I got a programmable module with single fire capabilty. To do the conversion the single fire coils I came accross wrere all quite a bit bulkier and significantly heavier. Last night I got Crane's new, stock sized, single fire unit. I'm quite pleased with this one. The old big guy is going on Ebay tonigh. | ||
| Hein |
Anyone with advise on an oiltemperature meter? I want to install an analog meter, same looks as the speedo and tach but smaller and attach it to the handlebars. Preferrably of a manufacturer also available at this side of the pond... S1WL Hein in Am*dam | ||
| Peter |
Hello stranger. Going to Croix? PPiA | ||
| Bomber |
Hein . . . .search for "Bomber" in teh photo section, and you'll see an Autometer Phantom guage in my shop-made dash . . . . Autometer's website has info for non-US ordering, so I imagine you'll be able to get it with few problems . . . . . mounting on the bar should pose little difficulty . . . should be able to find a mount from any one of a number of folks | ||
| Xgecko |
Ok question time here. Anyone know what the amps are for the horn? It looks like a Hella M26 made in Mexico. 12V but Hella's specs say 6A max and near as I can tell the horn is hooked up to a 15A fuse. I'm looking at replacing it with something a bit more....Masculine sounding. Such as a trumpet shaped "Fanfare" type horn The idea of a truck horn kinda makes me happy. | ||
| Robr |
Xgecko, What I beleive Hella's specs are providing is the maximum amperage that their horn would draw from the electrical circuit. As long as the total draw of the Buell horn circuit does not exceed 15A; any lights + any gauges ect. + the 6A of the Hella horn, you should be OK. The question is what else is on the horn circuit? Rob. | ||
| Xgecko |
Turn sugnals, lights and all the other system accessories are what seems to be on that circut. I am very tempted to break out a set of color pencils and highlight the wireing diagrams (silly school trick that works). These suck when trying to trace a whole system | ||
| Robr |
Xgecko, If you have an ameter you could check the current flow in series to the Buell horn(while honking). But perhaps the only true test would be to try the Hella, the worst you could do is blow the fuse. You would want to try the horn with the high beam, brake light and directional signal on, (carry a spare for your first few rides with the new horn). And if that happens you could always run a separate wire to one of the spare fuses(there are spares on the X1, I don't know about the Blast). Rob. | ||
| Xgecko |
If there is one thing I hate doing as is taking a current reading I don't like playing with live voltage. I am pretty certain I'm gonna switch the Horn. I figured out everything on circuit by tracing it with color pencils. It makes for good training for my two unqualified trainees here They are doing all the tracing as a basic Electrical/electronic theory exercise. Yup it has two spares a 7.5A and a 15A though I'm not eager to run a new wire. | ||
| Blake |
12 V ain't zactly "live" is it? |
