Alternator power and amps

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Reggie3cl

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Just reading my Odyssey battery manual over a coffee, and I notice that it has a SPECIAL NOTICE! for dorks that ride cruisers too slowly and not far enough (presumably American ditch pumps) with standard 32 amp single phase alternators warning them that the battery may become discharged over time.

I never had any problems with my 180 (250W ZZR250 alternator IIS conversion) so what is the ampage (is that a word?) of my RGSs alternator?  I know it makes 210W and that VI=P but that only comes out at 17.5A at 12V so that ain't right.  Somebody with an education please help!
 
You need to measure the AC volts going into the reguator
Usually anywhere between 0-30 volts AC based on RPM
Then you have RMS of converting AC to DC    About .7 if I remember right

Go and buy a clamp on ampere that give you an answers
        Any help
 
Go and buy a clamp on ampere that give you an answers
Click to expand...

No chance- all spare cash now being directed to the New Fancy Falcon Shocks Fund. :D
 
Panic not Richard - it's volts you're after, not (many) amps!  The ND alternator will happily support Odyssey requirements - especially on your roads. The 3 phase config helps too.  Can't think how many years my red RGS has been running one....
 
Keith N told me too late to read the small print :) that the single phase that TS Odysseys are no good (though many disagree here) mine died quite quickly,(2 months max) No idea on any educated numbers you need , but the Odyssey lasted about 3 years on the Sprint before that too died in France, expensive f++kers to avoid.AGM batteries from quad dealers ,cheaper and better.

Oh dear its a battery thread now Richard apologies.
 
Not panicking Rob, just depressed at being confronted by yet another example of my ignorance. ::)  Figured the RGS would be OK with the battery, and even the ditch pumps are fine as long as the battery is maintained properly. 
 
Oh dear its a battery thread now Richard apologies.
Click to expand...

According to the instructions you have to keep them topped up if they are drained by alarms/GPSs or inadequate charging- they need to be showing 12.65V or better or it can suffer irreversible 'crystalized sulphation'.  Sounds like a battery with a habit to me... Anyway,  not a problem as I have a socket on the bike and a CTEK charger, although I doubt it will be needed.  The PC625 on my 180 didn't give me any problems, and even after the upgrade that alternator wasn't exactly up to GS levels- my 1100 pumps out something like 700W and 50 amps!

I'll check the voltage after my next run- I have heated grips so that will put a bit of strain on the system.
 
the odyssey on the SFC was fine for years - the first one died when it got borrowed for the silver 750 Cameron bought from Bruce which had an awkward to trace short & kept flatting batteries.

The current one has always, so far, been happy to start the bike in the spring without needing a charge - it's become a spring ritual: go out, turn on the petrol, put the key in and hit the button expecting to have to go buy fresh petrol & charge the battery and the thing just starts. You watch, I'll have cursed it now and the damn thing will insist on a new battery.
I know it'll need petrol, I drained the tank into a friend's Yamaha that was on fumes when the petrol station at the bottom of the hill ran out of petrol...

It'll get a gel battery anyway, I'm sick of replacing varta / yuasa batteries at 2 years old - doesn't seem to matter how you coddle them, they're fucked the week after the warranty runs out
 
Well only 56km round trip to get fuel (what..?) with the lights and heated gwippy-wips on and the battery is showing 12.84V, so 100% fully charged.
 
Found the same thing myself, got to cover a reasonable distance to regain the charge taken to start it.

I like the Moffat petrol stations. Home to Moffat is 45 miles of fun roads, fill up with fuel and head home the slightly longer way by St Marys Loch.
Battery is fully charged and it leaves just enough fuel to get back down and fill up again. :D
 
The Odyssey should charge up very quickly as there is no limit (they say) to the incoming current, as long as the voltage is kept under 14.5 or so.  They warn that some workshop boosters may exceed this and damage the battery.

I try to remember to fill up at the end of a ride, but often due to running out of time I have to go straight home with an empty tank.  I hate getting all kitted up and then stopping after two miles to fill up.

Mind you it was snowing ealier, so I won't be going anywhere today, heated grips or no. ::)
 
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