mcnicol said:
Ken,
In all the years of mucking around with these bikes, new and old, I have never come across a triple with a working generator light!!
My 3C was less than 6 years old with just 16000km on the odo when I bought it, still had the OE R/R unit fitted, didn't light up the bulb.
Currently use a 30Amp solidstate rectifier from the local electronics supplier, no regulator. Keeps the 14Ah battery nicely topped up, though.
piet
mcnicol
Hero member
- Location
- Safety Harbor, Florida, USA
Piet, I bow to your experience, my '73 3c didn't even have a voltage regulator, but I was pretty sure I'd seen references here to how they used to work. Oddly enough my '78 3cl/"Jota" does light up red occasionally, which usually means there's a fault somewhere else like a bad earth at the taillight. Another thing I don't understand.
Ken
Ken
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Hi cape
OK, thanks for the correction. Maybe it's the earlier (HKZ ignition) bikes that didn't have the gen light wired in. Mine is the later version with BTZ ignition (same as yours) and the gen light wire didn't go anywhere either, even though a wire is shown on the diagram. I'm reasonably sure that the thing which looks like a voltage regulator in the wiring diagram is actually only a rectifier, and I don't think mine had a connection for a gen light on it. Maybe it was a hit or miss affair depending on the actual parts the factory could buy in.
Anyway, the old ignition and charging systems tend to be replaced on bikes that have been used much. My old rectifier is long gone and has been replaced by a Shindengen R/R.
I've had a couple of attempts at making an ammeter light - one that lights up when there's no current going into the battery and goes out when there's a charge current flowing. I built a prototype that worked very well, but it only lasted about a week before the micro relay I was using died from vibration. I really must learn how to do electronics :-[
Cheers,
Cam
OK, thanks for the correction. Maybe it's the earlier (HKZ ignition) bikes that didn't have the gen light wired in. Mine is the later version with BTZ ignition (same as yours) and the gen light wire didn't go anywhere either, even though a wire is shown on the diagram. I'm reasonably sure that the thing which looks like a voltage regulator in the wiring diagram is actually only a rectifier, and I don't think mine had a connection for a gen light on it. Maybe it was a hit or miss affair depending on the actual parts the factory could buy in.
Anyway, the old ignition and charging systems tend to be replaced on bikes that have been used much. My old rectifier is long gone and has been replaced by a Shindengen R/R.
I've had a couple of attempts at making an ammeter light - one that lights up when there's no current going into the battery and goes out when there's a charge current flowing. I built a prototype that worked very well, but it only lasted about a week before the micro relay I was using died from vibration. I really must learn how to do electronics :-[
Cheers,
Cam
Hi all,
The white LED version of this voltmeter arrived over the weekend and I fitted it in place of the generator bulb in the clocks.
Works great! Two quick flashes when you turn the bike on, and if the kill switch is on (so the bike draws no current) the light is steady and on. Turn the kill switch and the light starts to flash slowly to indicate a drain. Start the engine and the light goes out, turn the lights on and it comes on again (at idle) and goes out further up the rev range.
Quite chuffed!
Andrew (the chap who made the indicator) will make anyone the same as I have ordered - specs below:
Waterproof, 5mm white LED.
>15.2v rapid flashing light
>13.2v no light (normal charging)
>12.4v light on (not charging, battery normal)
<12.4v slow flashing (not charging, low battery)
Ten quid! Ask for a Laverda light - He'll know what you are on about.... andrew@sparkbright.co.uk
Best regards,
Chris
The white LED version of this voltmeter arrived over the weekend and I fitted it in place of the generator bulb in the clocks.
Works great! Two quick flashes when you turn the bike on, and if the kill switch is on (so the bike draws no current) the light is steady and on. Turn the kill switch and the light starts to flash slowly to indicate a drain. Start the engine and the light goes out, turn the lights on and it comes on again (at idle) and goes out further up the rev range.
Quite chuffed!
Andrew (the chap who made the indicator) will make anyone the same as I have ordered - specs below:
Waterproof, 5mm white LED.
>15.2v rapid flashing light
>13.2v no light (normal charging)
>12.4v light on (not charging, battery normal)
<12.4v slow flashing (not charging, low battery)
Ten quid! Ask for a Laverda light - He'll know what you are on about.... andrew@sparkbright.co.uk
Best regards,
Chris
3
3patC
Guest
Thanks for that info chris 
lawrence
Hero member
- Location
- Idaho, USA
Please, some help here for the electrically impared, Chris. This "laverda light" will work even if the bike is fitted with a Shendengen v/r?
It is connected directly to the battery.
Quote from Sparklights product page:
"Installation
Fitting could not be easier - the module has just two wires to connect - red to +12v, and black to negative battery terminal or ground - you should connect the module to a supply that is switched on/off by the ignition key (please ask if advice is required). The module comes with 500mm red/black flexible, multicore flying leads.
Instructions are provided and help is always available. We are always on hand to answer any questions or provide any advice."
Quote from Sparklights product page:
"Installation
Fitting could not be easier - the module has just two wires to connect - red to +12v, and black to negative battery terminal or ground - you should connect the module to a supply that is switched on/off by the ignition key (please ask if advice is required). The module comes with 500mm red/black flexible, multicore flying leads.
Instructions are provided and help is always available. We are always on hand to answer any questions or provide any advice."
OneThinBloke
Hero member
- Location
- Oxfordshire, UK
Ken,
In all the years of mucking around with these bikes, new and old, I have never come across a triple with a working generator light!!
My 3C was less than 6 years old with just 16000km on the odo when I bought it, still had the OE R/R unit fitted, didn't light up the bulb.
Currently use a 30Amp solidstate rectifier from the local electronics supplier, no regulator. Keeps the 14Ah battery nicely topped up, though.
piet
[/quote]
The one on my Jota works!
In all the years of mucking around with these bikes, new and old, I have never come across a triple with a working generator light!!
My 3C was less than 6 years old with just 16000km on the odo when I bought it, still had the OE R/R unit fitted, didn't light up the bulb.
Currently use a 30Amp solidstate rectifier from the local electronics supplier, no regulator. Keeps the 14Ah battery nicely topped up, though.
piet
[/quote]
The one on my Jota works!
G
Grant
Guest
On my way to Slaters one time on my 79 Jota.
Stopped for petrol and thought something was odd.
Red generator light had come on, first time ever.
Richard and I had a peek once I got there and a wire had broken just as it entered the Reg/Rect.
He had a secondhand spare, fitted, problem never came back.
So they did work on 79 Jotas.
Stopped for petrol and thought something was odd.
Red generator light had come on, first time ever.
Richard and I had a peek once I got there and a wire had broken just as it entered the Reg/Rect.
He had a secondhand spare, fitted, problem never came back.
So they did work on 79 Jotas.