Re: AC to DC converter with a voltage regulator.
Maritan said:
The RR basically converts the AC voltage put out by the magneto on your bike into DC voltage (the rectify part). It then also regulates the voltage (the regulator) to around 12-14 Volts, I believe.
On the SV, I believe if they get really hot they're prone to conking out. Otherwise, I have no clue as to their reliability.
to expand a bit, most bike charging systems are completly unlike a car charging system
in a car, the voltage is regulated by regulating the field strength of the aramature in the alternator, the alternator only produces the amount of electricty required
in a bike, the charging system is simpler, and it utilizes permenent magnets and a stator, the faster it spins, the more electricity is made, after the RR converts the AC to DC, it regulated the voltage by dumping the excess back to ground, the excess energy is disapated as heat, the RR is really nothing more than a heat sink and a rectifier, Hear is the enemy of the semiconductors within the RR unit, and eventually they cook themselves. how fast depend on how well the heat is taken away, 1st gen SVs the RR is under the tail where it can't get any air,
in older VFR's it's under the seat and you can actually feel things frying between your legs. My son can cool his seat down by turning on his heated grips... the excess energy is being used by an accessory.
SV charging systems are not very big, only a few extra watts to deal with, you can't add to many accessories cause you don't have enuf output but at the same time it is good for your RR to have some accessories that will use the excess electricity and extend RR lifespan
my RR went south @ 50k, I have 66k on the current RR and still working good, but I use more accessories than I used to