New rectifier overcharging?

[voodoo]

I hooked the battery up backwards and blew my old rectifier.
I installed a new one from brp.
Now it overcharges, 17 volts or better.
The stator test for ohms reads correctly and the motor runs strong (after full rebuild).
The new rectifier reads kilo ohms for a brief second and then opens up, in one direction only.
The test perameters from seloc are vague, it doesn't say if the rectifier should maintain continuity or if as I find, continuity for a split second then nothing.
Could it be a bad new rectifier?
Maybe something else I'm missing?
I don't remember gronding the stator, is there a ground under the flywheel?
I don't want to take it off if I don't have to.

 

[F_R]

Re: New rectifier overcharging?

Your rectifier is Ok. High charging voltage is a fact of life on unregulated systems. Battery counts, a I am sure somebody will chime in and verify.

I believe the wierd test results is an oddity in your digital multimeter. I have one that won't even test a power rectifier. But just the fact that it is charging proves the rectifier is ok.

No grounding of the stator is required.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: New rectifier overcharging?

With the motor off, turn the key to ON. What does the voltmeter read? IF it shows above 12 volts it is giving you a false reading.

To check for sure, hook a digital meter to both battery posts and read the actual voltage.

I am assuming that you are not using wing nuts on the battery, but the required hex nuts and lockwashers tightened with a wrench.

 

[voodoo]

Re: New rectifier overcharging?

The dashmount voltmeter reads 12 -13 volts on start up and at idle.
I just went and checked and my digital meter reads 12.65 volts.
As soon as I throttle up, the voltmeter starts to climb, up past the 16 volt limit of the dash meter.
This is accompanied by the stereo shutting down from an overvolt condition.
Lock nuts, tightened with a wrench.
I did not have this problem before the rectifier issues.
The tach and trim guages were not affected by the overvolt.
Could it be the battery?
Should I put a regulator in?
Thanks

 

[F_R]

Re: New rectifier overcharging?

Did you change the stator too? Just wondering if it's possible to put the wrong stator in there? Like maybe one intended for a regulated system?

 

[voodoo]

Re: New rectifier overcharging?

Same stator.

So the rectifier is just that, a rectifier.
I thought it was a combintion regulator/rectifier.
I can always put a regulator on the stereo only, as long as I'm not going to hurt the battery or guages at 16+ volts.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: New rectifier overcharging?

17V is a lot for charging batteries, but it should be ok since the charging amps are still low (6.5A or so). Solar powered charging systems frequently output up to 20V when unregulated.