Stator AC or DC current

[durban]

The Rectifier\regulator gets AC supply from the Stator it then converts the AC to DC current which is then used to charge the battery , or the other way around DC to AC , correct me if iam wrong , if the rectifier\regulator converts the AC current to DC ,then can one not check this way to see if the stator is producing the correct amount of AC current at certain rpm,s witch is then passed onto the power pack , buy putting a volt meter on the positive & negative of the rectifier\regulator to check the correct amount of AC current produced by the stator , once you get the volt reading from the rectifier & then do a calculation to convert DC current to give you the AC current , just wondering

 

[jakedaawg]

Re: Stator AC or DC current

Dont think so. Peak reading voltmeter only way I know of. Two coils under flywheel in many cases, charge coil and lighting coil. One supplies AC current to rectifier/regulater the other to power pack basically. I could be really wrong though.

 

[durban]

Re: Stator AC or DC current

you are right , it has a primary winding & a secondary winding , we can get the amp reading , from the rectifier , i never went to that school so i wouldn't know how to convert it mathematically from amps to ac

 

[daselbee]

Re: Stator AC or DC current

The voltage from the stator that is used for charging the battery is about 20vac at idle and upwards of 35vac at WOT.

This voltage can be directly read by any voltmeter set on the AC selection. You do not need a peak reading meter for this voltage.
The truth of the matter is that you only need a peak reading meter (DVA) when you are trying to read AC voltage pulses like the output of the pack, or the output of the timer base.
You can read the battery charging coils, the power coil, and the charge coil directly. It may not have the same spec voltage tho. The DVA is rectifying that voltage and you are reading peak DCV on the DC setting remember.

Now...can you calculate the AC current in the stator by measuring the DC current at the output of the rectifier?
Good question.....but you do not know which type of rectifier is being used in the reg/rect circuit.
Is it a bridge diode configuration, a full wave diode, or a half wave diode....I do not know.

Without knowing, you cannot calculate input vs output current. I would think that it is a very safe bet that the output current is just about equal to the AC current in the stator windings. After all, that is the source of the generated current, and I doubt that the reg/rect reduces that very much, because of the sheer heat that would be generated by the reg/rect just to do the reducing of current or voltage.
I do know it gets hot...but I don't think they would have designed a circuit to deliberately dump a bunch of useable current. There are SOME losses due to the regulator operation, enough to generate heat.

 

[durban]

Re: Stator AC or DC current

all i know is that a regulator has got a Zener Diode in it that keeps the dc current constant , & i assume a rectifier has got a diode in to because it receives ac current , i will take one apart & have a look

 

[schematic]

Re: Stator AC or DC current

putting a volt meter on the positive & negative of the rectifier\regulator to check the correct amount of AC current produced by the stator , once you get the volt reading from the rectifier & then do a calculation to convert DC current to give you the AC current , just wondering

Putting a voltmeter on the regulator will only give a voltage reading. You cannot calculate the current if you don't know the load. An amp clamp meter used for a/c or DC will help you attain the current reading. An ammeter put in series will also work.

All marine charging systems that I have seen are full wave rectification. This requires 4 diodes with a 2 wires stator, or six diodes with a 3 wire stator. I have seen half wave rectification used on small engines like lawn mowers and garden tractors. These require only one diode.....

 

[durban]

Re: Stator AC or DC current

so the conclusion i come to is that if a power pack or rectifier\regulator fails its a good possibility that one one of the diodes inside has blown , but we have to replace then the whole unit at a few hundred dollars , wheres as i can buy diodes down the road from me at 1.50 dlrs , the units are sealed up so we cannot get to the diodes & this is how they make money , buy selling a new one . i have a way of opening them to get inside & replace the diodes at a few dlrs

 

[schematic]

Re: Stator AC or DC current

I have repaired a few packs in my time. I find that with labour costs and the price of jobber parts, its just not worth it to repair. Most failures were connections on the circuit board.