SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Regulator Confusion

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AshimotoK0:
I think that circuit needs to disipate the current because you need current through the relay coil to keep it closed during the high voltage condition. I agree it's rather a crude regulator design and in 1968 Honda were aready using solid state devices (e.g thyristors and zener diodes) in a circuit to regulate by current dumping, on their single phase alternators. In reality though I have owned 4  400/4's one of which I did over 20k miles on and never had a problem with the electromechanical regulators on any of them.  It would be interesting to see what other members experiences are ..particuarly my friend who is a member and his sandcast has done well over 100k miles.  Yes the resistors will get hot but they are ceramic tube wirewound  types, externally mounted, and I have never heard of one burning out. It's kind of neat to create a voltage regulator with basically two resistors and a relay plus the non-slip ring alternator design is a brilliant  IMHO for a bike designed over 50 yeras ago..

I think the combined regulator/regulators avialable for our SOHC fours use a solid state circuit to perform the same function as the mechanical regulator.

I suppose the mechanical regulator is a bit like the ignition points .. on paper  a rather crude design but points too are generally very reliable if you use decent quality ones like the original ones Honda fitted. I can't imagine the ignition system DS sells, which has the electronics mounted on a PCB in the points and not potted, lasting for 50 years plus.

Bryanj:
Back in the 70's I had my first 500 and occasionally the regulator would "stick" in low charge mode, you could tell at night as the lights would dim. usually going over a bump, none of those on our roads of course, started it working again and I never changed it.

You can fit the DOHC reg/rec to the SOHC I have a wiring diagram somewhere and Steve had a 500 with Yamaha wheels and a home built regulator for which somewhere I have a circuit diagram

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