Hello I have just fitted a new solid state rectifier and ammeter to my 1961 C15 can anyone tell me what readings I should see under normal use with a fully charged battery and does the rectifier also control the maximum alternator output to prevent the battery being overcharged. Many thanks Tom.
I assume you are using one of those small square rectifiers. If so no it doesn't stop the battery from being overcharged - it just rectifies. You nee to fit a proper regulator rectifier to the bike to prevent that.
WRT the ammeter reading,this will depend on how accurate the ammeter is. On my B40 the needle shows a small positive charge when running - not as much as I expected but I don't have a problem with battery discharge.
To be honest I've never had a problem with running just a rectifier though I may have been lucky!
Many thanks Adrian I can only relate to cars where the rectifier and regulator are combined so was puzzled how it works on the bike. The new ammeter reads totally differently and more conventionally then the original and certainly it reads a slight positive charge and the headlamp brightens up with revs so hopefully it is charging ok.
On a C15 6 volt system with just a recfier (no regulator) the alternator output is regulated by the switch positions, the full output with all 6 alternator coils only being connected to the rectifier and battery when light switch in headlight position. If you follow the wiring diagram in all the switch positions you will see what I mean. Crude system but works OK most of the time.
Many thanks Julian I had read the number of coils was switched but had not been able to work out how it was done. Tom.