Charging System Problem

[dave55]

Hi im hoping someone can help . I have been out on the a10 Gf plunger at the weekend and all was going ok until i noticed that the ammeter was showing full charging. It was working ok (dropping down after a while and settling down in the center of ammeter ) . When stopped and revs dropped to tick over it was ok.  Checked and no working lights, and no brake light either. So when back in the shed i checked the battery , only showing 3.2v and new just before Christmas. I put it on charge (proper old type charger ) . After 1hour it showed fully charged and 6v with meter . Refitted to bike , lights came on and started to die and brake light working but within minutes battery was almost dead again. Followed the procedure for testing of the dynamo and showed 12v when going above tickover but not revving nuts off.
My worry is i am guessing the battery is goosed but if i put a new battery on again is it going to cure the problem or could i also have a faulty voltage regulator ? It is the original lucas one fitted to the bike when new by the looks of it.
I am a bit reluctant to fit both and and end up with one or other going faulty again, i guess buying a second hand Lucas one off ebay or autojumble  would be a gamble either way . I dont want to go for a cheapo alloy box with 4 wires on off ebay .
so i am at the mercy of our knowledgeable people as to what i could test before ordering some parts etc.
Cheers dave

[muskrat]

G'day Dave.
I'm certainly no sparky but I'd say the regulator is playing up. When mine went I put a DVRII solid state regulator fitted inside the old box.
The good sparky's here will suggest ways to bring the Lucas back to life.
Cheers

[CheeserBeezer]

I would start by disconnecting the lights, horn and brake light from the system so you isolate the charging system. Do this by disconnecting the wire which connects the ammeter to the light switch, remove the live feeds from the horn and brake light. Try the bike again and see if all is well (or not) with the charging system. If still problematic then most probably the regulator is goosed. If all is well reconnect the lights (ammeter to light switch) and test again, then add in the horn, test again, then add in the brake light, test again. Note when the system goes wonky to identify which circuit is faulty. My suspicion is brake light shorting out.

[dave55]

Thanks for the replies , will try those tests and see if owt works and report back later in the week.

[dave55]

Yes i know its been a long week  .
Tests have revealed nothing other than a goosed battery , so connected the known good battery off SA A10 and noticed that is wired pos earth while the plunger seems to have been wired neg earth. I am now also wondering if at one point during these testing times i have took its battery off charger and re connected it the wrong way around but i cant confirm this if i have this may have done some damage i guess ?  in my defence it was 10pm and just a littlest of torches !
Brake light was stuck on , cleaned and lubricated and checks ok with meter now.
Now i would like to know if a 1955 plunger A10 should be pos or neg earth then i can order a solid state regulator and polarise dyno accordingly  or does it not matter ?
As for type of regulator it seems i have a choice of Podtronics one from Paul Goff who i have never dealt with or one of those DVR2P which only seem to be available from America .
Thanks in advance hoping someone knows the answers 

[Sakura]

Not sure why you think you can only get DVRs from the US? They're made in the UK and are absolutely the best of all the electronic regulators. We've used loads and only ever had one faulty one.

[dave55]

The only suppliers i can find on Ebay are in america and i seem to remember reading they had been bought out . Also i had been told available thru SRM but expensive , i am not saying my informers gave me correct info on that bit. 

[Billybream]

Ready available in the UK

[muskrat]

G'day Dave.
The DVRII's are the ducks guts and made by an esteemed Forum member Dynamo Regulators Mike in UK. http://www.dynamoregulators.com/
Then I go to Mike's page and read this. Still use this page to contact/order.

Welcome to Dynamo Regulators' News page
March 28, 2023: I now take pleasure in announcing the Sale and transfer complete of DRL to a new owner/Director. Mr Steven Baker aims to maintain continuity in particular with ongoing sales of the popular DVR2 regulator.
Thank you to all our customers who have helped to make this business what it is.
Mike Hutchings, (former Director)

Cheers

[Sakura]

eBay is not the only way to buy anything! Just Google DVR!

[dave55]

Billy Bream , i am thinking the one on your screen shot is somewhere abroad ? as the postage is £53 

[Kickaha]

Billy Bream , i am thinking the one on your screen shot is somewhere abroad ? as the postage is £53 

Price is for the DVR including postage

[Billybream]

Price is £50.00, plus £3.00 for postage within the UK, bargain,  fit and forget. Fitted one on my Super Rocket about 10 years ago, great peice of kit

[muskrat]

G'day Dave.
I've never seen a Podtronics reg or seen any feedback. I know the DVRII is a great unit as both my A's have had them for many years and convert the 6v dynamo to 12v for the Boyer ignition. It can be left as 6v and down the track if you want to go 12v it's an easy swap. It fits inside the old Lucas reg box (once the Lucas guts are removed).
Cheers
ps: I did have one fail many years ago. Not sure if it was my fault but Mike replaced it pronto.

[dave55]

Thanks for the info Kickaha and Billy could you tell me which company the screenshot belongs to then i will look them up and order one?
 Many Thanks all