Regulator output

[mick1]

I'm a bit puzzled ? are you saying you'd charge a 12v battery with 7 volts ?

[hendy]

I'm a bit puzzled ? are you saying you'd charge a 12v battery with 7 volts ?

No, but many (or maybe all?) Those 12v a.c. regulators with trickle dc output are only good for about 6 or 7 volts dc. This means they are good enough for those 5v usb supplies that people use for charging phones etc. Sat navs are almost certainly 5v too despite having 12v input; as long as the supply is greater than 5v it will be ok.

But no, you can't charge a 12v battery with 7v.

Get a meter with true rms capability and measure the dc voltage. Do this while connected to the battery. It's the only was to know for sure.

[firekdp]

If it's a 12v AC reg with a DC take off connection it will charge a 12v battery.

[Donnie]

if it's a 6v regulator I would expect 7v+ and a 12v would be 14+

umm not on the trickle it wont

What should it be ?

dunno about should but think on a 12v when I last measured it was between 1 and 3 ish?

[Donnie]

If it's a 12v AC reg with a DC take off connection it will charge a 12v battery.

ummm well yeah, but how long will it take to charge up fully? THAT is the issue.

[Muppet]

trickle or full dc when less than 6v goes in it aint chargin if more than 6v goes in its chargin or is that wrong ?

[mick1]

If it's a 12v AC reg with a DC take off connection it will charge a 12v battery.

ummm well yeah, but how long will it take to charge up fully? THAT is the issue.

Depends on the size (a/h) of your battery.

If you're not running any electrics and merely riding along (at sufficient rev's) you're looking at quite a few hours. Different regulators/rectifiers/stators will give different power outputs so different charge times.

A simple (dashboard type) can be fitted fitted to show if the battery is charging or being drained.

[firekdp]

If it's a 12v AC reg with a DC take off connection it will charge a 12v battery.

ummm well yeah, but how long will it take to charge up fully? THAT is the issue.

All things being equal, about twice as long as a full wave system. However they aren't designed to charge a flat battery, but maintain a fully charged battery, as such, the DC circuits are only low or momentary high loads. Vespa single output stators input about +1A @ 2000rpm and +2A @ 5000rpm into a fully charged battery. However high loads on the AC circuits are going reduce the spare capacity for this.
Varitronic and the Asian type regs are designed to be used with a stator that has additional windings to maintain a slightly higher charge voltage when the the AC circuits are loaded.

[hendy]

trickle or full dc when less than 6v goes in it aint chargin if more than 6v goes in its chargin or is that wrong ?

Correct.