09-14-2018, 08:31 AM
(09-14-2018, 07:36 AM)SportsterDoc_imp Wrote: Great responses from Popgun and Max, with helpful info from pekingduck.
Max, does the CB regulator draw full current at all times and waste unused or only draw what is required?
The latter is a benefit of Cycle Electric regulators over stock H-D regulators. I do not know as much about Honda as Harley.
Doc, the regulator is small and efficient ( not much heat to dissipate ) it somehow ( thanks popgun ) switches the output devices average current very fast to maintain regulated output.
It works by switching the output devices hard on and off in the same way the old school regulator did but at a much faster rate, so the device does not dissipate a lot of power, it only dissipates the amps times the volt drop across the device, let say 20 amp across 0.02 volts = 0.4 watts multiplied by 3 or six devices is 1.2 watts plus control circuitry and diodes if any.
The trick is how long to switch it on for in relation to the off period, the "width" of the "on" pulse,
This "time on" is the variable that determines how much energy is released in the electrical system to maintain 14 volts, which is done by the electronic regulator drivers inside the device.
This ratio is called the "duty cycle" and is anywhere between 0% and 100% depending of the load at the time
Nothing or very little is wasted and no ballast ( old way of dumping unwanted energy ) is used, it is simply not generated.
The output of an alternator such as ours generates as much as 50 volts ac unloaded, we just nibble enough of it ( regulate ) off to supply the electrics of the bike.
Just used practical values to explain, the actual values will be different but in the ballpark.