Charging System Explanation???
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 370
Likes: 16
From: Kansas
Charging System Explanation???
Could someone explain how the charging system work's on a motorcycle. Is it similar to a car in that the battery starts the car and the charging system runs the electronics or does the battery run the electronics and the charging system just replenish the battery?
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3,763
From: Cape Cod
Same as a car.....stator and rotor produce AC current........Voltage regulator changes it to DC via diode rectifier and regulates so not to spike anything...........charges battery and runs all electrics.
Last edited by MURPHCC1; Apr 15, 2018 at 01:54 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 3,034
From: Brighton, MI
Throw in some circuit breakers for individual circuits and some switches and that pretty much sums it up.
Remember the rotor (has magnets in it) spins around the stator creating AC (alternating current) and it flows to the voltage regulator that has diodes in it that clip the AC sine wave to make it eventually a flatter more DC (direct current) sine wave (sort of but close enough for this) as well as circuitry to reduce (regulate) the DC voltage to about 13.5 to 14.5 volts DC.
That DC current recharges the battery, powers light, accessories and ignition with the circuits being protected by circuit breakers. YD
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
If it's the same as a car, why do you need a good battery, and ground for the engine to keep running, even after it has been started?
I had a Vulcan 750 that died if you put the directional on. You could push start it, but it backfired and eventually died. All it needed was a new battery. There was just a thread about a Harley backfiring and lots of posters recommended checking the battery, and connections.
I was just going to do some reading on this, but if anybody could answer it here, I would appreciate it.
I had a Vulcan 750 that died if you put the directional on. You could push start it, but it backfired and eventually died. All it needed was a new battery. There was just a thread about a Harley backfiring and lots of posters recommended checking the battery, and connections.
I was just going to do some reading on this, but if anybody could answer it here, I would appreciate it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,565
Likes: 3,318
From: Cental, MI
^^ The Ignition system is Grounded thru the Engine Cases.. No Ground= no spark
Tho I personally have Never experienced a "miss" due to a Poor Ground..
I do take pretty good care of my Electrical system tho..
Also... the Regulator needs to be Grounded, as it Dumps excess Voltage directly to Ground.. Some automotive systems... and Many Newer Systems Regulate the output of the Alternator with the Regulator... the Evo [and earlier] run the Alternator at Maximum [based on RPM] and simply Shunt excess juice to Ground!!
Just so ya Know..
Tho I personally have Never experienced a "miss" due to a Poor Ground..
I do take pretty good care of my Electrical system tho..
Also... the Regulator needs to be Grounded, as it Dumps excess Voltage directly to Ground.. Some automotive systems... and Many Newer Systems Regulate the output of the Alternator with the Regulator... the Evo [and earlier] run the Alternator at Maximum [based on RPM] and simply Shunt excess juice to Ground!!
Just so ya Know..
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,840
Likes: 17,868
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
This was a lengthy but good discussion about the charging system and battery.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/showt...1080765&page=1
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/showt...1080765&page=1
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
This was a lengthy but good discussion about the charging system and battery.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/showt...1080765&page=1
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/showt...1080765&page=1
How did that new battery work out?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
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From: Farmington ,MS
Regardless of people calling it a rotor/stator...it is an alternator. Alternators unless they are "self exciting" need battery current to charge ...many cars will die if you remove the battery cable while it is running...unlike the old generator vehicles.
