How to test a regulator-rectifier is working properly

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In this video I show you how to do simple tests to see if your regulator rectifier is working as it should in your motorcycle charging system.
Using just a multimeter I will:
- Check that the battery is being charged when the motorcycle is running (This is also an indicator as to whether your stator/alternator is working or not)
- Check that charge current from alternator is being regulated when motorcycle is running
- Check that the regulator rectifier is not draining current from your battery when the engine and ignition are turned off
Problems with the battery charging system or your regulator rectifier can cause your battery to go flat, overheat or be destroyed.

[@Jodyrides]

You should point out, you mentioned that it will charge somewhere between 14 and 16 V. If your motorcycle charges over 15 V, you have a problem
you should mention the importance of a good ground connection between the battery and the frame. I have seen bad grounding connections at the frame. this caused the motorcycle to use all of the grounds throughout the wiring harness to be used as ground especially when using the starter, and if you have a motorcycle that does not like to start instantly, and you don’t have a good ground at the battery strap to the frame, when it uses the wire harness as ground, it melts the wire harness .. I have replaced a few wire harnesses on motorcycles that had bad grounds from the battery negative to the frame.
you should point out, if you disconnect the battery while the motorcycle is running, you will probably damage the Alternator.
you should also point out that the owner of any motorcycle should never use the kill switch to shut the motorcycle off when they’re done riding. Here is what happens all too often.
The writer will pull into a parking lot, hit the kill switch to the off position, and get off the motorcycle, and many times they will forget to turn the key off. I’ll go in the house for the evening, they go into a restaurant for dinner, they go into their girlfriends house for a visit, when they come out, the battery is dead. The kill switch is for emergency use only. Never get into the habit of using the kill switch to shut your motorcycle off.. when you use the Killswitch and the key is still on, the whole electrical system is energized, using battery power, except for the ignition system.
in the 1970s, the motorcycle industry got together and decided to standardize were the shift lever, the brake lever, the clutch lever, and the throttle will be on motorcycles. At the same time, they all decided to agree on installing the kill switch on the right side handle bar near the throttle, so that all emergency personnel, mechanics, riders, will know, how to shut the engine off on a motorcycle that may be laying on its side with the throttle wide open running, in case of an accident, and they will be able to go to the right handle bar to hit that Killswitch. Ignition switches are mounted in many different places, but kill switches are always right next to the throttle with a red toggle switch. It is for emergency use only

[@andrewhirst8403]

An interesting (if bit belaboured), video.

[@keshav3592]

Good videos ,Helpful

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Glad to hear that

[@hassaanawan9606]

Great video thankyou :)

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TheDontrunup]

very good video yhank you

[@jaysonramdany9990]

Nice

[@zeno8156]

For the 2017 ninha 650 ex, is the regulator in the same position as it is here?

[@mizoguy5672]

sir it can use dominar400 regulator in ninja300 or not some say its perfectly fir

[@stanza77]

Hi sir on my Suzuki I’m at 13.1 to 13.3 between idle and 5000rpm at the battery. The service manual says 13 to 14.5 means the rectifier/regulator is fine. Do you think that’s really adequate though? Seems if I run any accessories or better lights or anything it won’t be enough. What do you think, is 13.1V decent? ( btw Stator puts out a healthy 85V of AC at 5000rpm)

[@arnelg3963]

Hi! What if the reading of the multimeter is still the same even revving the motor? Thank you.

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

If the voltage stays the same when revving the engine but the voltage is greater than battery voltage when bike is turned off then your regulator rectifier is possibly working fine

[@Daot888]

Hi mate how hot your regulator rectifier I mean I change mine just notice is hot I don’t know if this is normal or just overheating

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Yes regulator rectifiers get hot as they end converting electrical energy to heat energy as they do their job. They're an imperfect design. They're usually placed somewhere that there is air flow to cool than down. If and when they eventually overheat they tend to self destruct and need replacing.

[@mercesletifer6625]

So ur saying that if you have a bad rectifier then the voltage reading in the multimeter wont increase from 12 volt when you rev.??? What is this process called(increase in voltage when rev) is it charging or discharging??

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

If you have bad regulator recifier then voltage may keep increasing at the battery terminals as you increase engine revs. Regulator rectifier should keep voltage in a range of between 13.4 and 13.6 volts on my Kawasaki for example. If regulator fails then I might expect to see voltage shooting up to 14 volts and all the way up to 15, then 16, then 17 volts as engine is revved

[@r5yamaha]

Do you have a TH-cam explaining how a motorcycle electrical system works and is wired that does not require a battery?

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

I'm afraid not but it shouldn't require that much adjustment if battery is taken out of the equation. Once the motorcycle is running the alternator powers the whole motorcycle. All you need to do is ensure you have something to replace the battery terminals. The only real job of the battery is to power the starter motor when the motorcycle is being turned on initially. The starter motor can be replaced with kick start.

[@r5yamaha]

@@TheMotorcycleMuse this is a 1972 R5 Yamaha kick start only.

[@dovybar]

Hello. Negative lead on positive side I get following reading : .553,.553,.544
Positive lead on negative side : .557,.521,.551.
Are the small differences indicating faulty rectifier?
Thanks!

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

Sounds somewhat reasonable to be honest. Those differences could be due to how you're holding the lead from multimeter against the pin of reg rec. There is usually tolerances started in the service manual for your model of motorbike which you should look up and compare to your measurements to know for certain.

[@dovybar]

@@TheMotorcycleMuse thanks!!

[@kevindevon9965]

When idel battery is at 11.6v When i rev to about 4000rpm it only increase by 0.2 and when i disconnected the battery to test just the voltage on the rectifier it gave 4 volt dc.
So im geasing its my rectifier, right?
And output of my stator at idle is about 11.8 and at rev 30+ volt ac.

[@TheMotorcycleMuse]

That does sound like reg-rectifier is not working. If it is a 12v battery then you should generally see greater than 12.4 volts at least, usually over 13 volts across battery when engine is running. You should never see less than 9 volts reading on a 12v battery. 4volts means it's dead and probably not possible to save it

[@kevindevon9965]

@@TheMotorcycleMuse okay thank you very much.

[@rabsneddon]

Amateur