16H electrical update questions.

Have a word with Al Osborne at AO services.co.uk or look at his website

He knows all things electrical, I just converted my jubilee to 12v (and Boyer ignition) I couldn't get it to spark but with his help and hints I was able to diagnose the problem (faulty coils) and it started first kick after 20 years or so! The lights at 12v are a vast improvement to the old 6 volt system, but I guess it depends how much you ride at night or if you want cars to see you coming!

I know nothing about the DVR-2 as I sell the V reg. But 1.2Ahr on a large British motorcycle is wrong. At lease 5Ahr or you will over charge it on your first 50Mile run.

I also do NOT 'know all things electrical' But I do know a bit about British Motorcycles 1940s-1985ish.

Al Osborn.

Al, it was a figure of speech.

Hi Mike, the DVR-2 is my regulator of choice & have hooked up quite a few of them. Nice English made units, they come in either positive, or negative earth. Once youve chosen that, each of them can be used to put out either 6v, or 12v depending on which wires you use (see directions on his website).

If you use the stock 6 volt armature & field coil, you can get either 6 volts, or 12 volts output depending on the regulator. But as you said, you will need a bit more RPM before it will start in on charging your battery (normally not an issue). The alternative is to rebuild your dynamo with a nice new 12 volt armature & 12 volt field coil (the company that made them for Lucas still makes them today in the UK). The plus side is, you get 12 volt charging at a lower RPM, the minus side (pun intended) is the cost of the armature & field coil. But as Dan said the 12 volt is the way to go.

Either way you decide, if you get stuck, feel free to email me directly, as I rebuild Lucas & Miller dynamos every week (and Magnetos).

Also, as to bulbs, you can get standard bulbs, LED bulbs, and quarts halogen bulbs in both 6&12 volts, positive & negative earth. I use Paul Geoff myself :

http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com

I have been very very happy with the quality of his products & service.

Heres a parts list for a Lucas Dynamo: see attachment

All the best,

Skip Brolund

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Continuing with this topic . dynamoragulatorconversions sells 6v and 12v LED headlamps to fit old lamps. But the beam pattern is allegedly not very sharp. I wonder how much of an issue this might be? In my case I'm not likely to use it much on unlit roads at night. Has anyone tried them and then gone back to conventional bulbs?I'm not keen on the hard white light from my pilot bulb but that's another issue.

I had the same problem with '55 ES2, Mikael. I replaced the battery with a sealed unit which almost exploded. I then discovered I had a duff AVC and I changed to a lead/acid (4.6Ah from memory) and a V-Reg-2A from Al Oz (who has the patience of a Saint) and now all is well. I also changed to LED's (apart from the pilot bulb - not worth it). Incredible difference although dipped gives a very white but good light whilst main beam lights up the universe generally. For the speeds I do round the lanes of Cornwall it's fine. The V-Reg-2A is a compact , easy to install device which would also fit inside the old AVC cover if you wished. I simply fitted mine in the the top LH side of the tool box. George

I had the same problem with '55 ES2, Mikael. I replaced the battery with a sealed unit which almost exploded. I then discovered I had a duff AVC and I changed to a lead/acid (4.6Ah from memory) and a V-Reg-2A from Al Oz (who has the patience of a Saint) and now all is well. I also changed to LED's (apart from the pilot bulb - not worth it). Incredible difference although dipped gives a very white but good light whilst main beam lights up the universe generally. For the speeds I do round the lanes of Cornwall it's fine. The V-Reg-2A is a compact , easy to install device which would also fit inside the old AVC cover if you wished. I simply fitted mine in the the top LH side of the tool box. George

OOps! - either a dodgy memory or dodgy fingers - or both! G

Going back to LED bulbs. The Stop/tail is excellent. Now fitted to the entire fleet. Remember the joys of braking for a corner and your headlight fading as the stop light comes on? Banished!

I reverted to normal headlight bulbs. The LED ones are great as daytime riding lights but at night the beam fails to illuminate the bit of road you are heading for. I do keep an LED bulb in the toolkit just in case I ever lose charging. The 5ah battery will then see me home in the dark - even if I can't really see where I'm going...