Positive or negative?

Rather a late reply, but, no one else seems to have answered. If you are keeping the bike, and know what you have done, there is no problem. Apart from +/- connections, the wiring will be the same. Only the connections to the ammeter (if fitted) will need to be reversed, or it will show discharge, instead of charge, and vice/versa. If you sell the bike, just tell the new owner what has been done.

Useful site for info. regarding checking charging system. www.snowvalley.20m.com/bikes/charge.htm

Sorry! wrong thread.

If you keep it negative earth you can also use the new LED lamps to save a few amps in the battery. They will not work with a positive earth (file under lessons learned the hard way).

Previously David Cooper wrote:

Thanks very much John. I was thinking the post was a waste of time since it was only a matter of aesthetics - red negative and black positive will annoy me forever I expect. BUT I'd forgetten the ammeter! I have a very pretty but rather inconvenient tank top instrument panel and I really don't want to get underneath it again for no good reason! And I bet the wires won't reach the opposite terminals! So I'll try and swap the regulator for the other polarity.

Previously David Cooper wrote:

Just bought a voltage regulator at Kemton and I picked up positive earth version. Prewar Norton was negative (like modern bikes) but if I repolarise the dynamo all the wiring colours will be wrong (red negative...) Are there any other drawbacks? Shame to have incorrect polarity but I'm not likely to be fitting a hi-fi audio system. .. David Cooper

David

If it was one of my regulators (V Reg 2a) and it was unused then I might be able to swap it. Otherwise a repolarising of the dynamo (reverse ammeter) and it will all work! If the ammeter has wires so short they cannot be reversed then the bike is very badly wired. On the other hand if you end up with reversed wires colours at the battery one day some one will misconnect it-as sure as eggs is eggs- So NOT recomended. You could just replace the direct battery wires to the right colours. Of course if you have more than one cable to each battery terminal then again the bike is badly wired-very many are.

Please get in touch if you need more help.

Al Osborn.

Previously David Cooper wrote:

Thanks Al. I bought it at Kempton from PG. I'll change it. I frankly can't be bothered to remove my tank top panel yet again. Small wonder the WD Nortons didn't follow pre-war fashion! It wouldn't be much fun playing with the congested wiring in a war zone. The wires are nearly all original now 75 years old so I'm not intending to disturb them too much... David

As you no doubt see it is one of mine. Even though you bought it from PG you can still get in touch as I am the technical backup to this product. PS I rewired a war time Harley a few years ago-I wondered why the original type wiring (not quite a loom) supplied from New Zealand, was three wires at a time in RED, GREEN and BLACK. Then you realize in War time you don't sod about with lots of fancy wiring colours, you use MAINS CABLE! (would have made Mr Grimmet happy) AO