Post by volatilepulse on Oct 29, 2015 2:19:45 GMT -5
So, I've been doing a bunch of research to see what needs to be done. I have learned a lot about the different components in the charging and ignition system and I just want to make sure I'm on point with it all.
First, the stator and flywheel are only used to generate power. It's always AC current. Different number of poles allow for a large power output and have different phases, 1, 2, or 3, depending on the set up. The different phases are for what part of the AC power curve it generates. Single phase is one curve. Dual or two phase is two curves, 180 degrees from each other. When one is positive, the other is negative and when one is zero, both are zero. Three phase is the curves 120 degrees from each other, at least one wire is always positive. None of that matters much except for the rec/reg. The flywheel spins and uses the magnets inside of it to charge the coils and generate the power. The other purpose is to trigger the pickup coil with the magnet on the outer edge of the flywheel. This is effectively the timing for the spark plug.
The CDI is no different between models (minus some limiters and some other internal wirings). A DC and AC CDI basically work under the same concept. They both require a ground, a signal from the pickup coil, and an output source. The sole differences I've seen is that a DC CDI gets it's power supply directly from the battery and must be started using a 12v power source (your battery can't be dead). An AC CDI requires power directly from the stator and requires the use of a kill switch. The kill switch basically shorts out the CDI allowing the engine to be shut off. The AC CDI allows the scooter to be kick started and doesn't require a battery to be present at all.
The regulator and rectifier is used to convert (rectify) the AC current to DC current and feed it back to the battery. The voltage regulator ensures there are no abnormal spikes in voltage. It is also how you charge your battery. Depending on the number of phases your stator has, the more power the rectifier can put out. My thought process on this is that the rectifier basically takes the top part of the AC power curve(the positive voltage) and converts that to DC power. A single phase rectifier will allow only half of the power to be converted (maybe minus some low points on the positive side as well). A two phase rectifier will allow both of the top halves to be converted, effectively losing minimal power. And a three phase rectifier, which I believe is similar to alternators in cars, is putting out DC power the entire time the scooter is running. This allows for the largest power supply.
The ignition coil and spark plug operate regardless of AC or DC power supplies as I believe they're only fed by the CDI, maybe a 12VDC source too, but I haven't looked far enough into that. Either way, it shouldn't need upgraded unless a performance upgrade is required.
The electric choke is similar to the above and shouldn't need altered based on modifying the charging system. Anything other components I missed?
After doing this research, my goal has focused more around converting my electrical system to solely using DC power. If I were to solely use LED lights, would a six pole, single phase stator provide enough DC current to power all lights AND recharge the battery? Or would I need to upgrade to at least a two phase stator to achieve this? My headlight is roughly 22W and is very bright. I don't have the tools to bench test the power output of the rectifier, but I would assume it's at least 5A, hopefully, 10A+. I also believe that my scooter has a solid state flasher as one of the lights went out and didn't suffer from an increase in flashing speed. That would save me from having to add resistors.
I like the thought of keeping my AC CDI as I haven't seen enough evidence that a DC is more beneficial. That leaves the stator and rectifier. I don't see the point in upgrading either without the other. I also believe the simple rewiring of the electrical system starts near the stator. I believe there is a wire that breaks off to the front and the rear that supplies power to the lights. This wire can be severed, fed to a relay along with a 12V power and ground and a wire reconnected to supply power with a DC current source. Is this correct?
First, the stator and flywheel are only used to generate power. It's always AC current. Different number of poles allow for a large power output and have different phases, 1, 2, or 3, depending on the set up. The different phases are for what part of the AC power curve it generates. Single phase is one curve. Dual or two phase is two curves, 180 degrees from each other. When one is positive, the other is negative and when one is zero, both are zero. Three phase is the curves 120 degrees from each other, at least one wire is always positive. None of that matters much except for the rec/reg. The flywheel spins and uses the magnets inside of it to charge the coils and generate the power. The other purpose is to trigger the pickup coil with the magnet on the outer edge of the flywheel. This is effectively the timing for the spark plug.
The CDI is no different between models (minus some limiters and some other internal wirings). A DC and AC CDI basically work under the same concept. They both require a ground, a signal from the pickup coil, and an output source. The sole differences I've seen is that a DC CDI gets it's power supply directly from the battery and must be started using a 12v power source (your battery can't be dead). An AC CDI requires power directly from the stator and requires the use of a kill switch. The kill switch basically shorts out the CDI allowing the engine to be shut off. The AC CDI allows the scooter to be kick started and doesn't require a battery to be present at all.
The regulator and rectifier is used to convert (rectify) the AC current to DC current and feed it back to the battery. The voltage regulator ensures there are no abnormal spikes in voltage. It is also how you charge your battery. Depending on the number of phases your stator has, the more power the rectifier can put out. My thought process on this is that the rectifier basically takes the top part of the AC power curve(the positive voltage) and converts that to DC power. A single phase rectifier will allow only half of the power to be converted (maybe minus some low points on the positive side as well). A two phase rectifier will allow both of the top halves to be converted, effectively losing minimal power. And a three phase rectifier, which I believe is similar to alternators in cars, is putting out DC power the entire time the scooter is running. This allows for the largest power supply.
The ignition coil and spark plug operate regardless of AC or DC power supplies as I believe they're only fed by the CDI, maybe a 12VDC source too, but I haven't looked far enough into that. Either way, it shouldn't need upgraded unless a performance upgrade is required.
The electric choke is similar to the above and shouldn't need altered based on modifying the charging system. Anything other components I missed?
After doing this research, my goal has focused more around converting my electrical system to solely using DC power. If I were to solely use LED lights, would a six pole, single phase stator provide enough DC current to power all lights AND recharge the battery? Or would I need to upgrade to at least a two phase stator to achieve this? My headlight is roughly 22W and is very bright. I don't have the tools to bench test the power output of the rectifier, but I would assume it's at least 5A, hopefully, 10A+. I also believe that my scooter has a solid state flasher as one of the lights went out and didn't suffer from an increase in flashing speed. That would save me from having to add resistors.
I like the thought of keeping my AC CDI as I haven't seen enough evidence that a DC is more beneficial. That leaves the stator and rectifier. I don't see the point in upgrading either without the other. I also believe the simple rewiring of the electrical system starts near the stator. I believe there is a wire that breaks off to the front and the rear that supplies power to the lights. This wire can be severed, fed to a relay along with a 12V power and ground and a wire reconnected to supply power with a DC current source. Is this correct?