Ironhead Gen light help

Stick_Man · #1 1st July 2010

didn't have diode hooked up when i re-wired bike (81)

Gen light would come on when revved 1/4 throttle turn (no tach)

got annoying so went to radio shack and bought "ziode rectifier".

tested it with silver part facing battery. did same thing as before i.e. gen light comes on when revved 1/4 throttle .

therefore reversed it. & shrink tubed it in. no gen light doesn't come on at all. (oil light does however which tells me somethings working) so i figure that's right

that thing is rated 1 v. / 1 amp to reverse.

is that too low?

service book says 2+ volts are needed when testing generator with a multimeter and if none then you need to do some gen work. i figure even my 1 amp would be good enough to illuminate gen light with key in ON position, no?

IronMick · #2 1st July 2010

This is the diode i used from Circuit City/Radio Shack ...

This thread will have more info ...

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/s...d.php?t=816149

Stick_Man · #3 2nd July 2010

that looks like mine. 1 A and all

Incidentally another thing about the led lights i bought from radio shack is that they can't be crossed.

in other words, when I was testing hi/lo light -- i noticed the the red plus wire had to be the wire for power and the black (ground wire had to be ground. you could not reverse them and get them to work.

Do the factory lights work is leads are reversed

As for the Gen light . . .

+ is suppsed to go to gen

- goes to orange wire & to breaker/battery

The same orange wire then is + for the oil light

Does that make sense. i would think the leads should be crossed. The wire going to the gen light should be in the - side of the light. When current stops flowing from gen; it serves as ground and the orange wire from the battery is + and illuminates the light?

The fact the gen light comes on when the thing is revved should be a hint as to what's happening. anyone know?

Oh well at least I don't have an annoying green light in my face anymore.

IronMick · #4 2nd July 2010

The answers to all of your questions are in the thread whose link in in my post above.

Stick_Man · #5 2nd July 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronMick

The answers to all of your questions are in the thread whose link in in my post above.

actually not really.

Why does the manual have gen orange light going to ground gen light; and gen wire to bulb in diagram?

I think i just have to reverse leads for gen light.

IronMick · #6 2nd July 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stick_Man

actually not really.

Why does the manual have gen orange light going to ground gen light; and gen wire to bulb in diagram?

I think i just have to reverse leads for gen light.

I recall this being discussed in the other thread. Specifically which way the diode should be oriented depending on which side of the light it is on. And why both the gen and oil lights are controlled by the diode, even tho this is not necessary.

Stick_Man · #7 2nd July 2010

actually i am confident the diode is on right.

i got it. after work, reversed leads and now gen light illuminates when key in ON. Unfortunately it keeps coming back when idle/ light on unless i rev it.

oh well can't expect too much from 2 dollar radio shack led lights anyway. I am not messing with it any more . . . working in that bucket is a PITA.

Thanks for the replys Mick

IronMick · #8 2nd July 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stick_Man

... i got it. after work, reversed leads and now gen light illuminates when key in ON. Unfortunately it keeps coming back when idle/ light on unless i rev it ...

Sounds right. The gen light will come on typically below 1000 RPM. Some guys report that it will come on up to 1200 or even slightly higher RPM.