So I ride and commute on a 2008 VFR800. While these bikes are somewhat notorius for reg/rec/stator issues, mine has not shown any signs of that so far and all electrical connections and plugs look perfect. My plan is to upgrade to a MOSFET style reg before I have issues but that's not really related to my question...
My understanding is that the stator puts out what it puts out and is basically tied to rpm. The reg/rec "absorbs" (shunts?) any excess power that is not being used by the various motorcycle systems. I recently added heated grips and they have changed my life haha. I wired them through a switched relay and they work amazingly well for cold morning commutes. My question then is this...while just cruising along the road at any given operating rpm above say 2500, do any electrically powered accessories actually REDUCE the load on the reg/rec and in theory even prolong it's life? I feel like there is less excess power that needs to be bled off so that makes sense to me. Am I mixed up or is this logical?
Heated grips really are amazing. Probably don't need a relay for them if you eventually want to reduce complexity of the wiring. At least, I've never used a relay for them.
Yes, running electrical accessories will help the regulator rectifier run cooler. This is why you see a lot of guys with track bikes with no lights and such adding resistors or having electrical issues down the line. Any current that is used to power something does not have to get shunted to ground and wasted as heat. Stator charging systems also increase output with RPM much more so than an automotive style alternator, so prolonged high RPM will also generate quite a bit more heat. Most motorcycle charging systems (outside of cruisers and such) are rated at about 5000 rpm.
MOSFET R/Rs are just more efficient shunting devices, by the way. They still operate the same way, still build up heat, and still run the stator at 100% which is also a heat generator. The latest technology is series regulator rectifiers, like the Shindengen SH775 or 847 depending on your power needs. Instead of shunting power to ground, these instead switch the windings of the stator to vary charging based on demand. As such, the stator runs much cooler and will last longer, as well as typically lowering your oil temperatures. The only thing I've found to be careful of is that some of them have regulator breakup at high (9000+) rpm and can over or undercharge the system. I don't remember off the top of my head which ones specifically suffer from this.
Thank you, that's all excellent info! Glad to know my very basic level of understanding is on the right track.
Yes, you're on the right track and thinking.
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He's so honest he talked me out of buying a part and told me how to by pass instead on a race bike.
