Solid state rectifier question

I just purchased a solid state rectifier online for my "72 Commando, and the wiring diagram that came with it has me confused. It shows the negative terminal from the new rectifier connecting to ground, but the bike has a positive ground. I don't want to fry the new rectifier, but should the positive terminal on the rectifier connect to the HOT (-) side of the battery? I did email the seller but have yet to hear from him. I would appreciate any assistance. Ken D

Kenorton said:

I just purchased a solid state rectifier online for my "72 Commando, and the wiring diagram that came with it has me confused. It shows the negative terminal from the new rectifier connecting to ground, but the bike has a positive ground.

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Negative ground is more usual these days on vehicles, so is probably why your instructions (you don't say which "solid state rectifier" it is? Is it actually a regulator/rectifier?) tell you to connect the negative wire (Edit: or terminal) to ground?
But as you said your Commando is still positive ground, then the rectifier positive (Red wire) should go to ground, and negative (Black?) to the battery wire.

I always think; positive to positive, negative to negative. Electrical devices don't care which side of the source is grounded, only what polarity it is.

Those rectifiers are avail at Radio Shack for about $5.

FYI: the positive terminal on the solid state rectifier worked when connected to ground. Ken D

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aceaceca said:

Those rectifiers are avail at Radio Shack for about $5.

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Does the type of rectifier that Radio Shack sells work just fine with positive ground Commandos? I see some of the Commando suppliers are selling their models of solid state rectifiers for around $50.

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Yellow_Cad said:

Does the type of rectifier that Radio Shack sells work just fine with positive ground Commandos?

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The small, square, resin encapsulated rectifiers should work with either polarity, provided they are connected correctly? As the metal case is normally isolated from the circuitry, just make sure it's a full- wave type (for pre-850 MkIII charging systems) of about 30A capacity.

Yellow_Cad said:

I see some of the Commando suppliers are selling their models of solid state rectifiers for around $50.

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They are not just rectifiers, but regulator-rectifier units, so they would normally replace the standard rectifier and the Zener diode.