Sparx regulator fail

Alternator required high RPM to keep voltage up. The last time it happened one wire had fatigued off the stator so I lost 1 phase. To save time I just ordered a new Lucas 3 phase but to my surprise when I went to replace it I found the repair I had done previously was still in good shape and the stator metered just fine. Checked the regulator and found what amounted to a dead short between one of the AC legs and the negative lead. Installed a new Podtronics which looks decidedly like the Sparx unit, installed the new Lucas stator and now have the best charging I've ever had. If I recall correctly my voltage monitor would stay in the green (>13.2 volts), with the headlight on at about 2000RPM +/-. Now it's in the green at about 1500RPM so I can idle along in traffic lights-on.

So I ended up with a functional spare stator.

Anyone else experience a Sparx regulator failure? How about the similar looking Podtronics?

Anyone else experience a Sparx regulator failure?
Yes, several



How about the similar looking Podtronics?
No

My regulator failed after 2 seasons, replaced with a boyer 3 phase box, but the Sparx stator and rotor are still going strong!

acadian said:

My regulator failed after 2 seasons, replaced with a boyer 3 phase box, but the Sparx stator and rotor are still going strong!

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Obviously one failed diode. I suspect that the similarity is because they're both using a generic heat sink but based upon Connoz's remarks and your experience it sounds like the components in the Podtronics and the Boyer are better quality.

So now I have Sparx rotor, Lucas stator, and Podtronics regulator. They seem to be happy together

I suspect the regulator is shunting the AC instead of dumping DC like a Zener. I'm surprised no one seems to have a switching regulator, or maybe they do.

good luck as I have also had the rotors fail. the last one had one of the magnets rising out and rubbing the stator. there is almost nothing that they make I would spend my money on including there EI.

JimNH said:

So now I have Sparx rotor, Lucas stator, and Podtronics regulator. They seem to be happy together

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I second the sentiment on anything made by Spark. I had a Spark stator and rotor hooked to a Podtronics unit toast the wires off right at the entry point into the potting while riding from New Hampshire to North Carolina. I've gotten much better service out of a genuine Lucas single phase rotor and stator and Motobat AGM battery.

I've had zero failures with Sparx alternators and regulator rectifiers, both single and three phase.

I've lost count, but it's well over 20 alternators, and a slightly higher number of regulator/rectifiers.

In 40+ ignitions, only 1 failed black box and 2 failed rotors.

JimNH said:

Anyone else experience a Sparx regulator failure?

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Not their regulator, but their high-output, single-phase stator:

Now, in their defense, the stator was still producing, but I didn't trust it for long-term service. I went back to the stock, 40+ year old Lucas unit.

JimNH said:

How about the similar looking Podtronics?

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Yes. This one that was purchased as a Podtronics unit, whether or not it truly is:


I seems crazy, but I am now back to running completely stock in the charging system arena, and that's with the original equipment. Granted, the draw has been dropped quite a bit by going to an LED headlight.

Nathan

sure is funny when CNW will not sell any of this JUNK. there was a post stating where he quit selling there high output alt kits because of a high rate failures.

grandpaul said:

I've had zero failures with Sparx alternators and regulator rectifiers, both single and three phase.

I've lost count, but it's well over 20 alternators, and a slightly higher number of regulator/rectifiers.

In 40+ ignitions, only 1 failed black box and 2 failed rotors.

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bill said:

sure is funny when CNW will not sell any of this JUNK. there was a post stating where he quit selling there high output alt kits because of a high rate failures.

grandpaul said:

I've had zero failures with Sparx alternators and regulator rectifiers, both single and three phase.

I've lost count, but it's well over 20 alternators, and a slightly higher number of regulator/rectifiers.

In 40+ ignitions, only 1 failed black box and 2 failed rotors.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I'm only reporting my personal First-Hand experience.