sparx wiring - double check before I stuff up

I've already posted on this topic, but am about to cut wires and join them, so I want to double check, especially after reviewing threads which show several alternatives, and therefore the possibility of confusion.

I am installing a new sparx three phase alternator and the sparx regulator which comes with the package. I have a 1970 roadster with the original postitive earth wiring harness (well a replacement harness). I have joined the three wires from the alternator to the three yellow wires on the regulator. My intention is to run the black negative wire from the regulator through its own fuse, and then join it to the negative terminal on the battery. I intend to run the red wire from the regulator direct to an earth point on the frame. Is this right? It is the procedure that PalmerNorton recommended in his post on Sun June 28 2009(topic "wiring questions!last step in a long process") (but I am inserting a fuse as recommended by comnoz and grandpaul).

But I see a post from Windy on Thurs Apr 16 2009 (topic -" sparx wiring trouble") stating that the red wire on the new regulator goes to battery positive. Am I correct in assuming that only one wire from the regulator goes to the battery? In his post Windy has also recommended that the black from the regulator goes to the brown blue in the harness which I guess would take it to the battery through the main fuse.

Am I wrong to do it the way I intend? Advice appreciated.

Whatever you do, DON'T cut the red wire, in every movie I have ever seen, everything blows up when they do :mrgreen:

Jean

PS, connect the BLACK to the battery NEGATIVE and the RED to battery POSITIVE, this will work on either positive or negative ground systems.

Chris,,,, just wire it up per the instructions and you'll be fine...... just don't let any smoke out during the procedure...




Tim_S

Jean,

thank you for the advice. Really lke your bikes.

Tim, the unit came from Tricor without any instructions; their website has the great advice: "join the red and black wires into the wiring system"!!!

I also had to take the rotor to have it machined to fit the crankshaft; an issue that some members of this site have also had, but which others have not in recent times. Does anyone know if the diameter of the crankshaft was larger on earlier commandos than later models?

I made the assumption that all are the same, and also the same diameter as Triumphs; so that the same Lucas - and therefore Sparx - rotor will fit all; but given the issues with having Sparx fit some machines I wonder if that is the case. An alternative explanation is that Sparx source their rotors from different factories, which have different specifications, and one of them is incorrrect.

Chris, your wiring intentions are correct. As for the rotor not fitting the crankshaft, it's because Sparx made them undersized. When I inquired I was told, "it's a .004" interference fit, unlike the sloppy Lucas fit", which is total BS. You need to have it reamed.