Old Britts Rectifier

[gnolan]

Just received a new rectifier from Old Britts - This is the small transistor version, not Podtronics
The backside of the rectifier is metal, looks like it should be moiunted against a solid surface for a heat sink. Anyone have any experience with this part?

 

[alan hodge]

just curious why get this instead of Pod or Tymp?

 

[lazyeye6]

Old Britts is a great vendor. I'd ask them about mounting this item. They are quite honorable.

 

[L.A.B.]

This is the small transistor version,

= Diodes.

The backside of the rectifier is metal, looks like it should be moiunted against a solid surface for a heat sink. Anyone have any experience with this part?

It's the standard type of inexpensive "British Motorcycle" replacement rectifier (unlike the Podtronics which is also a regulator) Edit: so the Zener diode must still be used.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-...034503?hash=item2ce9eab687:g:nY4AAOSwintXRh4J

I suggest you mount it on a heatsink and in a place where there is some movement of air.

 

[gnolan]

right. They all have diodes...
I have no problem with the zener, so didn't go to the expense of the Podtronics. My original rectifier has worked well for 45 years, until corrosion or vibration got one of the leads on the back of a diode.

I'll mount this one in a place where I can get a good heatsink on it.

Thanks for your help

 

[Klaus Monning]

Just received a new rectifier from Old Britts - This is the small transistor version, not Podtronics
The backside of the rectifier is metal, looks like it should be moiunted against a solid surface for a heat sink. Anyone have any experience with this part?

Hello,
A "must" is to check the voltage after mounting this device. The cheap one that I mounted a year ago cost me a Lithium/Iron battery an a lot of nerves because it produced more than 16Volts (depending on engine- speed).
The Podronics that I use now produces exactly 14.5Volts, so could even be used with the Lithium / Iron batteries.
Good Luck
Klaus

 

[HRD]

Hello,
A "must" is to check the voltage after mounting this device. The cheap one that I mounted a year ago cost me a Lithium/Iron battery an a lot of nerves because it produced more than 16Volts (depending on engine- speed).
The Podronics that I use now produces exactly 14.5Volts, so could even be used with the Lithium / Iron batteries.
Good Luck
Klaus

The rectifier only converts ac volts to dc volts .The component that regulates the d.c. voltage is the power zener diode ,so it would appear that your zener diode was either disconnected or faulty if you were reading 16 volts d.c.
Paul

 

[Nortoniggy]

Hello,
A "must" is to check the voltage after mounting this device. The cheap one that I mounted a year ago cost me a Lithium/Iron battery an a lot of nerves because it produced more than 16Volts (depending on engine- speed).
The Podronics that I use now produces exactly 14.5Volts, so could even be used with the Lithium / Iron batteries.
Good Luck
Klaus

Klaus, you should not blame the rectifier for excessive voltage. It only converts the AC voltage from the alternator into DC. It performs no regulation, that needs to be done seperately, usually by the Zener diode. Did you remove the Zener?

Ian

 

[Klaus Monning]

Hello,
Yes lan an Paul you are right. The Zener diode was removed thinking I bought a combined rectifier/regulator unit. In any case after fitting the rectifier/ Zener diode I would still check the voltage, just for the sake of piece in my mind.
Best Regards
Klaus

 

[HRD]

just curious why get this instead of Pod or Tymp?

Perhaps you should read the excellent test by Jeandr https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/voltage-regulators.19023/
I would never use a pod after reading this .

 

[maylar]

Just received a new rectifier from Old Britts - This is the small transistor version, not Podtronics
The backside of the rectifier is metal, looks like it should be moiunted against a solid surface for a heat sink. Anyone have any experience with this part?

The area where the rectifier mounts is a flat plate, and is fine for a heat sink. The back side of the device is flat metal, that's where the heat transfers from. It's a good idea to use some heatsink compound on it. I used one of those for many years.

 

[Onder]

I have one on my 850 used with the zener and it does seem to let the voltage run a bit high 15.1 at times.
Have one of Gofffy's regulator/rectifier on my Rickman and Trident both seem able to run 14.8 reliably.

 

[baz]

I have one on my 850 used with the zener and it does seem to let the voltage run a bit high 15.1 at times.
Have one of Gofffy's regulator/rectifier on my Rickman and Trident both seem able to run 14.8 reliably.

The zener diode is faulty then , what are you using to measure the voltage?

 

[Onder]

Voltmeter.
Agree that I should test the zeners. They are aged for sure.

 

[grandpaul]

I have a couple of those Radio Shack rectifiers, they work just fine as long as they are solidly bolted to a proper heat sink. Great value.

If you have 2 Zener diodes, they need to test reasonably close to spec AND to each other. Otherwise, one will take more and more of the load 'till it fails.

 

[Danno]

Old Britts is a great vendor. I'd ask them about mounting this item. They are quite honorable.

I'll second that, but I have a Pod on the SS clone.

I screwed up and got the regular one at first, but the MkIII alternator cooked it. The heavy duty version has been on there for a while.