Charging question

[Doughboy66]

Since I completed my trike last June I have noticed that the lights flicker at higher rpm's. I do have a alternator so I did not think I needed a voltage regulator. I have a head light, tail lights, turn signals and 2 55w driving lights. Is my alternator going bad?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[rhino 2]

Every vehicle I ever had

with an alternator also had a voltage regulator ??📞

[1dn5up]

Do they flicker brighter or dimmer ? If dimmer,ck your grounds. If brighter you might need a regulator unless it’s built into the alternator like GM has. If you have a volt meter, check the reading when it happens.

Like Bob said , you DO need a regulator or smoke will appear !

Try That

[Doughboy66]

1dn5up, they are getting brighter. Ithe alternator is putting out 13 V at idle and 15 V at higher rpm.

[Doughboy66]

I believe VW alternators have an internal regulator.

[LarryA]

got to agree with the others.....if lights get brighter than normal, sounds like a bad regulator. voltage should hold around 13.5 to 14.5 and hold steady at cruise rpm. Auto parts stores should be able to check this out if you bring the alternator in to them. good luck

[Jack Klarich]

15 volts is getting on the high end

This depends on battery draw and how the state of charge on the battery is

Charge your battery over night first

check it with a volt meter the next day

If u have at least 12.7 volts, turn your lights on with the meter on the battery

count to ten

If the battery holds at least 10 or above u can pretty much rule out the battery

Next will be to find out what kind of alternator u have

Many have integral regulators

Many of these are cheap and easy to replace

Once you verify this and check back in some one can walk u thru this

Is this an older VW with a generator?

If so it will have a seperate regulator

You will also need to flash the fields on the generator ( polarise) each time you break a connection between the gen and the battery

[Tynker]

Every vehicle I ever had

with an alternator also had a voltage regulator ??📞

If he has a GW trike, it has a alternator,with built in regulator, just like your car/truck.

[Doughboy66]

got to agree with the others.....if lights get brighter than normal, sounds like a bad regulator. voltage should hold around 13.5 to 14.5 and hold steady at cruise rpm. Auto parts stores should be able to check this out if you bring the alternator in to them. good luck

First off I do Have an alternator and I believe it does have an internal regulator. it was on the trike and working fine (no flickering) when my Dad originally built it.

Now the battery voltage is 13.5 V disconnected. Battery voltage holds at 11.8 with all lights on without the engine running. I am pretty sure it is time to replace the regulator.