Help headlight bulb blowing - what is the voltage range.

[kawakid]

Hi,


I've had a Philips Bluevision H4 bulb in for a year but it stopped working last week. However the full beam continued to work.

Anyway I put a bulb from a pound shop in for a day and all okay.

Over the weekend I put in a new Philips bulb and it worked okay (in the garage, I didn't ride the bike) anyway today the new bulb has blown on both elements. (The full beam blowing straight away), I had to ride home with just the side light . I hadn't noticed on my way in to work as it was daylight.

(PS Its on the ER5 which is just one bulb).

Anyway can a new bulb just go straight away?

I've got home thinking it can't be the bulb????

Anyway I've tested the beam voltage with a multimeter.

With the engine not running, its showing around 13volts. When I increase the revs (revving it quite hard) the multimeter goes up to about 19 volts.

Now I'm no expert on bulb voltages??

Anyway I've put back in the cheap bulb back in and revved the engine and it hasn't blown.


Do I have a problem?

At first I was thinking rectifier, but I don't know.

I'll obviously keep the cheap bulb in and I do have another spare (handy when they cost a £)


https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/mondeokid/volts.jpg







T
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I've a twin and a 4.

[finpos]

19V is a pretty definite sign your regulator isn't err.. regulating.

Further checks / fixing required before you use the bike again - may damage something more expensive than a bulb.

finpos.

[kawakid]

Cheers,

It couldn't be the alternator could it?

To be fair it is an ER5 and I have heard about rectifier faults.

This is a right pain, its booked in for its MOT on Thursday and runs out shortly, looks like i'm going to have to take the rectifier out now.

I've got a Haynes manual with the Ohm tests, but I don't really understand them. But yeahh i've done some other checks about H4 bulbs and its up to 16v.

Would you risk an MOT , I riding it , before getting a new rectifier?
Its just that its up soon.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[finpos]

The Alternator seems to be doing a fantastic job of chucking out somewhere between 0V and 20V (rising with engine speed). So I wouldn't worry about that just now.

The Regulator, on the other hand, seems to be doing an absolutely awful job of pegging this down to about 14.5V, so that your battery doesn't boil and your bulbs don't blow. So I'd worry about that more.

You might get away with short trips if you keep the revs down. It's your bike etc.

finpos.

[Zimbo]

Regulator / rectifier is gone mate.
The reg/rec unit converts the generator output into constant DC voltage, the regulator side of it stabilises the voltage at a set level, usually around 13.2V. If it blows the voltage tends to be around 14V on tickover rising to 19V with revs, as yours is doing.

[hmmmnz]

lol, a typical bulb will handle around 25% of over voltage. in your case of around 55% it doesnt matter how good your bulb is its not going to last l;ong, get a regulator quick smart before you wreck your cdi as well
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[alains]

i agree , regulator (or a diode) is worn
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the worst day fishing is better than the best day working

[Kickstart]

Hi

Another vote for the regulator / rectifier. Although if your battery is toast then it might also trigger similar issues (but not a hope it would start on the button like this).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[kawakid]

Thanks guys.

Now i'm having problems getting the thing off.

The bolts going through the rectifier, just snapped, its a 6 year old bike and the rectifier is just behind the rear wheel. So its been exposed and its been used in all weathers.

Anyway if anyone can offer advice, please read me other post.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=105387

Cheers.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[alains]

i suggest you make the wiring longer and fix the rectifier where it can be safer . generally it's not a big spare and i think you can manage that
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the worst day fishing is better than the best day working