overcharging or ?

[SinCity_Airhead]

Hi everyone,I have 87 R65.lately my voltmeter is acting strange
On cold mornings it shows almost 16v at 4k rpm.Once warmed up it goes back to
normal.On days 65F and up everything's OK.Is it a bad VR or alternator.
Tnx

[eepeqez]

Check the battery voltage with an alternative voltmeter or multimeter just to be sure it is doing what the installed voltmeter is saying, but it looks very much like the voltage regulator is staying closed circuit (supplying the field winding) despite being over voltage, when cold, yet not when hot. It's an odd failure, but the symptoms are pretty unambiguous.

Here is a diagram of the alternator system from an excellent website with practical advice on diagnosing the system:



The current flowing through the rotor (or field winding) produces the magnetic field which allows the alternator to make electricity. For the output (battery) voltage to go high, the field (rotor) current must be too high, and since the only place it gets current from is via the regulator, the regulator must be faulty.

IMPORTANT NOTE
Notice that the regulator has 3 terminals. It adjusts the resistance between D+ and Df to control the current through the rotor which in turn controls the voltage at D+ relative to D-. It is a positive switching regulator.

MOST car regulators of similar type and packaging are negative switching regulators. D+ connects directly to the field winding and the regulator is inserted between the field and earth instead of between D+ and the field. On these regulators, the resistance between Df and D- is adjusted to control the current through the rotor which in turn controls the voltage at D+ relative to D-.

I was initially sold the incorrect type by my local autoelec. When I worked out what was wrong, I took it back and explained to the apprentice at the front counter, who just looked lost. The boss understood exactly what I meant immediately, (and as a bonus, now treats me as someone who actually has some understanding of what they are buying!)

If you buy from an autoelec rather than a BMW supplier, make sure that whoever sells you a replacement regulator understands the difference between the two types and sells you the correct one.

[Wirespokes]

If it's actually putting out 16 volts - beware! If this is a permanent Volt Meter such as a fairing mounted gauge, make sure it's reading correctly. Double check with a Volt Meter at the battery when that's happening.

If it is actually putting out that much voltage, the regulator would be the first and primary suspect!

[Bill Harris]

That's what I'm thinking. A cold alternator/engine with a cold battery will normally boost the output voltage a bit, like the high 14's and drop off after things warm up. 16V is way too high and will cook the battery eventually. As 'Wire2 says, double-check the onboard voltmeter and suspect the regulator.

--Bill