Need tips on how to use voltmeter/diagnose electrical issue By tominbmore (Read 2,862 times)

[tominbmore]

Alleyoop I'm sorry I keep misunderstanding you. When you say disconnect the plug I simply don't know which of those three on yhe left is the right one. I don't wanna hurt myself or some such.

Thanks man

[Alleyoop]

2-4 wires come from the STATOR and go to a Connector the Connector will have 2-4 wires attached to it you want to disconnect the connector from where it plugs into and check the wires straight on the connector from the stator.

[tominbmore]

Tx.

Could you please refer to my photo and indicate which is the "connector" you mention?

Should I ignore the two white connectors at the top of the photo? (I ask because thry ALSO emanate from the stator)

Final question: assuming the blue-white plug is the one I want (see above), how do I know which of the two slots inside of it I should put the red multimeter probe into, and which slot I should put the black multimeter probe into?

I think the black one is for "ground" or something.

[Alleyoop]

Yes the blue and white connector, test each wire in that connector coming from the stator. If there is NOT A GREEN WIRE in there then there is no GROUND WIRE in the CONNECTOR so the BLACK PROBE GROUND it to the FRAME and TEST EACH WIRE in the CONNECTOR with the RED PROBE.

No you should be able to follow the wires plugged into the connectors coming from the stator to the R/R one of those with multiple wires will plug into the R/R.

[tominbmore]

Thank you alleyoop!! Some folks on another forum think I have a fuel issue and I should clean my fuel filter. But based on the battery readings I posted above, this really seems like either the battery or the charging system is weak or needs replacing.

Now the only part I still need to ffind is the RR. You think it might be that black cartridge I photographed in the previous page? It does not look like the traditional RR, but I just can't seem to see where the RR might be hiding so I thought that might be it.

T.

[Alleyoop]

NOT CHARGING AND THEY SAY IT's a FUEL ISSUE, stay away from that forum

Well I never seen a R/R like that but with all the wires on it and the RED wire which would be the one going to the battery to charge it, I would say that is your R/R. If it was me and I did not know I trace it to see if it goes to the battery, if it does then test the wire, start the scoot and test the wire If charging it should read 13+ volts
Alleyoop

[tominbmore]

Thanks alleyoop!

I have seen plenty of diagrams online now and have a better sense of how wires lead from the stator to the CDI, and from the stator to the R/R, and also how wires will go from the R/R to the battery once AC has been converted to DC, and once the voltage has been "regulated" to somewhere around 14 or more maximum output. 

I will follow the wires from the thing I think is the R/R, and that red one especially.

Final question: Some folks say that you should not proceed with voltage tests of stator, and the R/R UNLESS the battery is at full charge.  My battery yields only a 12.15 before I turn it on.  A video I saw online suggested that if there is a low reading like this, it is not good to go ahead with the multimeter tests because the readings may be unpredictable. In that video, the guy charged the battery with a trickle charger, which brought it up to 12.8 WITH THE SCOOTER OFF.  Then he went ahead with testing the charging system etc.

You think I should do that first?  I can get one at Wal-Mart in Baltimore, I'm pretty sure.

Thanks bud.

[Alleyoop]

Yea get something like this, that it will charge a pretty dead battery not just a maintainer. You can put it on 2amp and it will charge it up or use it as a jump.
Alleyoop

www.walmart.com/ip/DieHard-71219-Battery-Charger-Maintainer-for-6-12-Volt-Batteries/15167378

[tominbmore]

Thanks.

That's a better option than the ol' "battery tender junior charger" in your opinion?

T.

[Alleyoop]

yes, you can trickle charge it at 2amp and will charge up faster also if the battery is really dead you can maybe bring it back to life and also use it as a jump. Battery tender is just a maintainer, the battery has to be in good shape but if it is pretty dead it will not work so well.

[Bashan]

Here is your wiring diagram. You can trace the wires and ID the colors to determine what component is what. I think that box under the tank is the CDI.

[Alleyoop]

You are correct rich that under or by the tank is his CDI in the picture. The wire colors match as well as the picture in the diagram. And you can see the R/R which has fins for cooling, my bad.
Alleyoop

[tominbmore]

Thanks for chiming in, Rich!

Actually, the CDI is in fact toward the front (TGB scoots definitely like to go their own way, design-wise, I have found).  I have taken the CDI off, had it replaced before (the ignition start was failing before and now it is not).

Anyhow, the CDI is snug under the cross bar of the frame that divides the main motor area and the area where the battery is.  i can post pics later after work.  The CDI has 6 - 8 prongs in it, and looks just like this:

www.mopedarmy.com/mediawiki/images/4/4a/6pinout.jpg

I had another look-see after i came back from the game last night (Go orioles).  The thing perched at the front of the gas tank all by its lonesome, did not have all those plugs/prongs on it. It had a male and female connection.  One side of that connection has four prominent metal plugs JUST LIKE THIS standard looking R/R does:

www.scooterpart.net/productimages/052508/GY6_Rectifier_relay.jpg

In other words, like the two prongs on a standard home appliance plug, but four of them.

Key difference of course, as you can see from my pic, is that the gizmo does not have that waffle iron grill exterior, and instead seems covered in thick rubber which I cannot peeel back to look inside.  So maybe TGB likes to use R/R's that are just plain different!!  

Rich, I will follow that wiring diagram to see where it leads. the TGB folks nicely bundled all wires with electrical tape, so to really know the score I'll have to unwrap these neat bundles to see what goes where.

T.

[tominbmore]

A guy on tgbforum.com thinks the gizmo I am describing is the starter relay.  He thinks i ought to keep looking to find a part with those metal "fins," which he says are needed to help dissipate the excess heat after the R/R only lets through 12 V or so of energy.

I'll keep looking around inside my scoot to find this elusive R/R.

[Alleyoop]

Some mount the R/R on the side of the Frame some are under the FRONT COWL up in front. So you see the wires coming from the stator just follow those wires and you will find it.

To find the Electric start Solenoid follow the RED THICK WIRE coming off your battery.
Alleyoop