Alton (estart) Alternator output

I did a voltage check a few minutes ago for the Alton Alternator which is supplied with the Alton E-start. Here is the comparison between the 3 Phase Lucas that was on the bike and the Alton. Both were measured with the Lucas 3 Phase rectifier in place. The new Podtronics unit with which I had intended to replace the Lucas rectifier was apparently dead out of the box. IMPORTANT NOTE - the Lucas figures are with a conventional flooded, several year old battery; the Alton figures are with a new Shorai 18AH. I don''t know if this affects how the system "sees" the charging and subsequent regulation. Neither the Lucas nor the Alton increased voltage output beyond 3000 RPM

The LUCAS 3 phase alternator:
Charging (voltage at battery), headlight off:
Idle (900RPM) 12.6v
1500RPM 14.6
2000 RPM 15.0
3000 RPM 15.17

Headlight on, low beam:
Idle 11.6
1500 11.9
2000 12.71
3000 14.12

Headlight on, high beam
Idle 11.38
1500 11.7
2000 12.2
3000 13.35


The Alton Alternator (measured at battery):

Headlight off:

Idle 13.14
1500 13.76
2000 13.80
3000 13.90

Headlight on, low beam

Idle 12.88
1500 13.46
2000 13.10
3000 13.60

Headlight on, Hi Beam

Idle 12.10
1500 13.05
2000 12.50
3000 13.09

Note that the Alton delivers higher voltage at idle RPM which seems like a good thing. But it doesn't go nearly as high from then on. Whether this is related to the 3 phase Lucas rectifier/associated dual zeners, I don't know. Whether it's related to the Shorai being in the system, I don't know that either. Also, notice the Alton with hi beam at 2000 RPM actually drops in output compared to 1500 RPM. I checked this several times and got the same reading.

Shorai's site that covers battery charging/capacity http://www.shoraipower.com/s.nl/it.I/id.5/.f Shows that a fully charged batt is 14.3V. With the current setup on my bike, it appears that the highest voltage level the batt could reach at 3k RPM is 13.90 (headlight off). Per Shorai, this means that the battery would remain at over 90% charge while cruising at 3K RPM but it would never achieve full charge. At idle (headlight off) the batt would never drop below about 60% capacity. With the headlight on low beam and cursing at 3K the batt would, again, remain at about 90% of capacity.

It seems to me that the system will function "well enough" but I would like to see voltages in accordance with the Shorai specs in order to fully charge the battery.

I would appreciate any additional info or voltage readings from other folks with Alton Estart systems, both using conventional and Shorai batts.

Mike
Using voltage readings for comparison is only valid if the load in both cases is the same. In your case the load is the battery and then the battery and the lights. There could well be a difference in the draw of the different batteries and it will be different anyway depending on their state of charge.
Whats more, Zener diodes are very crude regulators compared with a Podtronics so you will get different answers anyway.

I use the Alton estart and run a 55W headlight all the time and not had any issues. I would expect that your 3 phase alternator produced more power than the Alton but I think the Alton is adequate.
David

Make sure the alt.- stator clearances are even all the way around. This does affect output.