12V conversion with electronic ignition

[LexH]

Hi All,

I've searched for this topic and found a lot of great information but didn't find a specific answer to this question.

I have a '72 450 desmo which came standard with a Ducati Elettrotecnica electronic ignition system. This system works completely independently from the 6V battery system and appears to be powered by a separate winding on the alternator. I'm interested in upgrading to a higher power 12V alternator. I've seen a number of upgrade kits on the market but I don't know how these will work with the electronic ignition system. Do these upgrade kits come complete with a separate winding for the electronic ignition, or is the original winding retained and only the main charging system gets upgraded? Has anyone had any experience with this?

I believe an easy alternative would be to simply retain the orginal alternator and replace the 6V regulator with a 12V unit but this still leaves me with a fairly low power alternator.

Thanks,
Lex

[DewCatTea-Bob]

____ Greetings to you Lex, and welcome as our newest registered-member !


" I've searched for this topic and found a lot of great information but didn't find a specific answer to this question.
I have a '72 450 desmo which came standard with a Ducati Elettrotecnica electronic ignition system. This system works completely independently from the 6V battery system and appears to be powered by a separate winding on the alternator. "

____ Right... You might also wish to keep an eye on the Mototrans section of this w.site, since that '350-Road' model also has a similar alt/ign.setup.


" I'm interested in upgrading to a higher power 12V alternator. "

____ Such interest in a 12v.conversion is of-course fairly common but, please explain your reason for why you also wish even more power (than the stock-alt has to offer) as well, and also why you may think that the stock-alternator is not powerful enough for your needs.


" I've seen a number of upgrade kits on the market but I don't know how these will work with the electronic ignition system. Do these upgrade kits come complete with a separate winding for the electronic ignition, "

____ Sorry, I-myself have never bothered to replace a stock-alternator with any of the more powerful aftermarket alternator-kits, but still, I really doubt that any of them include any separate power-coil intended for just running the stock-ignition of those associated 350 & 450 models which originally came-stock with such unique systems. _ (Although some of the aftermarket alt.system upgrade-kits include their very-own ign.system setup.)


" or is the original winding retained and only the main charging system gets upgraded? "

____ All those aftermarket alternator replacement-kits come (at least !) with their very-own complete modern-type alt.stator, so therefore your entire stock-alt (along-with it's part of the stock-ign.setup) would be replaced, (which would be a certain waste if you're content with your stock-ignition).


" I believe an easy alternative would be to simply retain the orginal alternator and replace the 6V regulator with a 12V unit "

____ Unless you're rich enough to think nothing of spending the relatively big-bucks for one of those alt.replacement-systems and are also the gung-ho type, this more conservative thinking is of course what you really ought to try-out before-hand.
You could simply replace the stock regulator-box with a 12-volt version as stock on any of the pre-1976 L-twin Duc.models. _ Or, (likely more cheaply!), go-with one of the external-only charging-setup modifications which I could suggest for you here, (after I learn of what power-demands your intended modified system-load will require).
As there's indeed a fairly good chance that you'll be able to obtain all the power which you'll actually need, from your stock-alternator !


" but this still leaves me with a fairly low power alternator. "

____ What exactly has led you to believe that your stock-alternator is low on power ? _ And why have you come to believe that your stock-alt isn't up to adequately fulfilling your particular needs ? - (Do you intend to constantly run at low-RPM with dual high-power headlights kept left on, while city-driving [in front of cops] at all times ?)


Duke-Cheers,
-Bob

[jbcollier]

While your current ignition system operates separately from the charging system, both are on the one stator so you can't replace just the one and leave the other in place. AFAIK, there isn't an uprated stator that includes an ignition system for a 450.

[LexH]

Thanks jbcollier, that answers my question. I think I'll start by trying a 12V regulator with the existing system and see how it goes. To answer Bob's questions, the main reason for considering 12V is that 12V parts (bulbs, battery etc) are much more readily available. Regards alternator output, I don't expect to do a lot of city night riding but if I ever do I don't want to worry about the battery dying. I also want to add a set of indicators which will increase electrical load.
Thanks for all the info guys.

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" I think I'll start by trying a 12V regulator with the existing system and see how it goes. "

____ With the suggested 12-volt version of the Ducati R.R-unit, you should find your charging-system to be adequate for normal-running with a high-power 65/45w hi/lo H4-type headlight.


" To answer Bob's questions, the main reason for considering 12V is that 12V parts (bulbs, battery etc) are much more readily available. "

____ Of-course that aspect was already assumed, so my question was actually directed at your reasoning for exactly why more 'power' was a desired consideration of yours.


" I don't expect to do a lot of city night riding but if I ever do I don't want to worry about the battery dying. "

____ That should be quite less of a concern for later-model stock-450 owners, as any such battery issues will not leave the rider stuck without ign.spark ! _ And so long as the engine remains running, the battery, (if not a dud), can not go completely dead !


" I also want to add a set of indicators which will increase electrical load."

____ Well not much at all really, (if a std.battery is connected to the system)...
Such additional load is only actually-genuine if ya leave them activated/on most of the time ! _ Otherwise normally, turn-signals (& horn & brake-light, as well) only take a little (virtually-free*) power-juice from/out-of the storage-battery, (which is then no real load on the alternator worth mentioning !).
(* This is because the battery is the actual/real load [in the first place], which stores-up some of the otherwise wasted excess power-juice and then later gives-it-up to be transferred-over to any temporary-loads which don't constantly draw current from the charging-system.)
__ If anyone REALLY wants to help their battery avoid ever having to give-up any of the juice it has stored-up, then they can replace their std.filament-type bulbs with the relatively new L.E.D.type of such indicator-lights, which relatively consume next to no power at all.


Dukaddy-Dukes,
-Bob