Brown wire on regulator/rectifier? 85 RZ350.

[sweet_baby_james]

Hi

I am looking at the wiring on my 85 RZ350 and I am struggling to find an answer to my question:

What does the brown wire at the reg/rec do?

I understand that the brown wire is switched power when the ignition switch is on (takes 12V from the battery and feeds the necessary circuits), however I see that it feeds back in to the reg/rec. What is the function here? Is it some kind of voltage sensing?

What I am doing is eliminating 90% of the stock electrical as I am setting up a fuel injection ECU that will also handle the ignition. I will use the charging system only from the existing electrical system so hopefully someone can enlighten me!

Thanks

James

[waltmil]

That is the voltage reference wire for the regulator.

[sweet_baby_james]

OK, thanks. So its feedback to the reg/rec for voltage regulation? Probably need to keep it hooked up then.

[motoholic71]

No the RZ is a short circuit zenner regulator it does not require ref voltage.
3 wire go in carrying 3 phase AC and 2 wires come out, ground and +12V regulated.Extra unused generated power is shorted to the ground, hence the name "short circuit reg."
Ref voltage is used on generators with coils instead of magnets like the aircooled RDs

Edit: I stand corrected, US RZs have different regulators with all different layout, seems brown lead is indeed ref. v in US, sorry. Ours European bikes use standard 4 wires reg with case ground.