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21
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by Vreagh on December 02, 2025, 10:53:32 AM »
He may of fitted a cheap chinese reg/rectifier, and that headlight looks like an indian Lucas with a LED bulb to be that bright. I've done similar with my 1929 FB with no lighting coils. I fitted a 45 watt dynamo and made a 12v regulator for it, coupled with 12v bulbs all round, even a brake light. Not concours or to spec but very rideable.
22
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on December 02, 2025, 09:10:15 AM »
So where does this wee beastie get all the juice to power that big headlamp.
Not knowing lil RE's in the slightest ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146989249719

Edit. Specs say it has Villiers direct (AC) lighting
And were new for 1933 ?


23
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 28, 2025, 03:36:40 AM »
Miller dip switches - as a genuine copy - are fiercely expensive.
So I improvised - a coat of black (left) on a knockoff pattern.
And it has a horn press.

https://i.postimg.cc/QMQZcQxx/Miller-copy.jpg


Might work on the lighthouse 3-d molding for the top....

If only they made the supplied wires a shade longer.
24
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 23, 2025, 02:11:32 AM »
Quote from: R on November 22, 2025, 02:06:27 AM
Hmmm, the Owners Manual for a later model refers to a 30w generator.

A wiring diagram for such a FB shows still no voltage  control.
But a large resistance wire - centre to the top - connected to the light switch.
To soak up unneeded power ?
When the lights are not in use ??

https://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/francis-barnett-falcon-87/images/Francis-Barnett-1965c-Falcon-87-Wiring-Diagram.jpg

Be more sensible (these days) to have a lamp there as a running light. ?
Curious and curiouser ...

25
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 22, 2025, 02:06:27 AM »
Hmmm, the Owners Manual for a later model refers to a 30w generator.
Must be with more lighting coils than this has ...
26
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 21, 2025, 09:33:38 PM »
Interesting point.
This looking like less of a trickle charge, and more of a dribble charge ...
27
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by Vreagh on November 21, 2025, 12:12:12 PM »
The rectifier would be of the selenium type which would have a fair bit of internal resistance also lowering the DC output. Maybe Villiers accidentally invented the first regulator/rectifier. 🤔😁
28
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 21, 2025, 05:03:41 AM »
Indeed.
The local advertising for these was something like "a penny a mile"
so you couldn't get more economy oriented than that.

That said, you'd hope the engineering was at least in the ballpark,
And spares and a handbook gave you a chance of keeping it running ...

Now, to find a suitable Miller headlamp switch, for the best ! of all worlds
4 position, Direct as the 4th position.
29
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by Rex on November 20, 2025, 05:26:18 PM »
These bikes were sold as cheapest-of-the-cheap commuter bikes, and if the battery went flat occasionally then just charge it up.
No-one expected anything else before the Honda C50 came along.
30
British Bikes / Re: Villiers battery charging system ?
« Last post by R on November 20, 2025, 02:21:33 PM »
Reading about, it seems that Villiers engines came with 2, 4 or 6 lighting coils.
Mine has 2,  being early postwar.

And the correct bulbs are listed as 1 amp and .75 amp
So the total max lighting output AC  is ~10 w  ?
And a half wave rectifier acting on that would be 5 watts DC for the battery. ?
So literally just a trickle charge.

The plan to just use a 6v battery and charge it occasionally at home seems solid,
its unlikely to get much (ever ?) nighttime use ...
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