Britbike forum Forums British motorcycles in general British motorcycles in general Tympanium Type vs. Podtronics Rectifier?

Anyone care to illuminate the differences, if any. Looking to replace stock rectifier. Wondering if there are any distinct advantages of one over the other. I notice that the Podtronics unit has a model that can handle 'high output' alternators (160+ watts). Can the Tympanium type handle 200 watts? Are these things even the same animal?

TIA,
Steve

bump

From everything I've read, there is no real difference. Never had a Tympanium, but have put Pods on about 6 bikes now with very good results.

Thread hijack...

How about the Sparx unit? Any difference between that and the others?

I think the difference is (I think) is that the tympanium units are positive ground. he Podtronics is negative ground or positive ground.

Big Question: What does "Bump" mean???????? I see this periodically and do not understand what this could mean????????????

:bigt:

Thanks to all for the replies......putting the Boyer in now as we speak......solder and crimp....solder and crimp.....solder and crimp.....

TIA,
Steve


p.s. John,

bump is just a throw-away word to push the message back to the top of the forum.....I hadn't had a response for a couple of days and the message was falling off the list.....so I 'bumped' it up...... :bigt:

Jon, the Tympanium chassis is not grounded, so it is also either/or (positive or negative ground).

Mark Z,

Thanks for that info...I may be ordering one of those in the near future. I use one on one of my bikes already and have it wired positive ground. I have my '57 wired negative ground right now.

:stout: :stout:

JubeePrince,

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I usually just post to it and say...C'mon, I know..... !

I have installed both the Podtronics and Tympanium on many Triumphs (1967 to 1983 models) but I prefer the Tympanium as it is smaller and does not require the cooling fins of the Podtonics. The Tympanium mounts nicely under the battery carrier so it reaches the alternator leads without haveing to extend either set of wires. Both work well if installed and mounted correctly.

All good info, I can only add that the Podtronics comes in two variants: 160 watt (POD-1P) used for Lucas single phase and Alton and a 200 watt (POD-1P-HD) that can be used on Ducati.

Tympanium made in Massachusetts, USA
Podtronics made in Taiwan
john

I've used about 1/2 dozen Tympanium units, both Negative and Positive ground. No failures yet. With batteries or Capacitors. Never with a fancy, high output alternator though, so I don't know about that.

Ryan

Triumph Mike said that the Tympanium unit is smaller and does not require the fins of the Podtronics unit. Wonder why that would be. In the end, aren't both the Pod and the Tymp just modern components that do the same functions as the old plate rectifier and zener diode? If so, then they are just converting excess power to heat just like the zener did and both would need to dispate this somehow. Right?

Mike V (who really has no business dabbling in the world of electronic sorcery)

My guess would be the composition/construction of the units themselves... Tympanium units are cast aluminium and seem to dissipate the heat rather quickly. I've mounted them under swingarm model seats pretty much out of free airflow as well as in open air and they never seem to get very hot either way.

R

Just a note on the positive/negative grounding thing - the early Tymps are grounded to their cases (therefore, to the bike also) so if you buy a second hand one be sure you know what you got. But the new ones are no longer grounded to their case so you should be safe if you buy from a decent retailer.