What Does the Voltage Regulator Do for an ATV?

Your voltage regulator turns the alternative current (AC) into a direct current (DC). This ensures that your battery gets just the right amount of power at any time. The majority of this power makes your ATV run properly and without any sputtering.

Should you ride your ATV without a voltage regulator, your battery will become overcharged. This would mean that all of the AC energy is being concentrated on the battery and does not flow to the other components of your ATV that need power.

As your battery continues to handle this much power, it will start to weaken and and eventually die completely. When your voltage regulator starts to have issues, your ATV will not seem as powerful as it should.

However, we all know there are many reasons your ATV can lose power.  Because of that, there are other problems that you should look out for on your ATV that will suggest that your voltage regulator is starting to fail.

How to Know if your ATV has a Bad Voltage Regulator?

Spotting the signs of a failing voltage regulator will help you to fix the problem sooner. Because the voltage regulator helps bring a steady flow of power to each part of the ATV, there are different clues to spot when the voltage regulator begins failings.

The signs of a failing ATV voltage regulator include the following:

  • Your ATV is overloaded with power: The AC energy that starts when you turn your ATV on goes straight through the voltage regulator. The voltage then exceeds the limit for the ATV, causing problems with other electrical parts.
  • Your ATV doesn’t run as strongly: The ATV will become slower as you try to push it harder. You may think there is a problem with the engine, but more than likely it is the regulator.
  • Your ATV lights start to dim: Your lights may flicker, or they just dim so they are not as bright as usual. Again, you will be tempted to change the bulbs, but it is best to look at the regulator to make sure it is not a bigger issue.
  • Your ATV’s battery stops working: The end result of a bad voltage regulator is a dead battery.  There could be other reasons as to why your battery is dead, but a dead batter is the main sign of your regulator not functioning properly.  One sign that often means you have a voltage regulator issue is that you find your battery to be swollen.

If you see any of these signs showing up, you should take immediate action. Early detection can help prevent the burnout of other electrical parts that will cost more to replace. So, how do you test your ATV voltage regulator to make sure that it is working properly before you buy a replacement?

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