Author Topic: Battery Woes Not Charging  (Read 3124 times)

Offline davedel44

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1445
  • Location: Galveston Island, near the coast of Texas
Battery Woes Not Charging
« on: March 23, 2019, 02:32:23 PM »
Replaced battery on 2013 V7 Stone last May. 
Replaced it again yesterday, bad cell, battery replaced free.
Seems like this bike eats a battery each season.

Read thread about Voltage regulator overcharging so I ran tests.

Let new battery discharge to 12.26v.
Turned on key 12.25v.
Start  10.5v then 12.55v at idle.
12.76v at 2000rpm
12.78v at 4000rpm
Key off battery holding at 12.49v.

Shouldn't be jump up voltage to about 13+ to charge then level off?

Dave is often confused.
Galveston
« Last Edit: March 26, 2019, 09:53:03 AM by davedel44 »
Bambino- 2013 V7 Stone

Online Wayne Orwig

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 13908
    • Hog Mountain weather
  • Location: Hog Mountain
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2019, 03:30:06 PM »
Let new battery discharge to 12.26v.
Turned on key 12.25v.
Start  10.5v then 12.55v at idle.
12.76v at 2000rpm
12.78v at 4000rpm
Key off battery holding at 12.49v.

Shouldn't be jump up voltage to about 13+ to charge then level off?

IF, the battery at rest is 12.26V, it is discharged a good bit. You need to charge it, or let the motorcycle charge it, before the voltage rises to 14V+.

Scientist have discovered that people will believe anything, if you first say "Scientists have discovered...."

Offline pehayes

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 4570
    • Falcone Touring
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2019, 03:54:51 PM »
And what battery brand/model are you using?

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Offline malik

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2377
  • Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2019, 04:20:40 PM »
My V7C recharges at 14.3V @ 3,000 rpm, and from memory the 2014 Special does the same.
2010 V7 Classic, 2014 V7 Special
1996 1100 Sport Carb (in NZ), 2004 V11 LeMans (in UK)
Carberry Enfield V-Twin, 2008 Royal Enfield Electra, 2006 RE Electra 535

Wildguzzi.com

Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2019, 04:20:40 PM »

Offline davedel44

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1445
  • Location: Galveston Island, near the coast of Texas
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2019, 05:27:10 PM »
IF, the battery at rest is 12.26V, it is discharged a good bit. You need to charge it, or let the motorcycle charge it, before the voltage rises to 14V+.

I'll ride it tomorrow to charge it up.  I assumed that the voltage regulator would feed a low battery at 13+ volts to charge it up.

You could fill a book with what I dont know about mechanicing.

Guzzita down the street has offered to wire up a  voltmeter so I can keep an eye on things.


Thanks
Bambino- 2013 V7 Stone

Offline davedel44

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1445
  • Location: Galveston Island, near the coast of Texas
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2019, 05:29:41 PM »
And what battery brand/model are you using?

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Some cheap replacement from Oh Oh Rielys.  Had to save some cash cause I got my eye on a used sump spacer. :smiley:

Dave
Bambino- 2013 V7 Stone

Offline davedel44

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1445
  • Location: Galveston Island, near the coast of Texas
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2019, 05:30:28 PM »
My V7C recharges at 14.3V @ 3,000 rpm, and from memory the 2014 Special does the same.

Thanks
Bambino- 2013 V7 Stone

Offline kingoffleece

  • SplitWeight(tm) seat covers
  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 4014
  • Rated 5 STARS Motorcycle Consumer News
  • Location: Valley of the Sun
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2019, 07:53:30 PM »
You need some revs to get full output.
An easy way to monitor is a simple gauge that plugs into your SAE battery lead.  Tape it to the tank (painters tape) and it's easy to monitor for as long as needed.  Battery Tender makes one-I use an Optimate product that's a bit more complex.  Both were very reasonable to purchase.
SplitWeight(tm) seat covers. A King of Fleece LLC product.

Offline pehayes

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 4570
    • Falcone Touring
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2019, 08:09:08 PM »
An easy way to monitor is a simple gauge that plugs into your SAE battery lead.  Tape it to the tank (painters tape) and it's easy to monitor for as long as needed.  Battery Tender makes one'

Like this.  Have one.  Works  treat!





Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Online Wayne Orwig

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 13908
    • Hog Mountain weather
  • Location: Hog Mountain
Re: Battery Woes
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2019, 09:58:17 AM »
I'll ride it tomorrow to charge it up.  I assumed that the voltage regulator would feed a low battery at 13+ volts to charge it up.
You could fill a book with what I dont know about mechanicing.
Guzzita down the street has offered to wire up a  voltmeter so I can keep an eye on things.

If the battery is in good shape, just needing a charge, it can hold the alternator voltage low until it starts accumulating some charge.

Putting a voltmeter on and riding it is a great idea.

Scientist have discovered that people will believe anything, if you first say "Scientists have discovered...."

Offline davedel44

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1445
  • Location: Galveston Island, near the coast of Texas
Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
« Reply #10 on: March 26, 2019, 10:33:53 AM »
Voltmeter ride results.  No reading over 12.2.

NEW QUESTION:  Any way to test voltage directly at stator? 

Two yellow wires coming from two metal tabs.

Thanks,

Dave

Bambino- 2013 V7 Stone

Offline Old Jock

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2643
Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
« Reply #11 on: March 26, 2019, 01:33:29 PM »
You can by measuring the voltage across the 2 yellow wires BUT what you will measure is AC volts and it will be high, probably 30 VAC + dependent on revs

I don't know what alternator or charging system is on the modern bikes.

Usually Alternators work or they don't and to test you would need the workshop manual to tell you what the voltages should be at various RPMs too check it

The easiest way is what Wayne is telling you, or get a good battery from somewhere, charge it fully off the bike measure the standing voltage and if it's good, then put it in the bike and measure the charging votage

There isn't a way, that I know of to measure if the charging voltage is good with a questionable battery in the circuit...........G o On ask me how I know  :rolleyes:

The usual other stuff applies, check all the earths at Reg/Rec and battery to frame are good, check the connection where the Reg/Rec measures the system voltage is good (although this would tend to overcharge that undercharge)
« Last Edit: March 27, 2019, 04:42:53 AM by Old Jock »

Offline davedel44

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1445
  • Location: Galveston Island, near the coast of Texas
Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
« Reply #12 on: March 27, 2019, 05:58:39 PM »
Got together with long time Guzzita Charlie Semore and checked continuity and voltage at stator, then continuity in wiring to battery.

Most likely culprit rectifier/voltage regulator.  Ordered today from Harpers.

Hope to be on road again next week.

Dave less confused in Galveston
« Last Edit: March 28, 2019, 06:39:33 AM by davedel44 »
Bambino- 2013 V7 Stone

Offline davedel44

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1445
  • Location: Galveston Island, near the coast of Texas
Re: Battery Woes Not Charging.
« Reply #13 on: April 10, 2019, 05:14:09 PM »
IT'S ALIVE  :thumb:
Installed new regulator from Harpers.
Battery is now charging

Dave
Back on the road in Galveston
Bambino- 2013 V7 Stone

oldbike54

  • Guest
Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
« Reply #14 on: April 10, 2019, 05:38:07 PM »
 Cool  :thumb:

 Dusty

Offline zebraranger

  • Gosling
  • ***
  • Posts: 250
  • Location: Florida
Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
« Reply #15 on: April 10, 2019, 07:21:47 PM »


Let new battery discharge to 12.26v.
Turned on key 12.25v.
Start  10.5v then 12.55v at idle.
12.76v at 2000rpm
12.78v at 4000rpm
Key off battery holding at 12.49v.

Shouldn't be jump up voltage to about 13+ to charge then level off?



Both of my bikes at idle charges at 14.1 to 14.3 V, including the Griso. Your 12.5 at idle isn't right, and 12.7 @ 4000 RPM isn't either.

Offline Old Jock

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2643
Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
« Reply #16 on: April 11, 2019, 01:32:49 PM »
Both of my bikes at idle charges at 14.1 to 14.3 V, including the Griso. Your 12.5 at idle isn't right, and 12.7 @ 4000 RPM isn't either.

I agree your voltages sound correct BUT when charging a discharged battery as Wayne pointed out earlier the battery can drag the system voltage way down which may look like a system problem but is simply a poor/discharged battery dragging down the voltage

The battery acts like a reservoir that is why when chasing charge issues the first thing to do is install a good fully charged battery before making any measurements

Offline acguzzi

  • Gosling
  • ***
  • Posts: 325
Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
« Reply #17 on: April 11, 2019, 01:53:24 PM »
As long as a battery is not overdischarged it should jump up over 13V in seconds. Agreed it may not get up to 14 but almost any charge current should get it over 13.

***Wildguzzi Official Logo High Quality 5 Color Window Decals Back In Stock***
Shipping in USA Only. Awesome quality. Back by popular demand. All proceeds go back into the forum.
http://www.wildguzzi.com/Products/products.htm
Advertise Here
 

***Wildguzzi Official Logo High Quality 5 Color Window Decals Back In Stock***
Shipping in USA Only. Awesome quality. Back by popular demand. All proceeds go back into the forum.
http://www.wildguzzi.com/Products/products.htm
Advertise Here