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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: davedel44 on March 23, 2019, 02:32:23 PM

Title: Battery Woes Not Charging
Post by: davedel44 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
Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: Wayne Orwig 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+.

Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: pehayes on March 23, 2019, 03:54:51 PM
And what battery brand/model are you using?

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: malik 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.
Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: davedel44 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
Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: davedel44 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
Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: davedel44 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
Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: kingoffleece 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.
Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: pehayes 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!


(https://i.ibb.co/zR7Xt0s/battmeter.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zR7Xt0s)


Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Title: Re: Battery Woes
Post by: Wayne Orwig 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.

Title: Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
Post by: davedel44 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

Title: Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
Post by: Old Jock 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)
Title: Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
Post by: davedel44 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
Title: Re: Battery Woes Not Charging.
Post by: davedel44 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
Title: Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
Post by: oldbike54 on April 10, 2019, 05:38:07 PM
 Cool  :thumb:

 Dusty
Title: Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
Post by: zebraranger 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.
Title: Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
Post by: Old Jock 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
Title: Re: Battery Woes Not Charging
Post by: acguzzi 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.