Overcharging???

[Vecchio Lupo]

Boys, Ive got a 90 Cal III, good piece of kit. the dash mounted volt meter (insert Veglia Electronnica joke here:) shows under 12v at idle but once moving runs up to 13-14v steady. I checked voltage at idle and just above with meter and was healthy 12.8 up to 13.5 ish, so great.

I installed a digital constant monitoring guage (made in China so you know it's good) and saw where once off idle and cruising it read 16v. only reading 13 at idle.

I think 16v is too much...I suspect the 35 year old Diode board and regulator/regulator.

opinions???????

I have a NIB thunder child diode board leftover from a Boxer project.  and of course R/Rs are cheap .

[wirespokes]

Sixteen volts would fry the battery from my understanding, so I'd tend to believe the stock voltmeter. Check voltage with a trustworthy volt meter.

I get the feeling the alternator is behaving normally.

Just guessing this is the Bosch alternator, not the Ducati permanent magnet type?

[Dirk_S]

I can’t remember if you get a more accurate reading off the battery, or…
I’m using one of those cheap, bar-mounted USB accessory ports on my BMW R80/7 that also shows voltage because I still don’t fully trust that bike’s old, worn charging system. Connected directly to the battery, it’s showing a proper max delivery of 14.4V, but now you’re making me wonder if I can even trust that number.

[Vecchio Lupo]

yes Sir, 1990 would be Bosch.    I'll put another couple meters on it...yes 16v worried me, I cant believe the Chinese would sell me cheap junk.  If it aint broke, dont fix it.

[Vecchio Lupo]

yes Sir, 1990 would be Bosch.    I'll put another couple meters on it...yes 16v worried me, I cant believe the Chinese would sell me cheap junk.  If it aint broke, dont fix it.

Thats what Im using, a Chinese bar mounted usb charger voltage gauge

[Vecchio Lupo]

Fellas...I just hooked up another meter to the battery, It was in perfect sync with the bar mounted gauge .   As voltage climbed I saw wisps of smoke from the main power wire, from battery to Ducati Energia Regulator rectifier. Yes, Both meters climbed to 16v together.  It appears I must do some testing....Im so dumb, I dont know why I thought this bike had a diode board....now Im on a different road

[Vecchio Lupo]

this bike has been plagued with POS (Previous Owner Syndrome) ...a lot of stuff has not been right.  I have a Ducati Energia RR but I suspect I have Saprisa alternator.   I will open her up tomorrow and start looking for discrepancies.....s tay tuned.

I couldn't wait to check......my Stator is stamped "EME" and the rotor says Ducati ....it looks like a Saprisa with the two yellow wires, not a Bosch...WTF

[Guzzidad]

    I had this problem on an 01 EV. Try removing the headlight bulb and then check again. If regulation corrects itself there is a work-around for that.

[Tom H]

You might want to check your battery connections and ground points. If you have an iffy ground for instance, the reg. may charge at a higher rate thinking the battery is low.

Just a thought,
Tom