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Battery draining issues. Please help me sort it!

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ryhardcastle
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 20 Jun 2009
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PostPosted: 14:01 - 09 Aug 2011    Post subject: Battery draining issues. Please help me sort it! Reply with quote
Right, my SV has been having some battery issues lately. After a week or so of not being used the battery is totally dead and it will not start.

I have done voltage tests over the battery to check if it's charging and here are the results:

Idle / Lights off: ~14.28v
5k RPM / Lights off: ~13.96v
Idle / Lights on: ~13.66v
5k RPM / Lights on: ~13.00v

Do these look healthy or should it be charging more at 5k rpm? I'm also guessing there is some sort of current leak when the bike is not being used as the bike can discharge a full battery in about 2 weeks. May sound like a stupid question but what setting should I put my multimeter on for testing for current loss? I'm garbage when it comes to electrics I know!

P.S the bike has a Datatool alarm fitted. Could this be causing a major current drain?
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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 14:05 - 09 Aug 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
How old is the bike? Is it still on the original battery?

Bike batteries aren't like Lipo's or Nicads. They don't have a 'memory' as such but they do get knackered if you let them discharge too much. They also naturally discharge over a period of time, and they also naturally get less and less efficient as they age. If the bike is ten years old and still on the original battery then I'd suggest a replacement.

But it could also mean you have charging issues... however, if the bike runs OK and doesn't die when you're riding it then I think its probably safe to say it is the battery.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.
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ryhardcastle
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 20 Jun 2009
Karma :
PostPosted: 14:07 - 09 Aug 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
MarJay wrote:
How old is the bike? Is it still on the original battery?

Bike batteries aren't like Lipo's or Nicads. They don't have a 'memory' as such but they do get knackered if you let them discharge too much. They also naturally discharge over a period of time, and they also naturally get less and less efficient as they age. If the bike is ten years old and still on the original battery then I'd suggest a replacement.

But it could also mean you have charging issues... however, if the bike runs OK and doesn't die when you're riding it then I think its probably safe to say it is the battery.

I had the battery replaced last year when I replaced the regulator. I've ruled out it being the battery as I removed it from the bike and charged it up over night. Then kept testing the voltage of the battery over a 5 /6 days and it retained it's charge fine. The battery's a Yuasa btw,.
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 14:08 - 09 Aug 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi

In both cases the voltage has dropped when you rev the engine. It should have gone up.

So there is a fault somewhere.

Could just be the battery as MarJay suggests. However check all the earths are clean (and as a temp check, run an extra one from the battery), but I would a bit suspicious that the regulator / rectifier is on the way out.

All the best

Keith
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ryhardcastle
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 20 Jun 2009
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PostPosted: 14:11 - 09 Aug 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kickstart wrote:
Hi

In both cases the voltage has dropped when you rev the engine. It should have gone up.

So there is a fault somewhere.

Could just be the battery as MarJay suggests. However check all the earths are clean (and as a temp check, run an extra one from the battery), but I would a bit suspicious that the regulator / rectifier is on the way out.

All the best

Keith

I hope it's not the reg/rec as it's less than 12 months old and only been on the bike for about 3k miles.

Electrical faults are such a ball-ache. Don't know where to start Sad
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Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 15 years, 37 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
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