Battery problem or charging problem

[joe4550]

As the title says I'm having some problems with the power on my bike, it was ran flat a couple of weeks ago, charged it an thought nothing of it, but now when I turn on the bike the battery sign comes up on the HUD when I hit the starter but then goes, there is no other warning light for it just the battery sign,

Then today same thing happened, started fine yesterday and do about 20 miles a day too and from work on her so it's definatly getting enough charge if the altinator is working,

Any ideas? How do I test if the altinator is working? The battery should be fine it's only 6 months old and is an odissy but then again who knows?!

Cheers joe

 

[cookie]

put a mutimeter set to measure volts across the battery terminals, engine off. note reading. start the bike and see if it rises.

if it does, the charging system would seem to be ok.

disconnect the battery and put a load tester across it. ignore anyone talking about volts when checking batteries

 

[joe4550]

Any other reasons for a sudden battery discharge?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Any other reasons for a sudden battery discharge?

Bad battery with a knackered cell (I know yours is new but it happens).

Something on the bike draining the battery. This could be either a fault Like a short in the wiring or the bike computers not shutting down like they should. Usually the not shutting down is cause by something being plugged into the accessory socket or the GPS socket up front. To test for a drain on the battery take a multi meter set to amps 10A, remove positive lead from battery and put meter between the two. Bike should shut down after a few minutes and the drain should go into the low milli amps.

Next step is to ignore me because I am going to say if your charge test doesn't show high 13v low 14v your alternator is screwed.

 

[Mr K]

The battery warning comes on, on mine for a second or so after starting - It always has......and I fitted a new battery after Christmas.

 

[cookie]

Next step is to ignore me because I am going to say if your charge test doesn't show high 13v low 14v your alternator is screwed.

ah, but there you'd be checking the charge circuit, not the battery

you can check for a drain by simply disconnecting the battery earth and touching it back to the battery. it should't spark when you do.

 

[joe4550]

Cheers guys I'll give these a crack tomorrow, really don't wanna Have to take her to the stealers!

 

[cammy5477]

The battery warning comes on, on mine for a second or so after starting - It always has......and I fitted a new battery after Christmas.

Me too. Exactly the same as this

 

[birdseye]

20 miles per day isnt enough to recharge a flat battery, and if you are using lots of lights and extras then it might not be enough to keep up with consumption. Are you one of those who add spotlights to the bike and ride wityh them on all the time? Plus maybe an electrically heated codpiece?

Most likely problem by far is a knackered battery. Batteries can fail in several ways. The lead can drop out of the plates reducing capacity and if enough drops out is can cause an internal short which will make the battery run flat pdq. If you have a meter, put it across the battery terminals with the engine running at 2000 rpm - the voltage should be above12.7 if the alternator is working.

 

[joe4550]

i do have extra spots etc but only turn them on in shitty weather , and 20 miles should be enough to keep it going tho if not fully charge

 

[TLSgazza]

i do have extra spots etc but only turn them on in shitty weather , and 20 miles should be enough to keep it going tho if not fully charge

20 miles should be plenty to keep a healthy battery charged.
I only go 3 1/2 miles to work with spotlights on all the time, I've never had any problems with the battery on mine.
The battery has been on the bike since before I bought it back in July 2008
It's never been on an optimate either even over the winter when I've not used it for 5 months

 

[Rosahane]

There was a guy (Nomad Biker) on here selling simple led charging indicators a couple of years ago. I got one and fitted it. Great piece of kit for peace of mind.

Might be worth following up.

 

[Rosahane]

20 miles should be plenty to keep a healthy battery charged.
I only go 3 1/2 miles to work with spotlights on all the time, I've never had any problems with the battery on mine.
The battery has been on the bike since before I bought it back in July 2008
It's never been on an optimate either even over the winter when I've not used it for 5 months

I mentioned above the charging indicator I fitted on my '08 model GS.
It shows still charging with full headlights, two 50W spots and Gerbing jacket! Although I think the alternator was updated on the '08 model.

 

[Bendy toy]

A modern bike should have no problems keeping its battery happy. I have a 1976 Suzuki that keeps it's battery charged even on short runs.
But any battery thats always kept on an Optimate will last longer as it won't build up the hard sulphate. Anything else will be shot after a few years.
A voltmeter wired into the bike will tell you if the problem is in the battery or alternator.


Sent from my phone with mangled spelling

 

[cookie]

There was a guy (Nomad Biker) on here selling simple led charging indicators a couple of years ago. I got one and fitted it. Great piece of kit for peace of mind.

Might be worth following up.

mine seems to be broke. it just flashes green all the time now.

 

[joe4550]

Well it's not the altinator that's running fine, but had a piece of equipment shorting have removed that so hopefully that will be that unless it happens again

 

[birdseye]

i do have extra spots etc but only turn them on in shitty weather , and 20 miles should be enough to keep it going tho if not fully charge

You'd be surprised. Had a lot of charging problems on my boat last year so I did some serious investigating with battery manufacturers amongst others. My boat has a 200AH battery bank and even if this is only half discharged it takes a 60 amp alternator close on 8 hours to fully charge itt simply because as the battery voltage builds up so the charging amps fall . Measuring wqith an ammeter shows the charge from the alternator never actually exceeding 45 amps and that isnt for very long. So yes, 20 miles or 20 mins would not be enough to recharge even as small a battery as that on a GS if its well down. AQnd how well it keeps up with use depends on the load you have through spotlights , heated clothing etc, and the engine speed and the state of the wiring. A lot of things in fact.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

You'd be surprised. Had a lot of charging problems on my boat last year so I did some serious investigating with battery manufacturers amongst others. My boat has a 200AH battery bank and even if this is only half discharged it takes a 60 amp alternator close on 8 hours to fully charge itt simply because as the battery voltage builds up so the charging amps fall . Measuring wqith an ammeter shows the charge from the alternator never actually exceeding 45 amps and that isnt for very long. So yes, 20 miles or 20 mins would not be enough to recharge even as small a battery as that on a GS if its well down. AQnd how well it keeps up with use depends on the load you have through spotlights , heated clothing etc, and the engine speed and the state of the wiring. A lot of things in fact.

It's a fair point but depending on age of GS it also has a 60A 750w alternator but only charging a 14ah battery.

Maths aside I ran my bike a couple of years ago solely on the 6 mile commute in the winter with grips and lights on for a month and the battery/charging system kept up just fine. I have never used a battery tender or even used a charger until a month ago. It's still that battery in the bike now although I do have a new one to fit when I get a Mo.