charge Question

MickDB1

MickDB1

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I have read all the recent posts and loads more besides
I dont like keep asking, but I always think it may help another thicky besides me :augie

The charge light just about goes out when the bikes running, I have checked the voltage at the battery and it is 12.7 at tickovet rising quickly to around 13.8 at normal running revs. Dont matter wether the lights are on or off it seems to be pumping out enough electric to run and charge

So why does the red charge/ no charge light never fully go out/ off
I have given every earth connection - connector - brushes etc. a clean and it still does it

I know if I ride when its sunny you cant see it
But when its DARK it is a little barst :spitfire

Any thoughts ot Ideas
any help is, as always, repayed at some time - I hope :thumb2

Mick :thumb
 
I might be getting very old, and maybe mistaken

IIRC the charge light is a different amp or wattage to the others, so it will glow if you put a normal oil. neutral, indicators or high beam one 2 amp / watt I think :rolleyes:
 
My R80 did exactly the same for years, untill a couple of years ago it got a lot of attention before a long tour. I spent hours replacing old wiring connectors with new ones that I soldered, basically any wiring or terminals that looked at all dodgy I replaced, found after that the light would go out completely, like you say it used to be more noticeable at night, now nothing.
 
if the bike keeps starting and the battery is still charging while your running i cant see the problem ..
 
Bailey said:
My R80 did exactly the same for years, untill a couple of years ago it got a lot of attention before a long tour. I spent hours replacing old wiring connectors with new ones that I soldered, basically any wiring or terminals that looked at all dodgy I replaced, found after that the light would go out completely, like you say it used to be more noticeable at night, now nothing.
Click to expand...


I agree. When my Bertha started to destroy herself in France this year, the warning light came on as well, ( I already had the oil warning light on). We took the tank off and checked the wiring connectors and hey presto the generator light went out.. Pity the oil light didnt ,but thats another story:rob
 
I have exactly the same thing with my R80. I have replaced all of the charging components (With the help of Phil from Euroclassic in Northampton, top bloke!) but my generator light still glows even though the bike appears to be charging correctly.

Its doing my head in, I am even tempted to stick some black tape over the warning light.
 
Try this...

Something I found on "glowing Gen light"

With the key in the OFF position and the negative cable removed from the battery (keeping the positive cable still attached) connect a test light between the negative battery post and the disconnected negative battery cable.

* If the test light comes on, there's a short in the electrical system. You must first find out where that short/drain is coming from before we can check out charging system.

A suggestion that might help you track this down would be to disconnect the alternator harness, if the light goes out then the alternator is bad, if the light stays on then move to the fuse block and start removing fuses one at a time until the lamp goes out. This will at least help you figure out which components might be causing the short/drain.

If its not a drain, then it must be earth related.Check the earth for the instrument cluster... is there one?

John
 
Thanks for the very helpful tips and tricks, the last one from Redboots is extreemly interesting and should be added to the Airhead Electrickery section
I have improoved the earthing connections ( again ) the light is almost out now - I think it is - my good friend say's " It Int" . Anyway I recall in a thread somewhere ( I have read so many ) that there was / is a problem with the earth continuity between the Headlamp area and the frame on some models
= This equates to the headrace bearings being damaged as power is tracked through the ballbearings - So I am running a new wire to link earths at the headlight end to the diode board to the rectifier to the battery - if yer follow me drift = daisychainyfashion (Reg. trademark)

Mick :thumb
 
That's interesting, when I did the wiring on mine I also replaced the headstock bearings.
So was it the wiring or a better continuity through new/better adjusted bearings? :confused::
Let us know what happens, always thought it was my fine soldering skills :augie
 
you could try replacing the + wire between the diode board and the starter motor. it goes hard and can cause some very peculiar symptoms DAMHIK :blast


the trick about looking for a drain can be done without a meter. just disconnect the earth lead at the battery & stroke the lead to the battery neg. if there's even a little drain, it will spark.
 
Thanks for all the replies
Here is what I have done ( with guidence from you lads as well )
Cleaned all the connectores joints surfaces etc. still it glowed, but just a tad
I got a voltmeter off Fleabay connected it then went for a run to warm it all up ( the light used to glow more as the bike went on longer runs )
The voltmeter although not too accurate was showin that the voltage reduced/dropped the further the bike went
Had all the front cover off again furked about then noticed a soldered joint on the front of Diode board looked dodgey. Further inspection with flashlight and Magnifying glass revealed a diode had dropped/come to bits/buggered up
Read some articles on testing the board diodes - One had gone daft OK

Buy a new un or back on fleabay ??

A great chap from over in Cork- Somclan
posted me an old un that he didnt know if good or bad, but was good to learn more on/off Thanks to him :thumb2
That one was a dud as well but prooved me testing test worked I now have found that if you unsolder a dodgy diode drill a 4.8mm hole in the big end thread it out 6mm you can insert a bolt and tease the DD out
I am now working out a method of removing one without daaging it so I may be able to insert in into the empty DD hole
More later

I know it may seem painfull, but its better than going to work eh!! :thumb
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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