Charging question

[davegs]

I am a refugee from the 1150 oilhead section, have a mate in South Africa who's got an 100RS (year unknown) on which the battery goes flat in a couple of days or so if not ridden. He's put on a new battery and even fitted an isolating switch but it still goes down, I havent seen it so dont know where the switch is connected. Advised him it sounded like a charging prob and advised him to check with a volt meter, all he's done is tell me that the dash mounted meter shows 14 volts when revved, but has not checked the battery with an external meter. I am not familier with air heads having sold my trouble free R80 some time ago so any one got any ideas? could it be our old favorite the diode board?.But not sure where that is connected in regard to the dash volt meter. Any helpful advice and of course the useuall unhelpful
appriciated.
Dave (abba fan )GS.

 

[nud1e]

diode box - one of the diodes are gone short and the battery is discharging to ground. This fried the solenoid on the Bosch starter on my R75/6, as a side effect.

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

My 80g/s does the same. I asked on this site and was told to check with a volt meter( but no one told me exactly how to do it) So now is the time for me to come out of the cupboard and admit that I dont have much idea about how to use my multimeter to find out where the "leak "is. I would be very interested if one of you Guru's would take the time now that there two of us numpties

 

[Steptoe]

Iand even fitted an isolating switch but it still goes down,

Must be the battery - how else would it go flat if it's isolated.

 

[nud1e]

My 80g/s does the same. I asked on this site and was told to check with a volt meter( but no one told me exactly how to do it) So now is the time for me to come out of the cupboard and admit that I dont have much idea about how to use my multimeter to find out where the "leak "is. I would be very interested if one of you Guru's would take the time now that there two of us numpties

here are some links - On Bike Diode Testing, http://www.ibmwr.org/r-tech/airheads/diode_brd_chk.shtml, De-mystifying Boxer Electrics

this should get you started.

 

[John Armstrong]

Some info

http://www.doctronics.co.uk/meter.htm

You'll be basically looking for current flow where it shouldn't be, eg everything switched off, in theory there should be virtually no amps between the battery and earth.

Trouble is nowadays a multimeter will cover large volts and small amps, which is the safe for the body, but you need to know the difference as you'll just end up frying the meter if you try and measure resistance (ohms) and there's volts in the circuit

Best to find a school kids simple electrics course book and get the basics from that.

 

[Redboots]

I would be very interested if one of you Guru's would take the time now that there two of us numpties

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzjMIcER4EU:aidan

John

 

[davegs]

Charging probs.

Thanks guys, I know about the isolating switch Neil but i don't know where he's fitted it don't think he knows much bout electrics and I havent seen
the bike at al just what I've heard by e-mail. I thought of diode board but not having an airhead or a book not sure so any way I'll tell him and he can take it from there. Many thanks any way.
dave gs.

 

[John Armstrong]

Any help in this lot:

http://www.gunsmoke.com/motorcycling/r100gs/charge_diagnostics/index.html

 

[davegs]

Charging

Thanks for that John, havent heard anything back yet very difficult when you've never seen the bike or met the owner still bit more to pass on if and when required.
dave gs.