R80GS NOT CHARGING HELP!

[digglevanman]

Hi...the Red warning light has been coming on and off over the last week, even when driving along at decent revs...now the battery is virtually flat...I had to bump it! What should I check??

 

[wessie]

http://www.batteryfaq.org/ has a list of checks to make.

 

[Bryn]

Needs a new alternator rotor ?

Worked for me ....

And welcome to the madhouse
Had to look it up, but now I know where Diggle is

 

[MickDB1]

Might also be a diode on yer diode board that "drops out"or disconnects from its soldered joint when warmed up - my red chargeing light used to slightly glow when engine got warmed up - I made a voltmeter and drove around with it strapped to the bars to note the voltage at the battery - You could use a multimeter if yerve got one
HTHY

 

[digglevanman]

thanks clearly I need an evening in the garage to poke about a bit!!

 

[cookie]

It's not the rotor, if the light comes on

 

[toadjam]

red light

try the relays under the tank . one of mine was loose and the charging light came on

 

[Bryn]

It's not the rotor, if the light comes on

My light was flickering on and off and the new Rotor sorted it ... I assumed it was a break in the wire, and when the rotor warmed up if made a contact

 

[Flipfly]

Just had exactly the same problem. Turned out to be the earth wires to the diode board had broken and a diode had gone out.

New diode board and problem solved (thanks Rob!)

 

[Rob Farmer]

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

I note that it says in the first page to disconnect the battery before charging the battery.. Why would this be. usually just connect up the charger to the battery and leave to cook..... is there a specific reason

 

[cookie]

My light was flickering on and off and the new Rotor sorted it ... I assumed it was a break in the wire, and when the rotor warmed up if made a contact

seen a few dud rotors, but never personally experienced that. must be possible though.

 

[cookie]

I note that it says in the first page to disconnect the battery before charging the battery.. Why would this be. usually just connect up the charger to the battery and leave to cook..... is there a specific reason

i've always been told it's to avoid damage to the rectifier

i always take the battery out. the reason is that i can't bear to leave it unattended with a big croc clip on the + terminal in such close proximity to the frame.

 

[Rob Farmer]

New diode board and problem solved (thanks Rob!)

I'm glad we sorted your oil light problem at the same time Flip

 

[jazzmanb]

probably a one off but traced mine to a break in the circuit board behind dash lights!!..mate and his voltmeter saved the day...

 

[digglevanman]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[wessie]

I note that it says in the first page to disconnect the battery before charging the battery.. Why would this be. usually just connect up the charger to the battery and leave to cook..... is there a specific reason

Health & Safety - you are unlikely to damage the electronics as a battery charger is only doing the same thing as the alternator.

All vehicle batteries produce hydrogen & oxygen as a natural part of the process as water is hydrolysed. When all batteries were wet, lead acid jobs there could be pockets of hydrogen lurking around, especially if the battery is in a confined space. Connecting the battery charger to the battery can produce a spark resulting in a big bang.

Modern, sealed batteries are recombinant in that the hydrogen and oxygen are joined back together to form water again. Hence, unlike wet batteries, they don't need topping up as the gases can't leak to the atmosphere. With these batteries there won't be pockets of hydrogen lurking around and you are unlikely to get a big bang from a spark.

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

Yeah, Had'nt thought about that aspect, despite blowing a battery up many years ago, never run so fast for a tap in my life.