Voltage Reading Question

I just have a question regarding the voltage output on my bike. First a bit of background information on what I have already performed.

In the last two months I have replaced the R/R, added a VFRNess, and all connections to the new R/R have been soldered direct to stator wires. I have also double checked the charging system fully, and both the regulator and stator have checked out fine, according to Rubo's post on "How to fix common Regulator/Rectifier problems.

Just yesterday I finished adding a Datel voltmeter to the bike to keep an eye on the charging system so I can see what is happening. I rode the bike home yesterday and I noticed the charging system voltage dropping by the time I got home. Before I left work, bike was cold, battery was fully charged and read 12.9 V at the Datel gauge, and verified at 12.86 V with two different multi-meters. Rode the bike home and by the time I got there the voltage had started to drop. When I arrived home the temp gauge was reading 103*C (216*F) and the outside temperature gauge was at 32*C (90*F), and the high beam and fan were on.

At idle of approx 1300 RPM the voltmeter read 12.78 V, at 2000 RPM it read about 13.08 V (+/- 0.06) and at 2500-3000 RPM it would come back up to 14.33 V. Above 3000 RPM the voltage holds steady at 14.33 (+/- 0.06 V). This morning I rechecked the volts with a multi-meter and readings were the same. When engine is cool and fan is not running (does not kick in until bike reaches (97*C/206*F), the bike reads 13.07 V at idle (appox 1300 RPM), and when above 1800 RPM it reads 14.29 V (+/-) on the voltmeter and approx same (volt gauge reads about 0.05 V below multi meter).

I started the bike and let it idle until the fan kicked in and the voltage dropped at idle to 12.78 V on the voltmeter, and when I rev the motor to about 2500 RPM the voltage goes up slowly on the voltmeter and multi meter to 14.21 V.

Does this sound correct or should the new regulator. The R/R is about two months old and I have put about 1000 km on the bike since the installation. Since I have never had a volt meter I have always checked the volts at the battery when I got home, and the volt readings were fine (bike had usually cooled down and fan off by the time I checked) so this is the first time I have noticed the drop in volts while riding. Oh, and I should mention that the voltmeter is wired direct to the battery through a relay.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Sounds about perfect to me. Which/Who's R/R did you put on?

 

Parts were ordered from wiremybike.com, so an R1 style.

 

Everything checks out fine although it seems like you're trying to find something to worry about. No matter how great every component in your charging system is working, it's normal for the system to be discharging slightly at idle speed, so it's not good to idle too long.

A simple charge indicator on my VFR dash has been a necessary accessory after the first, no, the second time i got flat-batteryed years ago. If your riding local you can often ride back to your base on what charge you have left, but it's best to know. Cheapest deal i've found is the "Alternator tester" with LEDs from HF.**




** Not a compensated endorser

 

Agreed with above poster aka: Ice-Hunchin...There is an expression: its called "looking up the arse of dah motorcycle" just saying...


AnywhoOOO....cHeerS :drinkers:

 

Thanks for the replies, and yes Sqirrelman there is some "Findin something to worry about", going on. More that I just want to be sure that everything is working OK. Just was curious about the voltage drop. Wasn't sure if the volts should drop as all the accessories come on or whether the R/R should stay at the 14 + volts regardless of load. Sounds like I have the answer and apparently is all good, so time to ride with no more worries about the electrical and instead just dumb stuff like, hmmmm, maybe we should have packed sandwiches for this ride.

Mello
The voltmeter is wired through a relay so that the gauge goes on and off with the key. The reading on the voltmeter varies by about 0.05 to 0.1 V compared to the DMM, so the difference in volts in almost nil. As far as the switch idea goes............. My wife and I have just about killed the battery on her Tahoe more than enough times after coming back from a bush-bashing expedition later in the evening (the kids love having "the big lights" on as much as possible when driving in the bush near dark) when we forget to turn the off road lights off. They too, are now wired with a relay, though they do have a dash mounted on/off switch.

Glad to hear that everyone thinks the volts are ok. As I mentioned, this is the first time I have been able to check the volts, in real time if you will, so I wasn't sure if the gauge just wasn't working correctly (wouldn't be the first time I made a wiring error) or if I had another problem. My son and I really enjoy our father and son time on the bike, and I was a bit worried about going for a longer trip and getting stranded too far from home with him on the bike.

As I have said before and sure I will say again, this site is "THE BEST", and everyone on it is fantastic.

Bill