Reg/Rec killed my battery?

[sloppy joe]

More battery woes, guess its that time of year. ('99 naked by the way).
Posted recently ref possible leakage (6 month old battery going flat every couple of days). However, 0.5ma leakage seemed OK after forum help (despite Haynes manual saying 0.1ma max).
Tested charge rate -
(@5000 rpm).
No lights - 14.5v
Lights on main - 12.8v

This appeared low with lights (was lower after a ride, but can't remember figures now), so decided reg/rec duff. Went for 20 mile ride no lights to see what happens (and it was a lovely afternoon). Battery not strong enought to turn engine next day. Charged up for 6 hours with optimate (didn't have time to leave for full charge/test cycle).
Away for a week, just ordered new reg/rec. Plugged in optimate - won't charge. Utterly dead and apparently irrecoverable.

Now I am thinking poss not reg/reg, or has reg/rec knacked the battery? Or just coincidence? Or is the eakage in fact too high?Battery only bought in Oct last year, and apart from the really crappy few weeks of weather, used mostly daily for 9 mile each way commute, plus weekend rides.

Cheers if you got through the essay above, cheers even more if you can give any words of wisdom.

[jonny.boyd]

I had the same problem, battery going flat every couple of days. Turned out Reg/Rec was faulty and was charging properly with no lights, but soon as lights were on the charge dropped low enough that it was actually the draining the battery rather than charging it!

I've been told it is very possible that a faulty reg / rec can easily knacker a battery (charge goes above 14.5V and is actually overcharging the battery which kills it). In your case it could be possible that the battery has been drained (below 12V or something) so much that it just can't recover anymore.

I'd get new reg / rec and new battery. Fingers crossed problem sorted

[yorkie_chris]

Tested charge rate -
(@5000 rpm).
No lights - 14.5v
Lights on main - 12.8v

This appeared low with lights (was lower after a ride, but can't remember figures now), so decided reg/rec duff. Went for 20 mile ride no lights to see what happens (and it was a lovely afternoon). Battery not strong enought to turn engine next day. Charged up for 6 hours with optimate (didn't have time to leave for full charge/test cycle).
Away for a week, just ordered new reg/rec. Plugged in optimate - won't charge. Utterly dead and apparently irrecoverable.

Now I am thinking poss not reg/reg, or has reg/rec knacked the battery? Or just coincidence? Or is the eakage in fact too high?Battery only bought in Oct last year, and apart from the really crappy few weeks of weather, used mostly daily for 9 mile each way commute, plus weekend rides.

Cheers if you got through the essay above, cheers even more if you can give any words of wisdom.

reg rec can kill battery by deep cycling them.

check wiring too as you can lose those volts through scabby connectors especially when drawing the higher current of the lights.

[sloppy joe]

Connectors all appear OK, despite bike living outside under a cover, and I regularly dose up with WD40. Think maybe another half ton for a battery will be following the half ton shelled on a reg/reg.....

[yorkie_chris]

I like the more modern type of reg-rec and direct wiring to the battery.

[sloppy joe]

Removal of bodywork and replacing reg/rec well within my spannering skills. Modifying parts/wiring moving out of my comfort zone.

[yorkie_chris]

Is "The Fax" Halifax?

[sloppy joe]

Yep, Saville Park area. Actually, think I bumped into you at Halifax Motorcycles few months back when I was having hideous misfire issues (now mysteriously cleared up, although Pro-FST seemed to help in the really cold weather, as did letting the bike catch on the choke on starting, rather then messing with throttle too).

[yorkie_chris]

Aha, howdy :)

Changing reg rec is easy anyway if you fancy giving it a go, otherwise a replacement stock one is easier to fit though slightly less reliable.

[sloppy joe]

Stock one already on its way (hopefully). Now to search for reasonable priced battery that won't give up too quickly. I can just about stomach forking for a battery every 18 months or so, but after 6 months I am muttering. Although if it was the reg/rec that stuffed it, I guess I can't blame the battery.

[MrMessy]

1) Is it still under warranty?
2) Try charging it with an old fashioned battery charger. If a battery is completly flat Optimates will not always charge them up they just "trip off" control circuitry? Where as a charger that just puts out current will bring them back, but be carefull not to overcharge. I have recovered good batteries like this, put some charge in them with an old fashioned charger then put the Optimate on and alls O/K.

[kellyjo]

Replaced my reg rec recently but stll had starting problems, replaced battery and everything a-ok :-)

I therefore assume that the reg/rec had definitely killed the battery :-(

[sloppy joe]

Good point - battery still under warranty and the mechanic I got it from is good and reasonable, but if I killed it by running with a duff reg/rec then prob my fault, not the battery being faulty. Will take it up there and see if he can diagnose that it is completely kaput.