is it my battery? - or my alternator?

[branny]

so.... my battery went flat (yep, like everyone elses) and i took it out and charged it up.
i left it on the bench a few days and it kept its charge.
fitted it.... rode with it for 30 miles or so over a few weeks.... then it lost its charge!

so... is the battery duff?

how can i check for a problem with the alternator?
do i hold a multimeter over the outputs of the alternator when its running???


any ideas?

[BILLY]

Use your multi meter when the bikes running hold it on the battery terminals to see if your altinator is kicking out 13.5volts. i think!!

[Speedy]

:) Voltage output should be about 13.5VOLTS,Check across battery terminals. Get a OPTIMATE charger if your gonna leave your bike un-ridden for awhile,you can leave it connected all the time,and it 'maintains' your battery.I've got one.When I started mine after being stood for a while,it fired immediately. :D

[Blue_SV650S]

As BILLY said, stick ya multimeter to DC and see what you get across the battery. Measure it with the bike off first, should be about 12.5+ volts. Start the bike and see what the voltage is then. Even with lights on it should be greater than the sitting voltage you just measured. Then rev the bike up, don’t be surprised if the voltage drops slightly as this is the regulation. A nice healthy charging system should give you between ~13 and 14.5v whatever the revs. If it goes to 15v+ something (reg/rec unit or genny itself) is foooked … if it struggles to get over 12 then something is foooooked too :)

Let us know the results and can advise other tests from there. :)

[TSM]

I thought that on tickover it would read about 13.5 and when you rev up it should go to around 14. Well thats what mine does and works fine.

[branny]

i have jus noticed that my battery isnt actually charging..... ie, its full
now- this tells me that the problem may lie with the starter motor :-(

where is the starter motor? and what are the common symptoms of a dodgy starter motor??

im a little puzzled to be honest :?

[BILLY]

If your battery not charging becase it's showing as full the problem could sill be your battery! On a curvey the starter motor is located below the front cylinder behind the exhaust! It's about 5in long by 3in in diamiter with a thick cable coming out of it!!!!

[BILLY]

If your battery is ok look at the starter celeniode its located under the riders seat at the right behind the infill pannel!!!!! ps; it's in a green box!

[branny]

well, i replaced the battery last week
all seemed well, bike started fine
not really used it much.... a couple of rides maybe
out on it todays and it seemed a little unhappy starting.... then stopped for gas and im back to square 1-
it seems like the battery is dead, the starter tries, but not very hard!!!
it makes whining noises and fades out... with the occasional #clunk# :shock:

i have checked the battery with (my new) multimeter - it has 11.6V
the battery that i replaced has 12.6V !!!!! (did it need replacing?)

is the issue current? i cant seems to get an amp reading from either battery.

im kinda counting out the alternator.... unless a flat battery gives good voltage but zero Amps.... will a flat battery give 12V???

im thinking starter motor again. ???

my bike starts fine from a bump start and ticks over nicely....

HELP ME!!!! :?

[RandyO]

more than likely your regulator/rectifier is fried, it is the weak point in most motorcycle charging systems, including the SV

[BILLY]

more than likely your regulator/rectifier is fried, it is the weak point in most motorcycle charging systems, including the SV as RandyO said have it checked and replace if necessary or you'll fry another battery!!!!!

[branny]

interesting!

cheers guys..... so where is the regulator, how do i check it..... and how much is a new one???? :lol:

[LondonLad]

does sound identical to the problem i had - when the rectifier was got to some of the contact points had fried. these were replaced and the problem was solved.

[BILLY]

It's on the left hand side behind the tail plastics!!!

[Sid Squid]

Wrong, reg/rec is on the right.

Charging problems? Please ignore the "I think" and the "it oughts" and read this thread:

Clickety click (http://forums.sv650.org/viewtopic.php?p=320896&highlight=#320896)

Reg/rec and alternator tests are included, as are suggestions as to what you might do to resolve the situation. Enjoy and digest.


PS: Search.

[BILLY]

Sorry I get confused :lol:

[branny]

cheers mr squid.
i will try that tonight.,.. even though that test involves starting the bike! which may be difficult :(


1 question though........ if the battery isnt flat.... how can it be a charging problem??????

i gotta say, i like the idea of this rectifier jobby being the solution but i keep thinking starter motor. what would a duff starter motor do?

[branny]

further to previous post.....

ok, im sold on the idea of it being a charging system fault.

the battery obviously doesnt have enough current to start the engine...

so, im hoping the only culprit is the reg/rec, and i havent got a burnt out alternator.
i just hope this hasnt wrecked my new £35 battery!!!

Where can i get a reg/reg cheap??? Suzuki want £130 +vat !!!!!!
A new alternator is £300+
this is a nightmare....

any good bike scrappers in preston area???

will this one on ebay be any use? off a gs650
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-GS-650-REGULATOR-RECTIFIER-GS550-850-1000_W0QQitemZ8059262999QQcategoryZ10534QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem

[branny]

well... after a good while FINDing the regulator / rectifier, i did some testing-

with a battery that gave 12.8v-

no lights, idle - 14.3V
no lights, 5000 rpm - 13.9V
lights idle - 12.3V
lights 5000 - 12.5V


engine idling, RR red/black plug disconnected -
Batt + ----> RR red = 0.1V
Batt - ------> RR Black = 0.05 ish V

PLEASE HELP ME !!!!!! :shock: