OK, it's been a interesting day, I went to get my tyres fitted from F&P and to start with my battery was a bit flat so I charged it for 30 mins, stuck it on the bike and it fired, I went for fuel a mile away and it started again no probs, I went the 35 odd miles to F&P had my tyres fitted and it started fine. On the way back it was snowing so I had my lights on, I got to within half a mile of my house, pulled up at a set of traffic lights and didn't keep a bit of throttle on and it stalled (see carb related problem thread), anyway, the battery was dead, starter would just turn but wouldn't fire, not enough power, so I ended up pushing my bike home in 1/2 inch of snow - not fun and not best pleased.
Anyway! below is a chronilical log of events and volts from this evening:
5:20pm - Bike wont start - Battery out of bike and on the table - 12.18 Volts
5:35pm - Battery charging using a 12v 300ma charger - 12.64 volts
6.06pm - Still charging - 12.82 volts
6.32pm - Finished charging (well enough to start the bike) - 12.87 volts
6.36pm - Battery on the bike and started up
- at 2k rpm 13.26 to 13.35 volts
- at 5k rpm 13.20 volts
- lights on 12.60 volts at 1.5k rpm
- 1 minute later this has dropped to 12.34 volts
- just the side lights on and not the main lights 12.95 volts
- after 30 seconds it has climbed to 13.10 volts with just sides
- after another 30 seconds climbed to 13.19 volts at 1.5k rpm and 13.14 volts at 5k rpm
Next I switched the lights off and left it idling and it got upto 13.40 volts then it dropped back to 13.15 volts and stayed there for about 20 seconds then jumped to 13.38 volts then climbed to 13.41 volts and then dropped back to 13.15 volts (no rpm changes)
Turned the ignition off and it was 12.97 volts and after a smoke it had dropped to 12.88 volts.
I'll leave it attached and see how much it drops. (or should I do something else)
so it seems that turning my lights on kills the battery, the bulbs are Phillips X-tremes H4's 12v 60/55 watt. I tend to like riding with my lights on which isn't going to work but what am I up against here, knackered battery, Reg Rec issue, bad earth, cables rubbing or all of the above.
What should I do next?
Many Thanks