Battery Draining issues

I am having problems with my 2000 curvy, If I fully charge the battery and ride around without lights on, everything is fine, but if I use my lights it drains the battery to the point where it wont start again, Also if I leave the bike standing with the light switch on but ignition off this also drains the battery , I have checked the charging system and it seems to be fine and is charging at just over 14v, Any ideas as to what could be wrong would be greatly appreciated, Thanks

[DJ123]

have you checked the battery for holding capacity? battery might well be buggered

[TamSV]

Originally Posted by Robert711

Also if I leave the bike standing with the light switch on but ignition off this also drains the battery

This makes me think you've got a short related to the headlight switch (assuming you didn't have the parking light on).

I take it you've got access to a multimeter as you've checked the charging system already?

Check for a short by doing a leakage test. With the ignition OFF and light switch OFF, disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Set your multimeter to the Amps function. Connect the negative lead of your meter to the negative terminal of the battery. Connect the positive lead of the meter to the disconnected negative lead.

You want to see a reading of no more than 0.1mA but set the meter at a high rating initially and then reduce it to the milliamps setting just in case there's a high current flow.

If that looks OK, turn your meter back up to a high setting and flick the headlight switch ON and see what you get.

Sadly I dont have a multimeter I went to my local Bike shop the other day for a rear tyre and they checked it of me lol, I will have to go and get one, I have checked 3 batteries now and they are all doing the same and 1 of them was a new battery charged with an oxford oximiser 600, Will let you know what readings I get when I get a multimeter, Thanks for they replies

Fitted a new clock surround to my SK1 which for some bizarre reason didn't have an oil pressure light. The battery got more and more sluggish cos I assume it was trying to talk to the oil pressure light and getting no answer. The guy who sold me the surround swapped it for one with an oil light. Problem solved.

Sounds to me like you've got a leak somewhere. However since I find that the fridge light comes on when I open the door what do I know. BTW have you ever tried shutting the fridge door to see if you can get the light to go off before the door closes. Keeps me amused for hours.

[Geodude]

You get a multimeter yet, any further forward as to the problem? Have a look through this fault finder just incase it helps.

A suitable multimeter will only cost around a fiver, on ebay or market stool so get one, really useful. You wont get a good make one for that but it will do everything you want.

If you run with lights on you should still get 14volts or certainly over 13 so that will be the first check. I would suggest a charging issue if you are sure the batteries you have used are OK. You say you tested the charge at 14volts was this with the lights on? I thought the curvy had the headlights come on with the ignition? Maybe the earlier ones were different to my son's 2001.

By "leaving the light switch on" do you mean parking lights? With side lights on it will run the battery down but hard to know because you don,t say how long you left them on.

More specific symptoms required.

[Sir Trev]

2000 curvys still had headlight on/off switches.

Originally Posted by Sir Trev

2000 curvys still had headlight on/off switches.

Right then you need to get a voltage reading with the engine running and the lights on.

One word regulator. common fault. check to see if you have just over 14v at tick over then raise revs and hold for a minute at 2-2500rpm if it drops bobs your uncle.