Battery drainage - please help me sort it once and for all! - SV650.org

09-08-11, 01:01 PM

Right, my SV has been having some battery issues lately. After a week or so of not being used the battery is totally dead and it will not start.

I have done voltage tests over the battery to check if it's charging and here are the results:

Idle / Lights off: ~14.28v
5k RPM / Lights off: ~13.96v
Idle / Lights on: ~13.66v
5k RPM / Lights on: ~13.00v

I'm guessing that the battery should be charging at over 14v when at 5k RPM even with the lights on?

I'm also guessing there is some sort of current leak when the bike is not being used as the bike can discharge a full battery in about 2 weeks. May sound like a stupid question but what setting should I put my multimeter on for testing for current loss? I'm garbage when it comes to electrics I know!

P.S the bike has a Datatool alarm fitted. Could this be causing a major current drain?

09-08-11, 01:16 PM

Also, battery and regulator were both replaced about 12 months ago.

NedSVS · 09-08-11, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radicalry00

Right, my SV has been having some battery issues lately. After a week or so of not being used the battery is totally dead and it will not start.

I have done voltage tests over the battery to check if it's charging and here are the results:

Idle / Lights off: ~14.28v
5k RPM / Lights off: ~13.96v
Idle / Lights on: ~13.66v
5k RPM / Lights on: ~13.00v

I'm guessing that the battery should be charging at over 14v when at 5k RPM even with the lights on?

I'm also guessing there is some sort of current leak when the bike is not being used as the bike can discharge a full battery in about 2 weeks. May sound like a stupid question but what setting should I put my multimeter on for testing for current loss? I'm garbage when it comes to electrics I know!

P.S the bike has a Datatool alarm fitted. Could this be causing a major current drain?

Did you recharge the battery before testing the voltages? The output should be checked with a fully charged battery. To check the leakage current just disconect one of the battery terminals and use your multimeter on the DC amps setting. I would guess it should only be drawing milliamps. If you haven't got the information on how much the alarm should draw, look up the manufacturer on the internet and ask them. If the battery has been left flat too many times then its performance will have suffered - even though it is only about 1 year old.

Winder · 09-08-11, 06:10 PM

Alarms are a battery zapper!

fizzwheel · 09-08-11, 06:24 PM

I'd look at the datatool as being the culprit before I started looking elsewhere TBH.

Mind you I would have thought it would last longer than a week before being flat enough that you can't start the bike.

Sid Squid · 09-08-11, 08:59 PM

If your battery is even slightly better than a paperweight at supplying current a Datatool won't flatten it in a week.

11-08-11, 07:30 AM

TAke off the neg - battery lead

Make sure the bike if off.

set multimeter to amps
One end on the battery and one end on the lead using the meter to bridge the two.

Read the numbers.

Or google it in case i've got a step wrong.

09-08-11, 01:01 PM	#1
radicalry00 Guest Posts: n/a	Battery drainage - please help me sort it once and for all! Right, my SV has been having some battery issues lately. After a week or so of not being used the battery is totally dead and it will not start. I have done voltage tests over the battery to check if it's charging and here are the results: Idle / Lights off: ~14.28v 5k RPM / Lights off: ~13.96v Idle / Lights on: ~13.66v 5k RPM / Lights on: ~13.00v I'm guessing that the battery should be charging at over 14v when at 5k RPM even with the lights on? I'm also guessing there is some sort of current leak when the bike is not being used as the bike can discharge a full battery in about 2 weeks. May sound like a stupid question but what setting should I put my multimeter on for testing for current loss? I'm garbage when it comes to electrics I know! P.S the bike has a Datatool alarm fitted. Could this be causing a major current drain? Last edited by radicalry00; 09-08-11 at 01:40 PM.

09-08-11, 01:16 PM	#2
radicalry00 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Battery drainage - please help me sort it once and for all! Also, battery and regulator were both replaced about 12 months ago.

09-08-11, 06:10 PM	#4
Winder Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Moved again now in Bracknell Posts: 981	Re: Battery drainage - please help me sort it once and for all! Alarms are a battery zapper! __________________ "Somewhere between happy and total f**kin wreck"

09-08-11, 06:24 PM	#5
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	Re: Battery drainage - please help me sort it once and for all! I'd look at the datatool as being the culprit before I started looking elsewhere TBH. Mind you I would have thought it would last longer than a week before being flat enough that you can't start the bike. __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

09-08-11, 08:59 PM	#6
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Re: Battery drainage - please help me sort it once and for all! If your battery is even slightly better than a paperweight at supplying current a Datatool won't flatten it in a week. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

11-08-11, 07:30 AM	#7
Geese Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Battery drainage - please help me sort it once and for all! TAke off the neg - battery lead Make sure the bike if off. set multimeter to amps One end on the battery and one end on the lead using the meter to bridge the two. Read the numbers. Or google it in case i've got a step wrong.

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