Electrical weirdness
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- Practicing Bicycling
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- My Bike: 2001 Intruder 1400
Electrical weirdness
Bike had been sitting for a while and when I turned on the ignition the indicated voltage (I have a digital voltmeter wired directly to the battery) went from 12 down to 6 or so and then when I pushed the starter button the digital voltmeter went completely blank. OK, low battery, so I hooked up my Deltran charger and began to see some strange things. The voltage fluctuated every second or so by a huge margin -- 12.5 - 15.1 - 6.6 - 13.0 - 8.6- 15.0 -7.2 -- etc. -- constantly going from very high to very low. Leaving the charger on for an extended time doesn't seem to change anything. What's happening? I hope it's as simple as a bad battery but I've never seen that wildly fluctuating voltage while charging before.
- Herb
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Re: Electrical weirdness
Sounds like a bad battery to me. There are places that will load test the battery for free.
I can't seem to win the lottery. I think I have used up all of my good luck riding motorcycles.
- sgtcall
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Re: Electrical weirdness
Before you try and chase down a gremlin take the battery to any auto parts store and have it load tested. If you don't start with a good battery you will never find the issue. But like Herb said it is probably a bad battery.
If you have any type of electrical issue, have your battery load tested before you do anything else. Any auto parts store will test it for free.
- hillsy v2
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Re: Electrical weirdness
Just to check - do you have the charger connected directly to the battery terminals or is it connected via the bikes wiring? More than likely a dud battery but also symptoms of loose wire connections.
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Re: Electrical weirdness
Charger is wired directly to the battery terminals with harness provided by Deltran. I'd better just get a new battery because I don't know the age of this one and I'd hate to get stranded up in the Sierra where there is no phone service.
- Designer
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Re: Electrical weirdness
Smart move.
Just as Herb and Sgtcall mention. the foundation of any-and-all good running is a Battery in full charge and top condition.
- FallenAngel
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Re: Electrical weirdness
a loose connection will also give sporadic readings
- hillsy v2
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Re: Electrical weirdness
It's obvious, but needs be said ........when you preplace the Battery, any loose connection issues will be fully addressed in their entirety.
And given you do not know the age of the battery, (and thus it's reliability in the remoteness of Sierra Mountain Environment),....replacing it seems to be Sensible and Cheap Insurance.
![nothing :space:](./images/smilies/SPACE.png)
![DontKnow :dunno:](./images/smilies/Icon%20dunno.gif)
- hillsy v2
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Re: Electrical weirdness
Seems to me that the battery connection(s) at the battery is what you were talking about him checking.
![nothing :space:](./images/smilies/SPACE.png)
And,...he says the voltmeter is also connected only at the battery;
![DontKnow :dunno:](./images/smilies/Icon%20dunno.gif)
- hillsy v2
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Re: Electrical weirdness
I said check that first.
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Re: Electrical weirdness
What I am saying is that when he wisely replaces the Battery, ( for the stated reasons mentioned) checking for looseness at the current Battery Connections at the Battery Terminals would not be necessary.
Wouldn't you agree?
![nothing :space:](./images/smilies/SPACE.png)
![DontKnow :dunno:](./images/smilies/Icon%20dunno.gif)
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Re: Electrical weirdness
FYI, each and every battery cable has two ends.... ![Really? :uhh:](./images/smilies/icon_uhh.gif)
![Really? :uhh:](./images/smilies/icon_uhh.gif)
- Herb
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Re: Electrical weirdness
If the charger and the volt meter connections are at the battery and he is getting strange readings, the issue pretty much has to be at the battery.
I can't seem to win the lottery. I think I have used up all of my good luck riding motorcycles.
- FallenAngel
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- hillsy v2
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Re: Electrical weirdness
In the interests of posting what is Factually Accurate Information on our Tech Board,... so as to be The Best Benefit To Others,.....Please hillsy,....show us all where I said what you say I did .....(posted underlined above) .
- Herb
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Re: Electrical weirdness
Considering the way the gripe was written, the following pretty much covers it and the other end could be hanging out in space for all the fucking difference it makes.
"If the charger and the volt meter connections are at the battery and he is getting strange readings, the issue pretty much has to be at the battery."
I can't seem to win the lottery. I think I have used up all of my good luck riding motorcycles.
- hillsy v2
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Re: Electrical weirdness
I never claimed you said anything - if you want to go off on another of your pissy little rants you should technically be aiming it at navigator.