could use some help with battery drain
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 167
Likes: 12
From: florida
could use some help with battery drain
its a new battery,tested good cause i brought it back but it goes low after sitting a couple of days..its in my 89 flhtc,carb model...i figure something is drawing when it aint supposed to and need some advice how to find out how i do it? its charging good,14.42
Supporter
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 32
From: Ft.Worth, Texas
Put an amp meter on it and watch the draw as you remove each fuse. Once you see which fuse causes the amps to drop, trace that circuit top narrow down the cause. Obviously, something is staying on. Could be a relay staying energized, ignition switch, almost anything. Also, just because the system is charging does not mean that the battery is good. It needs to be load tested. New motorcycle batteries are notorious for being bad right off the shelf.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 344
Likes: 6
From: WV
Very good advice there man. !!!
I've bought brand new batteries that were just bad. Could be that. Could be a short, but our old bikes are pretty simple. Things are just off with the key. I'm guessing that the voltage regulator, the commentator, aren't on the key.... Could be that (?). Idk.
I've bought brand new batteries that were just bad. Could be that. Could be a short, but our old bikes are pretty simple. Things are just off with the key. I'm guessing that the voltage regulator, the commentator, aren't on the key.... Could be that (?). Idk.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
usually the diode in the regulator is bad switching the main reg wire to key on will stop the drain But the reg is on the way out and unless your doing this on the road chang the regulator
to confirm this - remove the neg term connect the test light between the two one on battery one end on the removed terminal and it should glow , not usually bright then remove the regulator plus wire the light will go off completely a volt meter also works
to confirm this - remove the neg term connect the test light between the two one on battery one end on the removed terminal and it should glow , not usually bright then remove the regulator plus wire the light will go off completely a volt meter also works
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Those bikes don't have fuses, just a number of circuit breakers, but the suggestion is sound. May be easy as a first investigation to check current draw at each breaker in turn, which may narrow things down for the next stage.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: florida
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: florida
i took the bastt back to interstate and they tested it,said was good,i now have the lead wire to regulator disconnected to see if this is the battery drain. but i also put a test light to it(the reg plug) and the light didnt light which led me to believe its not the reg...thinking the solenoid...
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 167
Likes: 12
From: florida
hey to everybody and thanks for the input,still tryin to chase it down, i tested the regulator by unpluggin it from its plug and putting test light to both terminals(one at a time) and the light didnt light, which led me to believe it isnt the reg(altho i had that happen before and replaced the reg). i'm thinkin maybe the solenoid as it is the only other part not wired to switch for power...?
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 344
Likes: 6
From: WV
When you unhooked the battery lead the short let loose and now isn't showing itself? If so then might be hard to find.
In my mind It must be on something the switch isn't killing by itself when its turned off. Does the switch activate relays or does it control the full amp loads? That I don't know. Mine looks like all the small circuits goes through the switch except the starter, voltage regulator and stator. There is a 40 amp main breaker in that line... idk.
In my mind It must be on something the switch isn't killing by itself when its turned off. Does the switch activate relays or does it control the full amp loads? That I don't know. Mine looks like all the small circuits goes through the switch except the starter, voltage regulator and stator. There is a 40 amp main breaker in that line... idk.
Last edited by rk1997; Apr 7, 2016 at 11:41 AM.