What he said.
battery voltage
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 1
From: billings,montana
battery voltage
hi guys, i'm just wondering what the normal voltage should be for 2009 sportster battery?i've got 13.10 and my local dealership said i should be around 14 volts. the owners manual says a fully charged battery is 12.70. cheers from montana!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 212
12.8 volts is normal.
If you get 13.1 V it is probably okay. My guess is that's recently after riding/charging where the residual charge is a little higher.
It should be above 14 V when the bike is running.
If you get 13.1 V it is probably okay. My guess is that's recently after riding/charging where the residual charge is a little higher.
It should be above 14 V when the bike is running.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
fully charged 12 volt battery at rest - 12.9 volts
bike running with high idle - 14.5 volts
use real tools, not bike gauges!
EDIT - a battery that measures 12.7 volts at rest is about 25% DISCHARGED! These are standards that the BCI have set. (battery council international)
bike running with high idle - 14.5 volts
use real tools, not bike gauges!
EDIT - a battery that measures 12.7 volts at rest is about 25% DISCHARGED! These are standards that the BCI have set. (battery council international)
Last edited by jeffreydsilver; Aug 13, 2012 at 06:16 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pine City, MN
I recently put a USB charge port on my 2000 Sportster and it has a digital voltage display. I was surprised to see only 11.8-12.5 volts. The bike has been starting fine, headlight is fine, I would not have suspected any problems, I thought possibly the USB charge port regulated to 11.5-12 volts like computer power supplies, but when I checked at the battery when running I get the same, right around 12 volts. What should I look for, my first Harley so I'm not familiar with the common drills for trouble shooting. Why am I not having starting problems?
Thanks!
Steve
Thanks!
Steve
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,031
From: Carlsbad, CA
I recently put a USB charge port on my 2000 Sportster and it has a digital voltage display. I was surprised to see only 11.8-12.5 volts. The bike has been starting fine, headlight is fine, I would not have suspected any problems, I thought possibly the USB charge port regulated to 11.5-12 volts like computer power supplies, but when I checked at the battery when running I get the same, right around 12 volts. What should I look for, my first Harley so I'm not familiar with the common drills for trouble shooting. Why am I not having starting problems?
Thanks!
Steve
Thanks!
Steve
Trending Topics
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pine City, MN
It's a Fluke and I trust it, I just went back out to check the battery at rest, been sitting an hour or so since I ran it last, 12.2 volts with the same meter. The USB charge port is hard wired and shows the same 12ish volts when running. The battery was in the bike when I got it, has been sitting for a couple of years, not fully charged but not dead when I got it, 10 volts or so, and required a few ours on a 1 amp charger before it would crank the motor normally, that was in February, I have put about 2ooo miles on since then, starts great hot or cold. Could the battery be pulling it down?
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pine City, MN
I checked the stator and have 50 volts AC at high idle, that seems ok, I'll try to check the voltage regulator. It is still starting fine, but I put the meter on it and shut it off, the battery voltage was at 11.8 running and went up to 12.2 when I shut it off.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
There are a couple of Stickies in the Tech Electrical section which guide you through checking your charging system. Use them to diagnose any problem. What are you using to measure those voltages?