Battery overcharge?
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 532
Likes: 64
From: Manitoba, Canada
Battery overcharge?
I found some thick black liquid on the ground, traced it up to the battery which had it on the sides and top, clearly leaking. It is a sealed gel battery, and was supposed to be new when I bought the bike. I have read that batteries can leak if they are being overcharged, but I can't see how this could be the case. I replaced the battery, but don't want it to happen again, is there something else I can check? Battery reads 12v with bike off and 14v running. There's only about 3000 miles on the bike, it has started and run fine.
Last edited by T Man; Sep 15, 2016 at 06:00 PM. Reason: Change
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
I found some thick black liquid on the ground, traced it up to the battery which had it on the sides and top, clearly leaking. It is a sealed gel battery, and was supposed to be new when I bought the bike. I have read that batteries can leak if they are being overcharged, but I can't see how this could be the case. I replaced the battery, but don't want it to happen again, is there something else I can check? Battery reads 12v with bike off and 14v running. There's only about 3000 miles on the bike, it has started and run fine.
Stock HD volt meter showing 14v max with bike running is normal & not over charging.
To be safe i'd verify the stock volt meter is readin properly by removing the seat and checking voltage at battery using a voltmeter with motor warmed up & at approx 2k-2,200rpm which should show 14V.
I'd consider anything much over 14v @ 2k-2,200rpm overcharging.
Scott
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Overcharging
My volt meter on my RG reads 14.5 volts when running. The dash gages are not accurate enough to really be able to tell exactly what the out put of the voltage regulator is.
If the melted battery bike was on a tender or charger, that's what I would check first. If not on a tender/charger, then check both the voltage regulator and stator.
If the melted battery bike was on a tender or charger, that's what I would check first. If not on a tender/charger, then check both the voltage regulator and stator.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
You can get a rough idea of the batterys state of charge by measuring its voltage at rest.
12.73V - 100% charge
12.62V - 90% charge
12.50V - 80% charge
12.37V - 70% charge
12.24V - 60% charge
12.10V - 50% charge
11.96V - 40% charge
11.81V - 30% charge
11.66V - 20% charge
11.51V - 10% charge
The regulator, when working properly, has an output of between 14.2 - 14.5V. It could be a bit one way or the other but no lower than 14 and no higher than 15. Check it at the battery with a digital volt meter at at least 2000 rpm. The volt meters on the dash are notorious for bei g inaccurate.
The stuff that leaked out, I hope you cleaned and rinsed it really well. That stuff is really rough on paint.
12.73V - 100% charge
12.62V - 90% charge
12.50V - 80% charge
12.37V - 70% charge
12.24V - 60% charge
12.10V - 50% charge
11.96V - 40% charge
11.81V - 30% charge
11.66V - 20% charge
11.51V - 10% charge
The regulator, when working properly, has an output of between 14.2 - 14.5V. It could be a bit one way or the other but no lower than 14 and no higher than 15. Check it at the battery with a digital volt meter at at least 2000 rpm. The volt meters on the dash are notorious for bei g inaccurate.
The stuff that leaked out, I hope you cleaned and rinsed it really well. That stuff is really rough on paint.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 532
Likes: 64
From: Manitoba, Canada
My volt meter on my RG reads 14.5 volts when running. The dash gages are not accurate enough to really be able to tell exactly what the out put of the voltage regulator is.
If the melted battery bike was on a tender or charger, that's what I would check first. If not on a tender/charger, then check both the voltage regulator and stator.
If the melted battery bike was on a tender or charger, that's what I would check first. If not on a tender/charger, then check both the voltage regulator and stator.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 1,601
From: Eastern Ohio
Something could have gone bad in the charger.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 59
From: Port Neches Texas
Use a DMM and check your battery at rest and running. I also have an optima charger they don't get much better. If you think about, that's not a $300.00 gauge on the dash and the difference between 100% and **** is 1/4.
Last edited by ericl; Sep 16, 2016 at 05:57 AM.
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From: Bedford UK
Let's step back for a moment! Using a multimeter measure the voltage at your battery with the engine running and steadily increase engine speed. The voltmeter should not go any higher than around 14.6volts. If it continues to climb higher than that, as engine speed increases, then your battery is being overcharged.
In any event if you have a warranty and a leaking battery you should be talking to your dealer!
In any event if you have a warranty and a leaking battery you should be talking to your dealer!
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 532
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From: Manitoba, Canada
