Battery has 12.76 volts. When running at battery 13.86volts. (with meter)
Volt gauge on fairing 13+ volts.
As soon as I turn on lights, signal or brake.
The volt gauge goes below 12volts (discharge)
Looking for ideas of what to look for?

 

Can you still start the bike?

 

if you are seeing "normal" reading at the battery with a real voltmeter go by those readings.

the meter in the dash tends to read low due to voltage drop in the wiring---

I know that on my bike my meter reads 1.6 volts low, and is more affected by the loads ( lights etc.) up front that share wiring.

My last bike, while re-wiring a bunch of other stuff, I had the meter connected to the battery via a relay.

mike

 

I had the same problem. You have a short somewhere. I found mine at the neck in a bundle of wires. Look for wear on on the sheathing and you'll find the short. Year and make please.

 

my readings were showing the same thing, so i checked the battery connections and had the battery load tested, found it had 2 dead cells got it replaced, so far so good, just sayin before ya start looking else were.

 

Weak battery or bad connection. The battery is made to start the bike not maintain the accessories while it's not running.

 

Sorry,Bike is 1990 FLHTC. Already put in a new battery.

 

The bike will start. Just getting that discharge with lights,etc.

 

I have a 1991 FLT and volt meter has read exactly 2 volts below voltage checked at battery since new. I believe it is correct that volt meter is wired (poor engineering, but maybe saved 5 cents on extra wire at factory) in line with other accessories (lights) which causes incorrect reading. When I hook voltage gauge direct to battery, the meter reading is correct. For the past 20 years, I have just added the missing two volts to the reading when checking voltage through the volt meter.

 

If there was a short, wouldn't that blow something? Any sugestions appreciated.