Battery not charging fully
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3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7
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From: Colorado
Battery not charging fully
Hello,
This is the problem with my 2000 XL 1200 Sportster
A fully charged battery is losing its charge after riding around. After a dead battery on the road I decided to pull the fuse for the lights because the headlight pulls a lot of juice. Once I got it started it worked, no more problem. I pulled it into the garage and put the volt meter on it and here is what I found. Without the light fuse at RPM (no tach) I was getting about 14.36 volts. With the light fuse plugged in at RPM, 12.22 volts. The question is am I cheating by not having the lights hooked up to get the 14 volts and should be getting more than 14 volts? Or do I have a problem with wiring to the lights?
I checked the stator and if Im doing my tests correctly there doesnt seem to be short or grounded stator. At RPM producing 60-70 vac. Ive checked the voltage regulator and it also seems to fine. The next logical thing to check would be the wiring. I do have a wiring schematic but I dont know how to check the wiring for a fault. I do have a multimeter with a continuity tester but sure how or where to start the test.
Thanks,
Kickstart*
This is the problem with my 2000 XL 1200 Sportster
A fully charged battery is losing its charge after riding around. After a dead battery on the road I decided to pull the fuse for the lights because the headlight pulls a lot of juice. Once I got it started it worked, no more problem. I pulled it into the garage and put the volt meter on it and here is what I found. Without the light fuse at RPM (no tach) I was getting about 14.36 volts. With the light fuse plugged in at RPM, 12.22 volts. The question is am I cheating by not having the lights hooked up to get the 14 volts and should be getting more than 14 volts? Or do I have a problem with wiring to the lights?
I checked the stator and if Im doing my tests correctly there doesnt seem to be short or grounded stator. At RPM producing 60-70 vac. Ive checked the voltage regulator and it also seems to fine. The next logical thing to check would be the wiring. I do have a wiring schematic but I dont know how to check the wiring for a fault. I do have a multimeter with a continuity tester but sure how or where to start the test.
Thanks,
Kickstart*
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Welcome from Virginia , USA ...... At very fast idle 2000 rpm or more (throttlecranked about1/8 turn or so with lights on it should read around 15 volt. RPM makes a big difference. never unplug lights. Always on. Fully charge battery with a maintance type charger slow inpedance..should take a few days. Remove battery and take to auto zone or walmart for a free cold cranking amp check to be sure battery is not worn out. Must be fully carge to check this. If not OK, replace battery. PM if you need some more details or better explanation
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