Stator or Voltage Regulator

[gaillarry]

The battery in my 2001 keeps dying. At idle the battery charges at 14.2 volts, as I increase the throttle the voltage drops to 13.2 but still charges the battery. Suspect my 3 yr old battery needs replacement but shouldn't the voltage increase as the rpms increase?

[jonathan180iq]

At idle, there is no way you are producing 14.2 volts. Something is wrong there.

I would charge around 13..6-13.9 at speed on a healthy system. At idle, the bike should just be bubbling a tick over 12.4-12.6.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1036&hilit=volt+meter

[gaillarry]

I checked the stator it's putting out 60 volts AC at about 5000 rpm and its not shorted to ground. I think the volt regulator is the problem.

[blaine]

Sure sounds like the regulator to me. :cool:

[Road_Clam]

Faulty voltage regulators can do both , not charge at all (most common) but they can also "overcharge" ( >15V) . Overcharging will "boil" the internal battery acid and cause your battery to deplete of liquid acid and now you have a junk battery.

[OldNTired]

Originally Posted by Road_Clam

Faulty voltage regulators can do both , not charge at all (most common) but they can also "overcharge" ( >15V) . Overcharging will "boil" the internal battery acid and cause your battery to deplete of liquid acid and now you have a junk battery.

Agreed, but before buying a new battery make sure that
both wires going to the battery are good and clean,
and the connections are good. Corrosion or a bad connection
on either one can lower the charging voltage for the new battery..