Charging lamp lit but voltage ok?

Discussion in 'Supersport (1974-2007)' started by Macca, May 23, 2012.

  1. After resurecting my Superlight from it slumbers all was going well until I started to get the charging lamp lit on a run out :/
    With the bike running the voltage at the battery was between 13 and 14.4 volts subject to revs even with the lamp lit. The brighteness of the lamp varied a bit from off to just glowing and full on but all the time it appeared to have a charge at the battery as volts were always above the static battery voltage :?
    Anyone seen this before? I think its still running a ducati regulator and couldnt find any loose wires from generator to the reg (wiggling also had no effect on lamp or voltage).
    Is it an early sign of the rectifier heading for the scrapyard.
    Any thoughts appreciated.
     
  2. Hi,
    With the engine stopped the red charging lamp is fed from the battery, when the engine is running the alternator/regulator reduces the voltage drop across the lamp to zero and it goes out, wiring fault or as you said regulator on it's way out. Will check the wiring diagram when I get home tonight....Mike
     
  3. Had similar on my 748 recently, I thought rectifier so fitted a new one and all is well.
    Steve
     
    #3 Birdie, May 24, 2012
    Last edited: May 24, 2012
  4. If the battery is in good condition and fully charged, then the reg/rec should have eased how much it is allowing to the battery, otherwise at that rate you will soon be in for a new battery.....

    ....I ride with lights on because my reg/rec puts out a bit too much even though the battery is fine.

    The fact that the warning light is coming on in varying levels of intensity, is an indication that you either have a wire touching an earth point somewhere (in the headstock area, possibly) or the reg/rec is beginning to fail.........as others have said.

    Stick an RR51 on....simpler wiring to start off with.....if you have a problem with the Electrex wiring, see below.....

    AL.

    REG WIRING e.jpg
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. Cheers all and AL :)
    Think I'll be fitting a new regulator soon then. The battery is brand new MotoBat AGM and didnt need any charge when connected to the battery tender as it showed green straight away.
    Just need to find decent supplier.

    Macca
     
  6. I meant to say, the RR51 is for Ess-esses etc with both two and three wires from the alternator.....the diagram above is obviously for the two wire alternator,

    The green and red wires are 'new' from the RR51, but as I see it, unless you have a problem with the wire that has the big 30amp fuse in it, it could be used to join to the RR51 red wire........the fuse only protects the OEM reg/rec.......and the RR51 is fused inside, which is not replaceable....(unless you work for Electrex, that is)....so why not use the 30amp fuse for added protection, I reckon.

    The white and white/red are the 'no charge' warning light circuit.

    http://www.electrexworld.co.uk/acatalog/RR51.html

    AL.

    PS. I have an OEM reg/rec you can borrow for testing if you wish, but be warned.....I have never tested it, so I can't guarantee it will work.
     
    #6 Ghost Rider, May 24, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: May 24, 2012
  7. I've got a "spare" on my 888 but figured that the hassle of taking both off and swapping is too much (lazy fekka) so ordered a new RR51. Hope it will be with me soon. I couldn't see any loom issues but I have a spare one that will go on with the 3 gauge dash once I get a later screen to clear the extra clock . I want to be tortured by hot oil temps ....maybe a voltmeter would be a better 3rd gauge.
     
  8. Well it looks like my regulator is definitely on the way out, I'd fitted a small volt meter to the bike that I could check when out as the battery light is now on pretty much permanently. At first the voltage looked normal ish if a little on the high side @14.8 volts which dropped to under 14 with the lamps on but it didnt last and soon the charge voltage was going over 15Volts. Not good and likely to fry the battery and sensitve electronics too if left at that too long . Unfortunatley my orderd replacement hasnt shipped yet so not to happy with my chosen "good" supplier especially as they showed in in stock :/
     
  9. Macca, did you order direct from Electrex as mine came first class and arrived in two days.
     
  10. No MandP as Electrex was the dearest supplier by 20% or thereabouts. Will see what happens on monday
     
  11. Whoo Hoo its fixed (or at least appears to be famous last words etc) . M&P took a week from order date to ship the reg to me as they didnt carry any stock so ordered from Electrex then shipped out once they had it, I suspect if you ordered 1st thing monday it would arrive by friday but mine was delayed by a weekend. Once I got the old one out I found a corroded connection behind the regulator , seems to be the one that feeds the main fuse (red wire spliced into two), which I could have repaired but figured it was best fitting the RR51 as the old one was a Ducati original and could have been the one fitted from new. I had to source some longer bolts and washers (from my accumlated spares pile) as the originals are too short to go through the RR51 heatsink but other than that its realitively straight forward though the Eltrex destructions are a little vague on where to connect the white bat indicator wire to, thankfully Al's diagram above covered this off better. Just need the missus home so I can discharge my minding duties and take it out for spin to check the running voltages. Hopefully the showers will stay away.
     
    #11 Macca, Jun 1, 2012
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2012
  12. Just for info really, I had the regulator go on my M600 Monster last week and after looking at the Electrex ones (RR54 for my 3 wire 2000 model at £120 inc VAT, I decided to price up a Ducati one for a laugh. Surprise, surprise it was only £82 inc VAT! As I'm a bit strapped for cash at the moment and as the original rectifier had lasted 12yrs and over 26,000 miles I plumped for the Ducati one, blagged a bit of discount at Riders (you only have to ask nicely really!) and it was mine for £75.

    I've had similar experiences with several other OEM parts from Ducati in the past (for various models) in that they are often cheaper than alternative replacement parts and not nearly as expensive as you might think. Obviously there are exceptions, but it pays to check first I reckon.
     
Do Not Sell My Personal Information