• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Battery drain - no ground?

  • Thread starter Thread starter suziscrambler
  • Start date Start date
S

suziscrambler

Guest
Hey electrical geniuses.

(note: I did not have a volt meter available at time of this post)

I am reviving my 1982 GS650E from a slumber. The old battery was on its way out and the previous owner isn't 100% certain on the stator being replaced. So I bought a new AGM battery and started fine. To my disappointment I noticed the battery was draining every 2 days - the worse circumstance which led me stranded on a busy highway with no power.

Having checked all wires being securely connected I realised a ground wire from the regulator/rectifier hanging lose that was previous always connected to the old batter's negative terminal. My main question is: Will this ground wire be responsible for a battery drain? I've read the Stator Page's diagram of a typical charging system and I can see the ground but that comes out from the battery's end?

The ground wire is now re-connected to the negative terminal but I am afraid to ride it in case I get stranded again (not fun pushing 200kg on a hilly neighbourhood!).

I have attached a photo. Thanks in advance !
 

Attachments

  • battery.jpg
    battery.jpg
    90.3 KB · Views: 0
Well ,do short trips till you find out! A faulty rectifier/regulator can discharge a battery, so get to the charging tests that we keep harping . Fully charge the battery, and disconnect the r/r from harness and see if the battery stays charged overnight.
 
If you are running the bike, THAT is the source of the battery drain.

If the R/R is not connected to the battery, that is only the source of the battery not being charged.

When you start the bike to go get a voltmeter, you can at least do a quick test to see if it's charging. With the bike at idle, shine the headlight against a wall, so you can see it. Rev the engine a bit, see if the headlight gets brighter. If it does, the bike is charging, at least a bit. Now ride the bike to go get your voltmeter so you can see how WELL it's charging.

.
 
You say you have read the Stator Papers. There are many posts by member Posplayr regarding all things charging on these bikes. Start with a fully charged battery and do the Quick Test as he has described (links as per his signature below).

Read about Charging ​
Quick Test
​
GS Charging Health
If you report your results here, Posplayr will usually comment on the interpretation of your results.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

crazyramen
Ground Loops, Mystery Fuse, and Bad Crimpers
Replies
3
Views
133
crazyramen
crazyramen
at25sw
Charging issues help and troubleshoiting
2
Replies
23
Views
439
at25sw
at25sw
P
Unknown short, no power anywhere
Replies
8
Views
214
Puntachu
P
O
Did I just fry the starter motor?
Replies
5
Views
162
oldsecret
O
dandypop
GS850G Won't Start, Electrical Issue, No Spark
2 3
Replies
54
Views
904
dandypop
dandypop
Back
Top