| What will 14.9 V do to my cheap (flooded) lead-acid battery? | Rate Topic |
| Moderated by: redbaron, MDKramer, Flyone, AZgl1500 |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16th, 2009 02:42 pm | 1st Post |
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I am at least the third owner of a (new to me) 1986 Interstate with 33K miles. The previous owner had little English and I had no Spanish but I understood he bought it at an estate sale. Having read of the electrical issues this model is prone to, I mounted an LCD voltmeter (wired directly to the battery) to the dash and have been watching it for over 1000 miles. The only extra electrical draw is for a pair of Gerbing heated gloves which I use rarely ( < 1%). I have observed idling voltage is always greater than 14V and cruising (3000 rpm) voltage is always fluctuating between 14.7 and 14.9. I am afraid it will "cook" my battery but it has lost no water in 1300 miles - so it doesn't seem that it is. On a related note: I will eventually replace this with an Odyssey (maintenance free) battery. Aren't these batteries more able to tolerate higher voltages?  Last edited on Mon Mar 16th, 2009 02:50 pm by edpare |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16th, 2009 02:47 pm | 2nd Post |
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you're right. but have you check the voltage at the battery to confirm thats actually what you have. you're regulator may be bad
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16th, 2009 03:22 pm | 3rd Post |
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it just be your volt meter reading a little high, the one i have fitted reads a volt less than my expensive dvm, you cant go wrong with the odyssey battery, i have just fitted the odyssey pc680 and i'm well impressed, i thought i had a starter problem till i changed batteries
____________________ irlp node # 5386....MB7IAG GØSVH........... call me sometime radio hams do it all night !!! and sometimes with frequency '88 GL1500 |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16th, 2009 03:29 pm | 4th Post |
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redneck wrote: it just be your volt meter reading a little high, the one i have fitted reads a volt less than my expensive dvm, you cant go wrong with the odyssey battery, i have just fitted the odyssey pc680 and i'm well impressed, i thought i had a starter problem till i changed batteries Hi Redneck! The onboard LCD voltmeter is not a Honda part and it has always agreed with my Digital VOM as close as 1 tenth of a volt. Ed
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| Posted: Mon Mar 16th, 2009 10:09 pm | 5th Post |
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Does seem to be a bit high, what is the voltage reading you get when you turn on the ignition but not the engine
____________________ Derek and Maggie GL1800 2004 US spec White. |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 01:08 am | 6th Post |
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong. It's been several years since I've owned a 1200 but I'm thinking that they have three phase charging voltage and any overage bleeds off to ground. 
____________________ If you're lucky enough to be in the mountains, you're lucky enough. Charlie |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 01:25 am | 7th Post |
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LUV2WING wrote: Someone correct me if I'm wrong. It's been several years since I've owned a 1200 but I'm thinking that they have three phase charging voltage and any overage bleeds off to ground.I'm having a similar problem and I understand the regulator is what bleeds it off to ground. Could be his regulator is having a problem too?
____________________ Jeff USN Ret 1985 2005 Wild Rhinos Oklahoma Chapter Present Bikes in the stable 1984 Goldwing Interstate 2007 ST1300 2009 KLR 650 2004 Rebel 2010 Vulcan Voyager 1700 |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 02:01 am | 8th Post |
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it seems ok to me. my 1200 reads sometimes up to 15 with the digital voltmeter. but so far the battery level is the same.
____________________ 85' GL 1200 Interstate - 40 MPG@75mph |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 02:33 am | 9th Post |
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derekhendry wrote: Does seem to be a bit high, what is the voltage reading you get when you turn on the ignition but not the engine Digital VOM says 12.64, on-board LCD says 12.7.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 04:52 am | 10th Post |
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FWIW my 1100 reads up to 15v on my meter hardwired straight to my battery. Charges fine, no issues. My truck's battery reads 14.7v when above idle. Again, no issues.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 05:20 am | 11th Post |
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On my GL1100, It doesn't start charging until it gets around 1200 to 1500 rpms. It starts to read around 12.5 at 1500 rpms, and anything over 3000rpms reads 14.4. It has never gone over that. I did have to clean my grounds on my battery the other day, because I was getting an eratic reading. Now, It is stable. Nightrider1
____________________ Getting there is just half the fun..... |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 03:37 pm | 12th Post |
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A couple years ago, I put a volt meter on my 1200, and it goes up close to 15v when charging. Guess what? My NAPA battery is still fine, probably 10,000 miles later. I wouldn't worry about it.
____________________ Gun totin', motorcycle ridin', whisky drinkin', meat eatin' American. That's who I am... Joined the Darkside-03.28.2010 IBA #38226 |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 08:25 pm | 13th Post |
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A 12 volt system runs around 14 volts when charging. Around 15 volts isn't bad. Just check the battery water regularly. If it gets up around 16 volts, then you may have a problem. 16 volts seems to boil the battery, and light bulbs may burn out sooner. John
____________________ John 1996 GL1500 SE Past bikes 1985 Aspencade 1200 1978 Honda GL 1000 1974 Honda 350 Four 1974 Yamaha TY 250 Trials 1973 Yamaha 360 RT3 1971 Honda SL 100 1968 Honda Trail 50 3 1/2 HP mini bike |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 09:00 pm | 14th Post |
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Again please note that anything above 12.7 VDC will assist charging. Your voltage is OK, if that is all you look at but the battery may see this voltage as not enough. Look at the electrolyte, are you losing electrolyte level. If so too much volts and too much current. The battery does not work of voltage alone, it needs an input of current. If the electrolyte level stays good then voltage is not too high, but current is the food of choice for the battery and if current can not be absorbed because the electrolyte has changed to an insulator the voltage will go too high too soon and the amps will be low and the 20 AH battery will be the size of a D cell
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 10:06 pm | 15th Post |
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Thanks to all respondees: I am seeing that, generally, I'm OK as long as the electrolyte isn't boiling off and it is not. As a matter of fact, I can't tell any diminuition of the fluid after 3 weeks and 1400 miles at almost 15 volts.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 17th, 2009 11:43 pm | 16th Post |
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Just echoing ARKnapp, the battery will tell you if it's being overcharged. Just check the fluid level, if it isn't dropping everything is okay in Mudville.
____________________ If you can't ride, fly or sail it, why bother? 2001 Goldwing 1800 2004 Silverwing 600 Paul W. |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 18th, 2009 01:38 am | 17th Post |
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William_86 wrote: it seems ok to me. my 1200 reads sometimes up to 15 with the digital voltmeter. but so far the battery level is the same. But William, That is in Mexico!! He is in the U.S.!!!  
____________________ Slow Ride, Take it easy....Yea Right! 1988 GL1500 Goldwing 1982 Honda CB900 Custom 1976 Honda CB750F Super Sport |
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