If your motorcycle battery keeps dying, you may need to change the regulator or rectifier. This symptom is caused by the early failure of the regulator or rectifier. To test the battery, you will need a multimeter. These inexpensive tools can tell if your battery is bad or not. You can find many tutorials on YouTube on how to use one. If you are unsure about how to use a multimeter, here are some helpful instructions:
Problems with grounding a motorcycle battery
One of the first things to check if your motorcycle battery keeps dying is a leaky circuit. The drain is a low-level current that slowly depletes the battery. These leaks can come from accessories you installed on your motorcycle such as the high beam light, GPS, or other devices. To test for leaks, disconnect the negative battery cable and place a volt-ohm meter between the negative terminal of the battery and the negative terminal of the bike. If the meter shows a small drain (less than one milliamp), you have a leaky circuit that needs to be investigated further.
Another common cause of a dead battery is a corroded ground wire. This shorts the wire and forms a barrier between the terminals and the stator cable. This poor connection results in the battery losing very little charge while riding. The next likely culprit is a faulty stator. A stator is a small, but crucial component of the motorcycle battery. If you notice it is not functioning properly, you may need to replace it.
Problems with rectifiers
Some of the most common causes of a motorcycle battery to die include a bad battery or a poor ground connection. It is also possible that the ground straps aren’t connected properly. In either case, it may be time to contact a motorcycle repair technician. In the meantime, you can use a basic multimeter to check the voltage regulator and stator on your motorcycle. These are three of the most important parts of a motorcycle battery, so don’t neglect them!
Firstly, find out where the rectifier block is located in your bike. You can find a good YouTube video on how to remove it, but if you are having difficulty, it is best to call a mechanic for help. He or she can show you how to remove the rectifier. Make sure to use a digital multimeter that measures electrical values. If your bike’s rectifier doesn’t work, try connecting a positive and negative diode to check the voltages.
Problems with regulators
There are many different causes of problems with motorcycle battery regulators. Older ones can’t keep up with the newer technology. As the unit gets older, its mechanical components start to fail. Moisture and intense heat are also culprits in damaging voltage regulators. The only way to diagnose the problem early is to perform a thorough checkup on the unit. If you notice any of these issues, replace the regulator.
You can also try to fix a bad regulator by replacing the stator. This component is responsible for supplying voltage to the battery. A bad regulator will allow the output voltage to reach more than 15 volts DC, which will eventually kill the battery. In order to test the regulator, you need to connect the negative terminal of the battery to a test light. If the test light illuminates, it indicates that the regulator is defective.
Problems with a bad alternator
A problem with a motorcycle alternator is common in older models. This part of the motorcycle power system converts AC into DC and delivers power to the vehicle within certain limits. However, when a motorcycle’s alternator fails, it can lead to a battery that keeps dying. If this happens, the motorcycle won’t start, the lights dim as you rev up the engine, and the battery warning light illuminates. To fix this problem, you should contact a motorcycle repair shop.
The first thing you should do is check the voltage of the motorcycle battery. The voltage should be around 13.5 volts when you are accelerating. If it is below 13.5, then there’s a problem with the voltage regulator. If the voltage doesn’t increase during acceleration, the alternator might need to be replaced. To check the voltage, you should check the wires. If you notice any loose or cracked ones, these parts may need to be replaced.