We need a FAQ on Battery Voltage

faster675 · Dec 16, 2007

... been there, searched that ...

We need a FAQ on correct Battery Voltage with respect to added drain on our charging systems.

- not just a list of how much things draw .... that's helpful, but it doesn't get to the point

(safe operating voltage range)

Specifically:

1) What is the correct voltage for a "charged" battery sitting with the bike off ?

2) What is the correct and/or safe range of voltage with the bike sitting at idle ?

3) What is the correct and/or safe range of voltage with the bike running above 1000 rpm ? 3000 rpm ?

I'm asking because the '05 Non-ABS Feejer I just purchased has a few accessories.

Measuring the voltage with a meter at the battery terminals, I got 13.5-14 at idle with all accessories shut off.

With everything on, I get 12.2-12.5 at idle .... my idle is a little low ... it's about 850-900 ... I'll adjust it right now.

Above 1000 rpm or so, the voltage is 13.5-14 V with everything on.

Seems like I don't need to be concerned about any of this, as long as my voltage is 13V or more at idle (correctly set to 1000-1100 rpm) ?

But, this does seem to indicate that I may need an upgraded stator before I add my heated seats ?

Current accessories are: 50W driving lights, heated grips, stereo amplifier, garmin, and High Beams of Course ...

Warchild · Dec 16, 2007

faster675 said:
... been there, searched that ...

You need to improve your search skills then....

I entered "voltage" in the search input field, and 15 pages of threads, most cover exactly what you asked here.

faster675 · Dec 16, 2007

Warchild said:
faster675 said:

... been there, searched that ...

Click to expand...

You need to improve your search skills then....

I 'entered "voltage" in the search input field, and 15 pages of threads, most cover exactly what you asked here.

As I said ... been there ... read most of those ....

...... searched on voltage, battery +voltage, "battery voltage", etc, etc, etc

And no, none of them that I read "cover exactly what I asked":

LOTS of rambling on about people's personal experiences and the voltages they measured, and

how much their heated vest, pants, and underwear draw, how their Buick's battery never failed,

and how the battery they bought from Bob lasted forever, etc, etc, etc ....

To Clarify, I'll simplify my request:

1) What is the correct voltage range for a healthy charged battery sitting in a 2005 FJR with the ignition shut off.

2) What is the SAFE minimum voltage at idle (1000-1100 rpm).

3) What is the SAFE minimum voltage range above 1500 rpm ?

4) What is the SAFE minimum voltage range above 3000 rpm ?

Searching through all those stories is fun and all, but all I want is answers to my questions .... please ?

Ignacio · Dec 16, 2007

faster675 said:
And no, none of them that I read "cover exactly what I asked":LOTS of rambling on about people's personal experiences and the voltages they measured, and

how much their heated vest, pants, and underwear draw, how their Buick's battery never failed,

and how the battery they bought from Bob lasted forever, etc, etc, etc ....

To Clarify, I'll simplify my request:

1) What is the correct voltage range for a healthy charged battery sitting in a 2005 FJR with the ignition shut off.

2) What is the SAFE minimum voltage at idle (1000-1100 rpm).

3) What is the SAFE minimum voltage range above 1500 rpm ?

4) What is the SAFE minimum voltage range above 3000 rpm ?

Searching through all those stories is fun and all, but all I want is answers to my questions .... please ?

You just got what is probably the single-best authority on the subject point you to the answer, but you didn't like it.

If you had read and digested those 15 pages of threads you will find that there isn't a binary, right or wrong, concensus, specific "safe" answer.....or that somebody has not waded through them to build one.

Therefore, the task is assigned to you, faster675, to help the community and build an FAQ on the subject.

My suggestion would be to wade through those 15 pages and find what is closest to concensus, start a fresh thread, and if it ends up being useful cream I'll even help you to pin it or possibly consider adding to the Bin-O-Facts. The board is what you contribute to make it and the next newbie will be forever indebted to you and you're guaranteed 3 more horsepower to the ground.

faster675 · Dec 16, 2007

Ignacio said:
You just got what is probably the single-best authority on the subject point you to the answer, but you didn't like it.

Nope .... I had no problem with WarChild's reply, it just didn't answer my question or point me to an answer,

... it just directed me to the 15 pages of post which I'd already been reading ....

.... in fact, it seemed a little like a flame ....

Ignacio said:
If you had read and digested those 15 pages of threads you will find that there isn't a binary, right or wrong, concensus, specific "safe" answer.....or that somebody has not waded through them to build one.

.... I did read and digest several of those pages before I saw that I needed to ask a specific question.

That's why people sometimes ask specific questions .... because the available data doesn't readily provide a specific answer.

Ignacio said:
Therefore, the task is incumbent on you to help the community and build an FAQ on the subject.

Ok ! I'll get right on it ... in my spare time ...

Maybe a more direct answer to my questions would have been:

There are not specific answers to your questions.

As you may have seen, there are a lot of discussions on this subject,

but there isn't a binary, right or wrong, concensus, specific "safe" answer

to your questions.

Ignacio · Dec 16, 2007

Oh great forum gods in the sky....... Grant me to the serenity to not treat pushy newbies as *** clowns. Let me forgive their trespasses as they may be electrical engineers even nerdier than I. May they receive wisdom in their next 50 posts and be able to dwell in the tavern of FJR's and not be shown the door.

Amen. :thumbsup:

madmike2 · Dec 16, 2007

Ignacio said:
Oh great forum gods in the sky....... Grant me to the serenity to not treat pushy newbies as *** clowns. Let me forgive their trespasses as they may be electrical engineers even nerdier than I. May they receive wisdom in their next 50 posts and be able to dwell in the tavern of FJR's and not be shown the door.
Amen. :thumbsup:

Uh-oh! :huh:

This semi-religious post may spike your warn-meter..... :blink: :silly-handslap-smiley:

Warchild · Dec 16, 2007

faster675 said:
.... in fact, it seemed a little like a flame ....

Believe me, Mr. 25 Posts, when you receive a flame from me, you'll know it.

Hasn't happened yet to you, though. We'll see what Friday does for you. :lol:

I did read and digest several of those pages before I saw that I needed to ask a specific question. That's why people sometimes ask specific questions .... because the available data doesn't readily provide a specific answer.

Oh, it's there, n00b. You just didn't look hard enough. I am looking at the actual post you are after, one that exactly answers all the questions you asked! B)

However.... I don't think I should give you the link to the thread.

Because I surly don't want be accused of doing the following to n00bs:

So, lemme help you out to build up your Jedi-like search skills.... I'll lock this thread so no one inadvertently gives you the answer (this avoids creating yet another Search welfare-recipient), and leave it to you to go improve your reading comprehension skills and searching ability. Chop-chop.... hop to it!

Ok ! I'll get right on it ... in my spare time ...

Oh. :huh:

Okay, then.

Splendid.

We'll do the same, and apply the same amount of effort.

In our spare time. :glare:

Warchild · Dec 16, 2007

Changed my mind... thread is now back open, because maybe it's time for an early Friday.... :lol:

odot · Dec 16, 2007

Is this some kind of sequel to "revenge of the seach nazis"?

madmike2 · Dec 16, 2007

I found a thread, with numbers, readings and comparisons, from those who are more qualified than I, by using Gogle; then typing "voltage site:fjrforum". IIRC, about the 3rd or 4th one I read. But then I'm not looking for the information you are.

I found even more information by using the Google search and typing in "voltage reading site:fjrforum". Sorry I can't help you more because electronic wizadry is far beyond my scope or ability.

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Has this become "Pick On Newbie Sunday"? :huh: :blink:

SockMonkey · Dec 16, 2007

Ignacio said:
Oh great forum gods in the sky....... Grant me to the serenity to not treat pushy newbies as *** clowns. Let me forgive their trespasses as they may be electrical engineers even nerdier than I. May they receive wisdom in their next 50 posts and be able to dwell in the tavern of FJR's and not be shown the door.
Amen. :thumbsup:

Re-written as "The Newbie's Prayer" (first draft)

"Oh, Great and Powerful Forum Gods on High! I accept thee as my divine light as it is highly likely that You possess more knowledge than I. Grant me the strength to not become a newbie *** clown, and that I may receive Your glorious wisdom without question in my first 50 posts thus that I may be allowed to dwell in the tavern of FJRs and not be shown the door!"

... or something to that effect

v65 · Dec 16, 2007

madmike2 said:
I found a thread, with numbers, readings and comparisons, from those who are more qualified than I, by using Gogle; then typing "voltage site:fjrforum". IIRC, about the 3rd or 4th one I read. But then I'm not looking for the information you are.
I found even more information by using the Google search and typing in "voltage reading site:fjrforum". Sorry I can't help you more because electronic wizadry is far beyond my scope or ability.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Has this become "Pick On Newbie Sunday"? :huh: :blink:

Or try this: clicky

madmike2 · Dec 16, 2007

We need a FAQ on Battery Voltage.......

Faster675, there just isn't the space, bandwidth or time to moderate an FAQ thread for every situation. Once a specific thread has begun for each and every specific question, when or where does that stop?

I believe the information is available, though not in a format to fit your requirements, so you'd have to compile the data.

Toecutter · Dec 16, 2007

My battery goes about 12.7V (measured by the Escort) at rest. As long as it's above that, with the engine running, I figure it's charging. If it drops below that number, I have a problem, either too much draw or not enough charge. YMMV

twowheelnut · Dec 16, 2007

Haven't you guys heard? Sunday is the new Friday (until Friday, that is...). :lol:

Perhaps the new guy might wanna ping ionbeam. I'm jus' sayin'.

Zorlac · Dec 16, 2007

Anything around 12.8V (fully loaded with all your accessories) at idle, and less than 14.5V from there to red line would would be OK.

After your bike sits unused for two days, NOT connected to a charger, if the battery voltage reads 12.6V or better with the ignition off, and it stays above 12V when you click the ingnition switch on before hitting the starter I'd say its a healthy battery and charging system.

All measured at the battery posts with a DVM of known accuracy.

Measure your car sometime if you're really worried.

Motomaniac · Dec 20, 2007

Minimum charge for the battery would be 12.8 vdc. It sounds like you want to know if your battery will charge with all your accessories on. You would need to hook your charging system up to a ferret to get that figured out. Something else I would do if I were you is do a milli amp draw on your system. Lots of farkles will draw from the system while the bike is parked. I keep my bike on a battery tender when it is in the garage. Your regulator will keep your battery from overcharging.

JimLor · Dec 21, 2007

faster675 - I'm with you! I have asked on this forum and where I work - Office of Naval Research - what THE NUMBER is where the battery is (while running) not discharging. I've asked PhDs in EE and the best answer I can get is that there isn't a set answer. Depends on temperature and other factors. I will clearly state that I am not an elec eng and do not understand the electrical side of our rides to the point where I can give cogent and educated opinions, BUT, for myself, I figure that I can ride at 12.8v and be ok. Below that I'll consider turning stuff off as required. Now, I have to say that with heated grips, Widder vest/arm chaps, GPS, intercom charged up I've not gotten down to 12.8 steady state while moving - should say that if I turn on my Hella FF50s with the above mix it's drop like a rock to 12.2 or less! Fair lights that eat juice. At idle it'll easily drop that low (12.8) but I don't worry about it unless I'm stopped for an extended time. I installed the ESG stator on my 05 which gives more "power" at speed but less at idle.

I'll tell you something I've learned on this board - if someone doesn't pipe up and clearly and pointedly answer a question - then it probably is one of those squishy answers that "depends" on one or several changing factors. Not many shy folks here and more than a couple seem to like to screw with newbies, screw 'em back and ignore them, they hate that!

We need a FAQ on Battery Voltage

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