Cali' charging light |
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Argyll Goose
Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Location: Garelochhead Status: Offline Points: 229 |
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Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 08:14 |
Slightly irritating thing on my recently aquired Cali 1100i is that the battery charging light seems lazy to extinguish. The battery seems to be holding charge okay, but light stays on until the revs are up a bit, but it's intermittent. Also, rev counter seems to be working from only one coil as readings look unrealistically low.
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Ken-Guzzibear
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Sileby Leics Status: Offline Points: 9454 |
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First check connections clean and tighten them THIS is often the main cause and DO check the electrolyte levels in the battery, MY EV had this and the battery was so low on fluids it was done needed a new one. These have a lead acid as standard and do work real welll BUT they DO need topping up, fail to do that and once they go too low the battery is done.
This time of year even left in a garage the damp has a way to get into connections
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The Older i Get, The Better I Was
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Jim Mac
Moderator Group Joined: 14 May 2014 Location: Edinburgh Status: Offline Points: 3202 |
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the rev counters were always subject to failure, most folks just ignore them. Never had a problem with my charge light until I had to change regulator/rectifier then it stayed on all them time (design issue) - I stuck a bit of black tape over it
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V85 TT Trzvel BMW R45
Too old to die young |
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Mike H
Senior Member Joined: 21 May 2014 Location: East Anglia Status: Offline Points: 8733 |
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What kind of generator does the Cali 1100i have, is it the kind with brushes on the rotor?
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"Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday."
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Argyll Goose
Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Location: Garelochhead Status: Offline Points: 229 |
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New Odessey sealed battery fitted a few months ago by previous owner. I've checked battery terminals - all clean and tight. Dry, warm garage and hooked up to an Accumate charger / maintainer when bike not in use.
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Argyll Goose
Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Location: Garelochhead Status: Offline Points: 229 |
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You may have something there Jim, regulator / rectifier recently changed according to previous owner. Not really bothered about the rev counter but good to know it's a common problem.
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Argyll Goose
Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Location: Garelochhead Status: Offline Points: 229 |
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Not sure about generator type but no doubt someone will be along soon who will know. Having removed the plastic cover (found one of the screws had been sheared off in the block) I'd guess rotor type.
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Jim Mac
Moderator Group Joined: 14 May 2014 Location: Edinburgh Status: Offline Points: 3202 |
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if he replaced it with an Electric (or something like that) the gen light will stay on, it's the design of the unit not a 'fault', don't ask me why. It has brushes, worth checking they are not sticking but a reckon it the reg/rec
Edited by Jim Mac - 28 Dec 2015 at 18:08 |
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V85 TT Trzvel BMW R45
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Argyll Goose
Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Location: Garelochhead Status: Offline Points: 229 |
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Light doesn't stay on all the time, just a bit reluctant to go out sometimes.
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Trev1340
Senior Member Joined: 14 Nov 2014 Location: Chatham Status: Offline Points: 451 |
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My light stays on very faintly on tickover but as soon as I touch the throttle it goes out never had a problem with it though oh and the Rev counter thing it's called they all do that mate 😉
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Keep on keeping on
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Argyll Goose
Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Location: Garelochhead Status: Offline Points: 229 |
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I've got the tee - shirt for that one! Has your regulator / rectifier been replaced to your knowledge? |
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Trev1340
Senior Member Joined: 14 Nov 2014 Location: Chatham Status: Offline Points: 451 |
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I've no idea on that but it still runs and charges fine so it doesn't bother me well until it goes wrong of course how would know any way ?
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Keep on keeping on
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Mike H
Senior Member Joined: 21 May 2014 Location: East Anglia Status: Offline Points: 8733 |
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If it's the OE Bosch unit plus OE reg & rectifier where the regulator controls the rotor excitation winding, then this is usually a classic sign that the brushes are either worn out or not making contact properly for some reason, e.g. a brush is jammed in it's holder. (I have had this happen.) The one Jim is on about is the Electrex combined rectifier/regulator unit where the wire that enables the unit is supposed to also light the warning lamp bulb (when ignition turned on) and then extinguish it once running, only it doesn't always, well indeed I had one for a while and it couldn't even light the bulb that way as the current was much lower than what the instructions said. |
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"Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday."
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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It should be the Ducati alternator, permanent magnet type, depending on year. It could also be a Saprisa permanent magnet one..
In both cases the warning light actually does nothing apart from indicate. First thing to check is the earth to the regulator box, if this is poor it will affect charging. The other thing you ought to check is the actual voltage across the battery, then you will know if the charging is good or not.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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Essexboydave
Senior Member Joined: 14 Nov 2014 Location: east anglia Status: Offline Points: 121 |
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As has been said put a meter on it and check the battery voltage to see if it is charging and also that the voltage doesn't go too high. As for the indicator light they're not very reliable at all in my experience, in fact I've never had the one on my Cali EV come on, tried a new bulb, checked connectors and wiring but still haven' found out why-it runs and charges ok though so I'll just stick with that
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