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Cali' charging light

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Argyll Goose View Drop Down
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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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ken-Guzzibear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 10:47
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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Jim Mac View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jim Mac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 11:31
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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Mike H View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 13:07
What kind of generator does the Cali 1100i have, is it the kind with brushes on the rotor?


"Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday."
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Argyll Goose View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argyll Goose Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 16:26
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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argyll Goose Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 16:30
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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argyll Goose Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 16:33
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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jim Mac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 17:37
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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Argyll Goose View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argyll Goose Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 17:51
Light doesn't stay on all the time, just a bit reluctant to go out sometimes.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trev1340 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 18:23
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 😉
Keep on keeping on
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Argyll Goose View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argyll Goose Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 19:32
Originally posted by Trev1340 Trev1340 wrote:

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 😉

I've got the tee - shirt for that one!
Has your regulator / rectifier been replaced to your knowledge?
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Trev1340 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trev1340 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 20:28
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 ?
Keep on keeping on
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Mike H View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 21:52
Originally posted by Argyll Goose Argyll Goose wrote:

Light doesn't stay on all the time, just a bit reluctant to go out sometimes.


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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Dec 2015 at 22:14
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Essexboydave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Dec 2015 at 11:05
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 Wink
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