M600 voltage question

MotoNik · 30-11-2020, 03:57 PM

Hi folks,

Just fitted a volt meter on my M600, as I suspect it's over-charging. It's reading around 13.7-13.8V while idling, and 15.0-15.3V while riding. Mostly bang on 15.0, in fact.

My feeling is it shouldn't really be higher than about 14.5V or thereabouts. What's the general consensus?

I'm going to assume the regulator is probably duff, or failing, but wanted to check the collective wisdom before ordering a replacement.

Thanks in advance!

Nik

Pedro · 30-11-2020, 04:05 PM

Reg rect gone duff mate!

I think 14.2v should be the max

Did the bike come with warranty?
Lol!

mickj · 01-12-2020, 09:49 AM

Make sure your new voltmeter is accurate before spending cash on a new rectumfryer.

Luddite · 01-12-2020, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjgt

Make sure your new voltmeter is accurate before spending cash on a new rectumfryer.

A good point from mjgt. I recently bought a cheap digital voltage meter that plugs into the car's cigar lighter. I checked it against a multimeter and it consistently under-reads by 0.5 - 0.6v. Not a problem now I know, but I might have been worried if I hadn't checked it first.

alan s4 · 01-12-2020, 03:10 PM

If buying a new Reg/Rect proceed with caution. Lots of fakes on Ebay. I bought one from Electrex and it went on fire......ended up going down the MOSFET route and no problems ever since. Lots of info on here.

MotoNik · 02-12-2020, 11:57 AM

Thanks for the replies gents. I seem to have notifications turned off, so hadn't realised I'd so many responses!

The voltage meter is a cheap one off ebay, so not expecting it to be mega accurate, but I'll verify it by borrowing a multimeter from work. Or attaching it to my Multistrada, and see what it reads on there (as that has an onboard voltmeter, which ought to be fairly accurate).

I've seen lots of inexpensive Reg/Recs on ebay, but I'm guessing this would be a good bet...

https://www.electrexworld.co.uk/cgi-...2ehtml#SID=439

MotoNik · 02-12-2020, 12:01 PM

Cheap one on ebay...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voltage-R...6/192635304970

slob · 02-12-2020, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoNik

Cheap one on ebay...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voltage-R...6/192635304970

hhhmmmmmmmm

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan s4

If buying a new Reg/Rect proceed with caution. Lots of fakes on Ebay. I bought one from Electrex and it went on fire......ended up going down the MOSFET route and no problems ever since. Lots of info on here.

jerry · 03-12-2020, 03:16 PM

Thats a Fake it is likely to burn out really quick,, I tried a few cheap chinese ones like that all duds

Flip · 03-12-2020, 07:22 PM

Both the genuine factory and Haynes manuals quote that at 3000rpm the voltage output of the single phase alternator should be between 13.5 to 15.5v

As others have said, I would be checking all the connections along the wiring but like a lot of the wiring on the early bikes it is another case of it being undersized for carrying the intended current.

manwithredbike · 04-12-2020, 04:18 PM

Nik, just wondering why you think it was over charging in the first place that made you want to fit the meter, and what is it reading when the engine's stopped i.e. the static battery voltage?

MotoNik · 05-12-2020, 10:13 AM

Having owned an M600 years ago where the RR went pop, and the previous owner (Pedro!) having been suspicious that it might be over-charging, I wanted to check it out.

Looked at it yesterday, having sat in the garage untouched for 24hrs, and it was reading 12.2v (with ignition off). Battery was new in Feb when I recommissioned the bike.

MotoNik · 05-12-2020, 10:16 AM

I should add that when I went over the bike in Feb/March I cleaned all the connectors, so everything should be a in pretty good shape.

Flip · 05-12-2020, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoNik

Looked at it yesterday, having sat in the garage untouched for 24hrs, and it was reading 12.2v (with ignition off). Battery was new in Feb when I recommissioned the bike.

I would say really you would want to know what voltage it was showing when you parked up to give you an idea of what it’s lost in the 24 hrs.

Then I would be doing a ‘drop test’ on the battery to check its load capacity is ok - just because it’s showing normal (or close to normal) voltage it doesn’t mean it’s any good.

Along with properly checking the battery capacity, I’d do an earth leakage test to make sure you have no residual current drain in the circuit.

If the above don’t show anything untoward then personally I would go back through the connections and also get a meter to check out the Alternator and RR measurements.

manwithredbike · 05-12-2020, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoNik

Having owned an M600 years ago where the RR went pop, and the previous owner (Pedro!) having been suspicious that it might be over-charging, I wanted to check it out.

Looked at it yesterday, having sat in the garage untouched for 24hrs, and it was reading 12.2v (with ignition off). Battery was new in Feb when I recommissioned the bike.

15.3V would be a bit on the high side really and i thought maybe the meter could be reading a bit high but then 12.2V is on the low end for a bike that was running within a day or so. The higher charging voltage would eventually ruin your battery by boiling the electrolyte, maybe already on its way down.

30-11-2020, 03:57 PM	#1
MotoNik Bronze Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sherbourne Bike: M600 Posts: 401	M600 voltage question Hi folks, Just fitted a volt meter on my M600, as I suspect it's over-charging. It's reading around 13.7-13.8V while idling, and 15.0-15.3V while riding. Mostly bang on 15.0, in fact. My feeling is it shouldn't really be higher than about 14.5V or thereabouts. What's the general consensus? I'm going to assume the regulator is probably duff, or failing, but wanted to check the collective wisdom before ordering a replacement. Thanks in advance! Nik

30-11-2020, 04:05 PM	#2
Pedro Ciao, come stai? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Somewhere Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 4,157	Reg rect gone duff mate! I think 14.2v should be the max Did the bike come with warranty? Lol! __________________ M900 - 1993! Monster 1200R!

01-12-2020, 09:49 AM	#3
mickj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Clevedon Bike: M1200s Posts: 554	Make sure your new voltmeter is accurate before spending cash on a new rectumfryer. __________________ Keep the rubber side down. Mick

03-12-2020, 03:16 PM	#9
jerry Old Git Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cricklade Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,811	Thats a Fake it is likely to burn out really quick,, I tried a few cheap chinese ones like that all duds __________________ MONSTERMAN

03-12-2020, 07:22 PM	#10
Flip Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Beachtown Bike: M900 Posts: 2,188	Both the genuine factory and Haynes manuals quote that at 3000rpm the voltage output of the single phase alternator should be between 13.5 to 15.5v As others have said, I would be checking all the connections along the wiring but like a lot of the wiring on the early bikes it is another case of it being undersized for carrying the intended current. __________________ You're perfect, yes, it's true- But without me you're only you!

01-12-2020, 03:10 PM	#5
alan s4 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Glasgow Bike: S4 challenge Posts: 447	If buying a new Reg/Rect proceed with caution. Lots of fakes on Ebay. I bought one from Electrex and it went on fire......ended up going down the MOSFET route and no problems ever since. Lots of info on here.

02-12-2020, 11:57 AM	#6
MotoNik Bronze Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sherbourne Bike: M600 Posts: 401	Thanks for the replies gents. I seem to have notifications turned off, so hadn't realised I'd so many responses! The voltage meter is a cheap one off ebay, so not expecting it to be mega accurate, but I'll verify it by borrowing a multimeter from work. Or attaching it to my Multistrada, and see what it reads on there (as that has an onboard voltmeter, which ought to be fairly accurate). I've seen lots of inexpensive Reg/Recs on ebay, but I'm guessing this would be a good bet... https://www.electrexworld.co.uk/cgi-...2ehtml#SID=439

02-12-2020, 12:01 PM	#7
MotoNik Bronze Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sherbourne Bike: M600 Posts: 401	Cheap one on ebay... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voltage-R...6/192635304970

04-12-2020, 04:18 PM	#11
manwithredbike aka Phil Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: derry Bike: M900 Posts: 376	Nik, just wondering why you think it was over charging in the first place that made you want to fit the meter, and what is it reading when the engine's stopped i.e. the static battery voltage? __________________ .. ~

05-12-2020, 10:13 AM	#12
MotoNik Bronze Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sherbourne Bike: M600 Posts: 401	Having owned an M600 years ago where the RR went pop, and the previous owner (Pedro!) having been suspicious that it might be over-charging, I wanted to check it out. Looked at it yesterday, having sat in the garage untouched for 24hrs, and it was reading 12.2v (with ignition off). Battery was new in Feb when I recommissioned the bike.

05-12-2020, 10:16 AM	#13
MotoNik Bronze Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sherbourne Bike: M600 Posts: 401	I should add that when I went over the bike in Feb/March I cleaned all the connectors, so everything should be a in pretty good shape.