Heading out on a 3-day trip tomorrow. Refreshed my battery overnight and just went to test voltage - it shows 18.75 volts off the bike (removed to check electrolyte levels). I have time to source a new one, if needed. It's a Napa GS 10L-A2 lead acid that was on the bike when I hot it used two summers ago. It's ridden regularly and stored on the battery tender when not used more than a month.
FFS. Whelp. New bike battery not needed. Crisis averted. What DID need a new battery?
My multimeter. Never have replced the battery the entire ten years I have had it. So, lesson learned. New 9-volt installed and all systems tested within range: battery, Battery tender and charging system.
Lesson learned.
:icon_twisted:
18v? Was it on a charger? If so, your charger is broken and over charged the battery.
If the bike is running, why do you need to put batteries on a charger? The only reason for that is a battery is going bad.
If your bike was running and you do not use a charger and you get 18v, then your voltage regulator is bad and you need to replace that.
Old fashioned lead acid batteries probably can survive the over voltage.
I'm glad you posted this. I did have a bad regulator/rectifier and replaced with one of the FH012 MosFet models. Afterwards I was reading 18+ volts. I didn't even think about the battery in the multimeter being bad. I'll check it out, thanks!
-Andy