Last week I noticed that my xenon headlamp flickers wildly when I crank a cold engine on my '98 TBS. Previously, the xenon light output would remain steady during cranking - even when it was cold soaked into the low 20 deg F range.
A little background:
I swapped the stock Triumph alternator for a like alternator from a Kawasaki ZRX1100 because of a broken alternator shaft bolt.
The battery is about 2 years old, never on a tender, but I commute regularly, year round.
The engine turns over strong, and starts up every time.
I checked the open-circuit battery voltage: 12.3V JUST AFTER shutdown (still has residual surface charge). Cranking voltage unknown.
Q1: What is a healthy open circuit voltage for the battery after sitting overnight? What is an acceptable drop during cranking?
(My comment: 12.3V seems low based on my experience with automobile batteries. I expect 12.6 nominal, and closer to 13V immediately after shutdown.)
Q2: Could the Kawasaki-spec alternator be charging at a lower voltage resulting in a lower charge state on the battery?
I've heard the stories about optimal battery condition requirements for the T3 bikes. And, I'm concerned about damaging the xenon bulb with the voltage fluctuations. I just need to isolate the battery as the problem, and not the alternator.
I put the battery on a 0.35A trickle charge and will check the state tomorrow morning. Any other suggestions?
Q2:
A little background:
I swapped the stock Triumph alternator for a like alternator from a Kawasaki ZRX1100 because of a broken alternator shaft bolt.
The battery is about 2 years old, never on a tender, but I commute regularly, year round.
The engine turns over strong, and starts up every time.
I checked the open-circuit battery voltage: 12.3V JUST AFTER shutdown (still has residual surface charge). Cranking voltage unknown.
Q1: What is a healthy open circuit voltage for the battery after sitting overnight? What is an acceptable drop during cranking?
(My comment: 12.3V seems low based on my experience with automobile batteries. I expect 12.6 nominal, and closer to 13V immediately after shutdown.)
Q2: Could the Kawasaki-spec alternator be charging at a lower voltage resulting in a lower charge state on the battery?
I've heard the stories about optimal battery condition requirements for the T3 bikes. And, I'm concerned about damaging the xenon bulb with the voltage fluctuations. I just need to isolate the battery as the problem, and not the alternator.
I put the battery on a 0.35A trickle charge and will check the state tomorrow morning. Any other suggestions?
Q2: