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  • #1

    Let's talk, 'charging'...

    In this situation, not exactly a Hawk application, but the same theory applies.

    Finally completed (yeah, right) my CB-1 build. Took it out for what I hoped to be a 100-mile shake down. After 50-ish miles it came to a stop. Battery was low and would not crank. It was a hot day (low 90's).

    On the advice of a local CB-1 guru, I had replaced the reg/rec with a new Chinesium part (the old OEM part appeared to work - for better or worse, I used the 'ounce of prevention, pound of cure' method). Once back at my garage (a story for another day), I put it on my battery tender. Battery voltage after two hours was ~14.3V. Seemed a bit high? Bike cranked right up, I then shut it down for the evening. Yesterday battery was at 13.8V and again, it cranked w/no issues. At ~4,000 RPM, voltage was ~14.0 volts. Hot stormy day, that was as far as I got.

    So: the battery appears to be good - it charged. Seems charging was good as voltage had increased when rev'd. Is there a method to check reg/rec? If it's an intermittent heat related issue, how would I go about testing? Any other thoughts? What am I missing?

    Inquiring minds need to know...
    This forum is entirely dedicated to wasting time and money modifying a slow motorcycle. - joel

    Nothing like a project to keep you busy, slowly draining funds out of the wallet! - spacetiger

    Our Hawks have all the power any mature, sensible rider can use on any street or highway without carrying around excessively unnecessary big-bore weight and power - squirrelman

    Bike builds can be and most time are art and expression. To take something mass produced and impersonal and make something personal that you can't stop staring at as you walk away. There is nothing I find more satisfying than looking at something cool and beautiful and thinking "I made that". - 6
    Tags: None
    • #2
      The numbers seem to suggest it should be ok, but it's obviously not. I would re-install the original reg/rect and put your fully charged Hawk battery in a back pack or nicely padded in a tank bag and go for a ride.

      And maybe also get a voltage monitor and temporarily mount it where you can see and see what happens as it gets ridden and hot.

      613yw-ksOwL._AC_SS450_.jpg
      "I couldn't afford NOT to buy it!"

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        • #3
          14v at 4k is a good data point. Means it's regulating at 14v. Have to check my bike later but the charging wire to the battery should be fused. You can remove the charging wire and check the voltage out with battery disconnected then connected. This tells how much output you're getting. A fuse will protect against overcharging if the regulator fails. Choose this to maybe 3 to 5a. It will get hot in an overcharged situation. Your old one seemed to fail with zero output and you were running on battery only. The area for the cb-1 is small and doesn't get much airflow. It doesn’t fit the larger MOSFET regulators. You would have to re-wire and re-locate if you wanted something bigger and an area of better airflow.
          Eric Y.
          Hawk test chassis
          Yuzon Designworks
            👍 1

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            • #4
              Originally Posted by Captain 80s
              The numbers seem to suggest it should be ok, but it's obviously not. I would re-install the original reg/rect and put your fully charged Hawk battery in a back pack or nicely padded in a tank bag and go for a ride.

              And maybe also get a voltage monitor and temporarily mount it where you can see and see what happens as it gets ridden and hot.
              We're on the same page. I have a battery tender that accepts a small digital meter that I can use to monitor voltage.

              Hawk battery along for the ride is a good idea...
              This forum is entirely dedicated to wasting time and money modifying a slow motorcycle. - joel

              Nothing like a project to keep you busy, slowly draining funds out of the wallet! - spacetiger

              Our Hawks have all the power any mature, sensible rider can use on any street or highway without carrying around excessively unnecessary big-bore weight and power - squirrelman

              Bike builds can be and most time are art and expression. To take something mass produced and impersonal and make something personal that you can't stop staring at as you walk away. There is nothing I find more satisfying than looking at something cool and beautiful and thinking "I made that". - 6

                Comment

                • #5
                  Originally Posted by Captain 80s
                  The numbers seem to suggest it should be ok, but it's obviously not. I would re-install the original reg/rect and put your fully charged Hawk battery in a back pack or nicely padded in a tank bag and go for a ride.

                  And maybe also get a voltage monitor and temporarily mount it where you can see and see what happens as it gets ridden and hot.

                  613yw-ksOwL._AC_SS450_.jpg
                  Battery voltmeter is a good idea. I have one on my VFR. Mine also has a USB port and a switch.

                  16230793314603306632356133001002.jpg
                  16230793681297605254405618097574.jpg
                  Eric Y.
                  Hawk test chassis
                  Yuzon Designworks
                    👍 2

                    Comment

                    • #6
                      Originally Posted by eyhonda
                      14v at 4k is a good data point. Means it's regulating at 14v. Have to check my bike later but the charging wire to the battery should be fused. You can remove the charging wire and check the voltage out with battery disconnected then connected. This tells how much output you're getting. A fuse will protect against overcharging if the regulator fails. Choose this to maybe 3 to 5a. It will get hot in an overcharged situation. Your old one seemed to fail with zero output and you were running on battery only. The area for the cb-1 is small and doesn't get much airflow. It doesn’t fit the larger MOSFET regulators. You would have to re-wire and re-locate if you wanted something bigger and an area of better airflow.
                      My thoughts run with you and Mike. Heat probably played some role, although the Chinesium part had heat sink cooling, whereas the OEM part didn't. But hidden under the cowl, minimal air flow to the part. I'll swap the R/R's and go for a ride (when weather permits, we're in the daily summer thunderstorm cycle) and monitor the charging voltages. I'd love to slap on a MOSFET but the packaging on these bikes is minimal at best. Lemme see what I can come up with. Any other thoughts from CB-1 owners (possible R/R relocation) would be appreciated.

                      Thanks Mike and Eric...
                      This forum is entirely dedicated to wasting time and money modifying a slow motorcycle. - joel

                      Nothing like a project to keep you busy, slowly draining funds out of the wallet! - spacetiger

                      Our Hawks have all the power any mature, sensible rider can use on any street or highway without carrying around excessively unnecessary big-bore weight and power - squirrelman

                      Bike builds can be and most time are art and expression. To take something mass produced and impersonal and make something personal that you can't stop staring at as you walk away. There is nothing I find more satisfying than looking at something cool and beautiful and thinking "I made that". - 6

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