Charging system queries

[surfish95747]

Okay guys, I have gotten all lights hooked up and flashing and winking in perfect order. Now On to my charging system for my 1980 cb750k DOHC. I have been browsing the different posts about charging systems and have a couple questions of my own.

When I take my battery off my Tender Jr. charger/maintainer, volts are at 13.7. I throw it in my bike and start it up. I rode it around the culdesac and let it idle for about 20 minutes to get warm. when the RPM's are in between 2000 to 5000 volts are at 14.8 without wavering.

I was reading on Electrosport.com they have a charging system check guide and it said that anything over 14.8 while at 5000 RPM is something to worry about. Since mine is right at 14.8, I don't know what to think. After this little 30 min testing session, I took the battery back out to put back on the maintainer and check volts before connecting it and they read 12.73.

However, after all this, if I leave my battery in my motorcycle and don't keep it on the maintainer, eventually the battery volts will be too low to start my bike. If the charging system seems okay just by testing the volts of the battery while at different RPM's, I am guessing I need to check the regulator/rectifier and the stator?

Thanks for being patient with ALL my questions! This machine is almost ready for a safety inspection!

[Re-run]

A battery at rest, fully charged, will read about 12.6 volts, 12.1 volts per cell. Right after a charge, it reads slightly higher but will drop to 12.6 about after a few minutes.

[surfish95747]

Is that the same for GEL batteries?

[Truck]

I get about the same from my gel battery. Also you said you let the bike idle for 20 min., these bikes don't charge till you hit 2000 rpm so that would have drained your battery.

[Re-run]

Flooded, main-free, agm, and gel are all about the same. And as truck said, idling will drain the battery. Charging doesn't start till about 2000 rpm. The 14.8 volts at 5000 rpm is kinda high and should be checked if it doesn't drop after a few seconds. If it continues to charge at that voltage, it may start cooking the battery.

[surfish95747]

Okay. So I'll check test the regulator because from what the manual says and other sources, that means the regulator/rectifier is not regulating the voltage going back to the battery? I seriously need to take an electricians course! Trying to wrap my head around all this. Thanks guys!

[Re-run]

Regulator issues are a primary reason why I don't move to a lithium chemistry battery. Lithiums don't like rough voltages and I would rather not worry about a fire starting under my ass or gas tank.

[surfish95747]

I didn't think a gel battery was a lithium chemistry?