Battery drain - no ground?

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  • suziscrambler
    • Mar 2026
    #1

    Battery drain - no ground?

    Hey electrical geniuses.

    (note: I did not have a volt meter available at time of this post)

    I am reviving my 1982 GS650E from a slumber. The old battery was on its way out and the previous owner isn't 100% certain on the stator being replaced. So I bought a new AGM battery and started fine. To my disappointment I noticed the battery was draining every 2 days - the worse circumstance which led me stranded on a busy highway with no power.

    Having checked all wires being securely connected I realised a ground wire from the regulator/rectifier hanging lose that was previous always connected to the old batter's negative terminal. My main question is: Will this ground wire be responsible for a battery drain? I've read the Stator Page's diagram of a typical charging system and I can see the ground but that comes out from the battery's end?

    The ground wire is now re-connected to the negative terminal but I am afraid to ride it in case I get stranded again (not fun pushing 200kg on a hilly neighbourhood!).

    I have attached a photo. Thanks in advance !
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    • tom203
      Forum Guru
      Past Site Supporter
      • Aug 2010
      • 8925
      • Norway,Maine
      #2
      Well ,do short trips till you find out! A faulty rectifier/regulator can discharge a battery, so get to the charging tests that we keep harping . Fully charge the battery, and disconnect the r/r from harness and see if the battery stays charged overnight.
      1981 gs650L

      "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

        Comment

        • Steve
          GS Whisperer
          • Jun 2005
          • 35927
          • southwest oHIo
          #3
          If you are running the bike, THAT is the source of the battery drain.

          If the R/R is not connected to the battery, that is only the source of the battery not being charged.

          When you start the bike to go get a voltmeter, you can at least do a quick test to see if it's charging. With the bike at idle, shine the headlight against a wall, so you can see it. Rev the engine a bit, see if the headlight gets brighter. If it does, the bike is charging, at least a bit. Now ride the bike to go get your voltmeter so you can see how WELL it's charging.

          .
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          #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
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            Comment

            • 2BRacing
              Forum Mentor
              • Jan 2009
              • 798
              • Onrus, near Hermanus, South Africa
              #4
              You say you have read the Stator Papers. There are many posts by member Posplayr regarding all things charging on these bikes. Start with a fully charged battery and do the Quick Test as he has described (links as per his signature below).

              Read about Charging
              Quick Test GS Charging Health

              If you report your results here, Posplayr will usually comment on the interpretation of your results.
              1981 GS850G "Blue Magic" (Bike Of The Month April 2009)

              1981 GS1000G "Leo" (Bike Of The Month August 2023)

                Comment

                • Guest
                  #5
                  not having the rr ground hooked up will result in no charging.

                    Comment

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