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Voltage Too High - 83GS550L

  • Thread starter Thread starter On Wisconsin
  • Start date Start date
O

On Wisconsin

Guest
I have searched high and low throughout the forum and haven't seen much to address this issue. I have read a ton though, and would feel confident if my voltage was too low... I was getting some help tagged onto another thread, but thought this might be specific enough for its own attention.

I have a 1983 GS550L. When I purchased it, the charging system wasn't working. I went through the various suggestions on this forum concerning troubleshooting and determined that the stator was fine, but the R/R was faulty. (I wasn't smart enough to write down the results, just went through the checklist. I do remember that voltage at the battery was 12.7 at 5K rpm)

Since, I have purchased a SH541 and installed it, again according to the advice of the many helpful people on this forum. It is a 7 wire installation.


  • Three yellows to the stator
  • One red directly to the battery (through an inline 15amp fuse)
  • One red to the original R/R output
  • One green to a good frame ground
  • One green to the battery negative
  • One black/white to the switched
  • The original ground output to a good frame ground.
  • Battery to a good frame ground
I will provide the exact numbers next time I get a chance, but the short of it is - now the voltage is now way too high. At idle, I am getting around 15.9 volts at the battery terminals. Revved up just a hair, I am well over 16V.

I thought it might be a bum R/R off of ebay, but have since come into possession of a different SH541, reinstalled it and still am having the same results.

After searching the heck out of this forum, there is a ton of information for people suffering from low voltage. If this has been tackled elsewhere, a link would be appreciated.

One more thing - just a big thanks to all who have come before. There seem to be a ton of helpful people out there on this forum and I can't underestimate how much help you have all already been in your previous posts. Thanks again.

Phil
Pleasant Prairie, WI
1983 GS550L
 
I am wondering if the black/white wire is a GROUND, not a SENSE wire. :-k

I see that you have the case grounded, but not all R/Rs ground through the case, there is a wire to do that job. Probably the black/white one. :o

.
 
The black/white wire is the sense wire on the SH-541; slightly smaller gage than others. As nessism said, hook up your sense wire to battery positive as a test- voltage should go no higher than 14.5
 
I still have some of those routed to an orange wire, but when I install a new one, the sense wire always goes to the battery. I know that I should be fixing the problem (voltage drop in the switched wiring), but going to the battery with the sense wire has not caused the slightest hint of a problem.
 
14.5 @ 5000K all day long. Can't thank you guys enough.

If my limited electrical knowledge serves, won't this drain the battery if left a long time? No worries for me, I leave it on a trickle charger when I don't ride for a while.

I would have written in earlier, but I was too busy soldering and tightening things up under the seat. She will emerge as good as a 30yr old bike can tomorrow morning.

Thanks again,

Phil
Pleasant Prairie, WI
'83 GS550L
 
Riddle me this though - voltage drop? How can I address this? The fuse box is solid state and I can't open it without breaking it.

I like to have things running, but would rather have things running right. Anybody have any thoughts?
 
On Wisconsin said:
If my limited electrical knowledge serves, won't this drain the battery if left a long time? No worries for me, I leave it on a trickle charger when I don't ride for a while.
Click to expand...
If left connected a very long time, yes. I wouldn't give a second thought about leaving it connected permanently.
 
On Wisconsin said:
Riddle me this though - voltage drop? How can I address this? The fuse box is solid state and I can't open it without breaking it.

I like to have things running, but would rather have things running right. Anybody have any thoughts?
Click to expand...


Voltage drop is a in-series type of test in line on positive power wires from junction to junction. volt meter set on DC voltage.

what it will show you is where excessive resistance is located due to corrosion or broken frayed connections junk parts etc...

I'm in Kenosha and can show you if you have any problems. I have some cool tools to show you if there is a negative draw from your battery when all systems are shut off.
 
On Wisconsin said:
14.5 @ 5000K all day long. Can't thank you guys enough.

If my limited electrical knowledge serves, won't this drain the battery if left a long time?
Click to expand...

A few years back I checked the current draw of the sense wire of a SH-232 wired direct to battery- it was so low, you can ignore it; your battery self discharges at a higher rate.
 
tom203 said:
A few years back I checked the current draw of the sense wire of a SH-232 wired direct to battery- it was so low, you can ignore it; your battery self discharges at a higher rate.
Click to expand...

I just make sure to include the series resistor that comes with the battery. I measured the current as well but don't recall the value other than seemed close to 10 mAmp.
 
trippivot said:
Voltage drop is a in-series type of test in line on positive power wires from junction to junction. volt meter set on DC voltage.

what it will show you is where excessive resistance is located due to corrosion or broken frayed connections junk parts etc...

I'm in Kenosha and can show you if you have any problems. I have some cool tools to show you if there is a negative draw from your battery when all systems are shut off.
Click to expand...

Outstanding. I work in K-town at the B&G Club. If you see the Suzuki out front, stop on in.
 
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