xj 550 electrical review

ok to any one with a proper running electrical system. If you could please describe for us what you see. for instance my bike.
key to on, run switch off gauge at 11.5 - 12V
run switch to run gauge 10V then in 20 seconds back to 11.5 - 12V
starting bike down to 10V
running bike idleing at 1300 to 1500 reads 12 - 12.5V
when bike runs ( Lets say 2000rpm and up, i.e anything above idle) reads 14V and the head light gets brighter.

so to me everything seems good, but Im concerned about the headlight getting brighter above idle. Part of me says that there is an electrical problem (ground?). Then part of me says it makes sence that the light would be dim when you are just parked at idle or at a light.
What do you all think, give me a break down if you want, any one seen it get to 16V? is that a bad thing? I havent but its there for a reason.

 

e13, I believe what you are seeing is normal. At idle the headlight is dim due to running on battery power. At 2k revs & 14v headlight gets bright as alternator is providing more juice. The 16v I have never seen hit on my 650, I guess they wanted it higher than what standard output should be, IMHO.
Gregg

 

16V x 30 amps (main circuit fuse) = 480 watts ... I doubt you'll ever see that kind of load on your electrical system. Greg is right, these alternators don't put out "full" current until above idle, my seca does so slightly above 2k rpm also.

Just because the gauges "go there" doesn't mean it's SUPPOSED to read that high. I know when the alternator malfunctioned on my camaro, the voltmeter inside the car got up to nearly 17 volts, then it started blowing fuses and I got stranded on the side of the road.

Also, my camaro's speedo reads up to like 145. I run out of motor well below that, but I personally wouldn't ever want to test what 145 feels like in a street car .....

 

e13; Are we talking about the voltmeter on the 550 Seca? If so, what you're describing is just about exactly normal behavior. I've got two of 'em and what you describe is almost how mine both behave.

I say "almost" because the headlight getting brighter thing is usually a soggy battery not keeping it bright when the alternator isn't doing the work (below 20K rpm.) If your battery is brand new and it still does that, you probably need to do some connector cleaning.

THAT being said, some difference in the headlight between battery load and alternator is perfectly OK, it shouldn't be too extreme but you will notice it.