how to test a new regulator + rectifier

So i finally got my kz650 on the road for the first time this weekend, it was great! I ordered a new battery, and just for the time being I was using another battery that fits in the bike only if i turn it on its side. It's a sealed type, so i thought it would be fine, but it leaked a little bit after my ride, so i removed it. My friend said that its strange that the sealed battery would leak and said that my regulator might have a problem.

Both my regulator and rectifier are new parts from oregonmotorcycleparts.com. They seem great, but i didn't make any adjustments to them, just bolted them in. My question is:

(Using a multimeter) How do i test to see that regulator/rectifier is working properly. Which setting on the multimeter should i use and what is the proper voltage that i should look for?

Thanks for your help.

Set your meter on the 50 VDC setting. Connect to your battery terminals and measure the voltage with bike off. It should read about 12.5 or so volts. Start the bike and watch the meter. The voltage should dropp while starting down to about 12.0 volts once the bike starts watch to see how high the voltage goes. Now slowly rev your bike to about 4000 RPM watching the VOM the whole time the meter should never go over 14V or so. If it do just a little it is still ok if it starts to go up tward 15 or higher, than the regulator is bad.

That's how you do it. Battery voltage should be 14V +/- maybe 0.3V with the engine revs above 3000 RPM. Make sure the "sense" line from the reg is connected to the battery voltage (if your reg uses a sense line) or else it will overcharge the battery.

bountyhunter wrote:

That's how you do it. Battery voltage should be 14V +/- maybe 0.3V with the engine revs above 3000 RPM. Make sure the "sense" line from the reg is connected to the battery voltage (if your reg uses a sense line) or else it will overcharge the battery.

congrats on your 3000th post!

Thanks for your help everyone again. My new battery just came in so i will test the voltage maybe tomorrow.