Flashing battery light

Hey all, long time no post. Everything has been going great with the bike and running like a dream. However, last night I went to take her out for a little and after starting, the battery light was flashing. I pushed the voltage button and the gauge was showing about 10v. I didn't have time to look into it, so threw it on the trickle charger and called it a night.

This morning I go out there and the charger is showing its fully completed. I start the bike (which starts right up both times mind you) and the battery light is still flashing.

Here's what I've tested and done so far...
-Pulled the battery, fluid is still good (half way between high/low).
-Hooked up to a real charger, says 100% good and battery in "good" condition
-Hooked external voltage gauge up to battery and shows 12.5v while off.
-Bike running, external voltage gauge shows about 12.3v. Dash gauge shows about 10v still
-Revving the motor up, external gauge shows that voltage rises with rpms. Dash shows that too, but still not as much as the external gauge,
-Ran the bike some, light still flashing. Battery was still at the same voltage as above in all the same tests, and dash still showed the same too.

The dash gauge has generally always shows lower voltage when Ive checked it. Sometimes it would randomly by higher though both running and idle. I've checked all the wires and it all looks good. Any ideas on what's going on here? Thanks!

On some Kawasaki's, the battery indication acts on a sensor connected to the battery. I'd look and see if it's unplugged, or possibly a wire has gotten damaged, that goes to the battery indicator on the instrument panel.

I know this one has that wire that supposed to go into the battery for fluid levels or whatnot. The previous owner had wired it weird, and I believe its just grounded now. Its never come on before except when you turn the key on and all the lights are on.

Just checked again, all the wires are good going up there and everywhere I've looked.

david-b wrote: -Bike running, external voltage gauge shows about 12.3v.

If you rev it up to about 2500 RPM, the battery voltage should be about 14V. If it is only 12 - 13 range, your voltage reg or alternator is dead.

bountyhunter wrote:

david-b wrote: -Bike running, external voltage gauge shows about 12.3v.

If you rev it up to about 2500 RPM, the battery voltage should be about 14V. If it is only 12 - 13 range, your voltage reg or alternator is dead.

Would that be 2500rpm under load or can it be in neutral? Pretty sure it did not hit 14v at that rpm either way. Anyway to diagnose which one would be the problem?

david-b wrote: Would that be 2500rpm under load or can it be in neutral? Pretty sure it did not hit 14v at that rpm either way. Anyway to diagnose which one would be the problem?

Dave, it can be in neutral.

Got a service manual? It will tell you all you need to know about testing the electrical system...

david-b wrote:

bountyhunter wrote:

david-b wrote: -Bike running, external voltage gauge shows about 12.3v.

If you rev it up to about 2500 RPM, the battery voltage should be about 14V. If it is only 12 - 13 range, your voltage reg or alternator is dead.

Would that be 2500rpm under load or can it be in neutral? Pretty sure it did not hit 14v at that rpm either way. Anyway to diagnose which one would be the problem?

Rev it in neutral with a voltmeter on the battery terminals.

If low voltage, has to be the alternator windings, rectifier or regulator.

The battery acid level indicator can be bypassed by connecting it to any 12 volt source. It sounds like the previous owner did that. So make sure there is 12v on the acid level wire, I think it's usually a pink wire.