Voltage light (LED)

[rodneym]

I've been running my Kirkham nights lately. I noticed a slight dimming and an increase in brightness in the headlights when gassed. With the lights and fan in traffic, I was afraid I wasnt charging the battery enough (Odyssey 925).
Then I go out yesterday and she started on the first try but barely, and the Voltage light (on the Voltage gauge) came on and never went off. I figured I'd drive it around to charge it. As the engine warmed up, I turned the fan on and it dropped from high 13's to mid 12.
This morning I figured I'd charge the battery and look for loose grounds. The charger showed 'almost fully charged' to begin with. My handheld digital voltmeter read 12.75 after the charge. Stupid me didn't check before hand. I also found the kill switch cables to be VERY loose. Bingo! I checked them on delivery but they really loosened up A LOT! I tightened those tight. The battery was tight, the voltage regulator is all connected good and grounded on bare chassis. The alternator lead is tight, (still a couple more places to check when I put in on ramps). I thought all was well due to the loose kill switch cables.
I took it out for a spin. Started great. Read over 14V. When I had to kick on the fans it dipped for a split second to 12 but came back up to high 13 in a heartbeat. Drove fine. After the drive the battery read 12.94. With the kill switch killed, 0.0.
BUT the Voltage light was still on during my entire last drive??
Advice?

rodneym

[big-boss]

My voltage light is on all the time as well. Has been ever since- I thought that was the way it is. Mine was wired at the Provo International Headquarters.

[rodneym]

Big-Boss,

I don't know much about car electronics but mine came on recently. I have a one wire alternator and a voltage regulatorvIs that normal?
Then the Voltage light comes on and won't go away. I did chase a loose connection at the kill switch and I'll get it on the ramps and look for more. But the last drive was picture perfect, voltages and all, but the light stayed on.
Jeremy at Kirkham said the light isn't really functioning because I have a one wire alternator. But why did it come on? And why won't it go off?
Damn electrons.

rodneym

[pusherfans]

you may have a regulator problem. Check all of the positive wire connections. I had some lose ones. if your voltage is above 12 while the engine is running, the light should be out. check to see that the regulator wires are tight. Check the voltage at the regualtor and at the battery while the engine is running. Be careful not to short anything. These problems take a lot of time to figure out. Took me one week to figure out my non charge problem. 3 alternators and 3 regulators later, the problem was lose connections at the starter, battery and fuse box.

[rodneym]

I got some info from Jeremy at Kirkham.
The voltage regulator comes fully installed on the roller.
My engine has a one wire alternator though, so the VR isn't really working.
The odd thing is that the light came on after 550 miles AND during a genuine low voltage 'event'. This is a small LED on the Voltage gauge (Kirkham stock gauge), not an incandescent bulb next to the keyed ignition (in case anyone was wondering).
Jeremy wondered why the light wasn't always on. Hmmm. He said all I have to do is unplug a lead that goes to a relay near the keyed ignition, and this will permanently kill the light. Maybe if I unplug and plug back in something will reset? And if so, maybe I'll install a 'momentary off' button inline.
Hmmm...
I've dealt with much deadlier electronics

[rodneym]

Just to wrap up this incredibly intersting thread:

Unplugging the lead and plugging back in (with the batt disconnected) didn't keep the light from coming back. So for now it will remain unplugged.

Why it took so long to come on is still a mystery.

rodneym