headlight probs - does my bike has bad cat aids?

[andyvanderpandy]

ello all, it seems i only come on here when i have probs, i really shall make more of an effort in the future!

anyways...

today getting home from work i notice the indicatorlight under the clocks was not flashing, as if a bulb had gone.

i get home and have a fiddle about and find that if the light are:
1) on main beam the flash ratre on the indys slows to more or less a constant on
2) on sidelights the indicators are fine
3) no side/headlight indicators are fine
4) not sure what happens on full beam though

home at about 7, try to start bike an hour ago and the battery is pretty much drained. (its a good, new battery)

it seems there might be a short on the main beam, its definately affecting the indicators.

so im guessing something is either draining the battery, or stopping it from charging... ive not had a proper poke around yet as it wayyy past my bed time, if anyone could guide me a little, i might not have nightmares!

answers on a postcard please....

[andyvanderpandy]

charged it over night... im off to work on it now, if you pass me on the A1 please stop and push...

[masterofinsanity]

i would check your battery is tip top mate, get it running and use a multimeter to check voltages with lights on and off, record what happens and post here.

[zimm]

headlight relay ?

water in somewhere it shouldnt be ?

loom shorting somewhere .. ?

[parby81]

reg/rect

Mine was fine when lights off and even ok when sidelights on. Put headlights on though and drained battery quickly, then indy's stuck constantly on (if selected). And yes if you stop, the battery is completely drained.
New reg/rect and all now works fine.

[masterofinsanity]

same here.

[andyvanderpandy]

ah well, i gets to where im going and bammo! flat battery about 3 seconds after a switch off!

normally id have a good poke around before realising i have no idea what im looking at/for, but i thought lets go 'mad' (read in an alan partridge voice), so ive ordered a reg/rec jobbie, should be here on friday. will let y'all know

but thanks again guys, a great help!

[andyvanderpandy]

ello there. this is one for any folks who have suffered the same or similar probs.

did the journey length affect things. ive noticed on a long journey the battery is dead within 2 minutes of standing, but a short journey or just starting up in garage doesnt seem to drain anything...???!!!??? :smt013

[rover220]

have you checked the battery is actually charging?

[andyvanderpandy]

ello there, changed the reg and all is well now. i dont have any electrical testing jobbies myself, but the back of the old reg has a slight split, about 6-7mm in the rubber backing. im not sure if this is relevant.

anyways, thanks for the help, im really at a loss when it comes to electrics, im off to learn about them now.b