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is your battery draining when the ignition is on or off? If only when the ignition is on your battery drain might be normal.

On my 250 with stock DC ignition wiring (not an AC ignition) when the points are closed the path of amperage is from the battery through the coil (a very low resistance because it is after all just wire) through the points to the frame (which is a direct connection to the negative battery terminal.)

Touch the coil and if it’s hot that’s were the battery’s energy is going. Rotate the engine a little bit and the points will open and the coil will begin to cool. The battery will stop draining.

This is to be expected, but remember that the ignition circuit is not meant to be on when the bike is not running. When running the points close for an instant with each revolution and are open (no amperage flowing) for most of the time.

Also, when the bike is running, the charging circuit is working to replenish the battery.

Jim

Dave L wrote:The reg/ rect is from vehicle wiring products, not an original one. Would experimenting with swooping yellow leads arrive at a higher voltage from the alternator

At this time, don't concern yourself about what the reg/rec might or might not be doing. You need to first test if the alternator is producing electricity.

'Cos if the alternator ain't kicking anything out, then the reg/rec won't have anything to either rectify or regulate ...

I've been trying to find what voltage output you should expect from your alternator.

For the Bologna w/c bikes, it's 38-40v (AC). This is measured between each yellow wire and the red one, btw. And it's for when the engine is turning over at full chat, so you won't see the same just on the poor old kickstart .

However, your bike doesn't use the same alternator as the Bologna bikes. It has a different, more modern Motoplat (I believe - ?) model. So I can't say whether it should be developing more or less. More, hopefully ...

But you should still get something more than 1 volt ...

Did a resistance test, a voltage test, charged battery over night, swopped leads in various combinations and made the earth connection from the r/r more solid.....bingo, it charges beautifully. Definitely getting a new battery asap. Thanks for the help, much appreciated

Dave L wrote:Did a resistance test, a voltage test, charged battery over night, swopped leads in various combinations and made the earth connection from the r/r more solid.....bingo, it charges beautifully. Definitely getting a new battery asap.

Yippee!