Topic: 23 volts???

[TomL]

I recently change my handle bars for some nice 400f bars on my 350f.  After about a week I noticed that one of the speedo lights was not on.  I tapped on the speedo and it came on and went back out.  I took the bulb out and checked to make sure I was getting power to the bulb.  My meter read 23 volts at the lamp socket.  Is that even possible??  I thought a 12 volt system runs everything at 12 volts.  Is it possible I may have crossed some wires in the reconnecting inside the headlight?  I matched all the color coding when I put everything back together so I think everything is good.  All lights work, turn signals, switches horn etc. 

Should I be getting 23 volts?  Could that have been the cause of the bad bulb or is that normal?

[bryanj]

Sounds like a bad meter to me, check the voltage at the battery

[Gorms]

My guess would be a bad meter or a wrong setting on it.  Crossing wires will not increase your voltage.  Devices like step up transformers can increase voltages at the expense of current but there are none of those or anything that can do that on these bikes.  Make sure the meter is set to DC voltage and take another reading. And as bryanj said...check the voltage at the battery.

[Mainer4]

With the engine off and the ignition switch to run position, you should be reading about 12.6 volts (DC setting on the VOM).  There is no way to get more than that.  Even with the engine running the most you will see is probably about 15 volts at very high engine revs.  At normal idle you may only see about 13 volts, probably less as you are barely charging the battery at idle, that is why your turn signal slows down at a stop light after a very short time!

Howard
CB400F

[TomL]

Ah I was checking AC for some stupid reason.  I'll set it to DC and check again. Some mistakes are just bafflingly dumb.

[Kevin D]

I have screwed up with my DMM before. 12V and 12mV are not nearly alike, but they LOOK very much alike on an autoranging digital multimeter.