Battery cuts-off?

[Gotnoclass]

Had a very strange thing happened. While the bike was off, I accidently grounded the frame with the voltage regulator. It sparked upon contact, and blew a protectant fuse I had installed on the positive side of my 6V SLA battery. Since replacing the 20A fuse, battery is back on but is cutting off under load. Just shuts off. I have to turn off the switch, wait a couple of seconds and then it comes back to life as soon as I turn the ignition switch on.
I thought I messed up the regulator, but even after by-passing it, the bike reacts the same. As soon as I switch between passing lamps to headlamp or turn the signals on, it dies - just cuts off.
Did I kill some cells in the battery? Anyone experienced something like that before? thought I was protected with the 20A fuse..

your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Ran

[1951 adam]

Try and load test the battery, when a battery shorts internally , it usefully just dies completely . I would probably test for voltage at the terminals when it cuts out as you say, if voltage is present it's in the wiring or switch, just start tracing it down. Of course a bad ground would react the same.
Adam

[FL54]

Sounds like a short in the lighting circuit.

[awander]

How old is the battery? Did you drop the bike recently?

[Gotnoclass]

Battery is brand new. Never dropped the bike. I think the 20A fuse was too big. Looked at other inline fuse holders for batteries and they are 15A. The battery also charges up immediately, which leads me to believe cells are fried up.
I ordered a new one and will post an update as soon as in get it in.

Thanks all for the thoughts.

Ran

[awander]

I don't think the fuse is the problem, putting out 20A may drain the battery quickly(probably 20 minutes or so), but shouldn't harm it at all.

[awander]

Check for current draw, engine off and ignition on.

Then keep looking at current draw while switching the lights on and using the signals(anything that causes it to cut out).

[Robert Luland]

Go to the switch. Bob L

[Gotnoclass]

Got my new Eagle Phicher replacement battery today. The old one was toast. Everything is back to normal.
Lesson learned, as I will replace the 20A fuse with a a much smaller one.

Thanks all for the thoughts.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!:)


Ran

[Panacea]

I also have an Eagle Picher battery in my old H2 shell, third year on it now. I was still thinking I'll go with two of these SLA 6V12A batteries in parallel. http://www.exitlightco.com/product/B6V12A.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; They would take up about the same space as the Eagle batt, with 6 more Amp Hours. I'm also interested in trying for more headlite brightness...Mike

[PanPal]

Mike, 12 AH on that battery. That's better than what I have been running. I have 3 batteries in a gutted battery case, 7 AH in parallel. 4th season now. Made a second battery I like it so much.

[Panacea]

Panpal, so if I wired two in parallel, that would be like a 24 ah, right?

[PanPal]

That's what I figure. I'd be interested to know how well they fit. It was tight with 3 and the case bulges a bit. But they fit.