09-30-2016, 04:30 AM
(09-30-2016, 01:22 AM)Lord Popgun_imp Wrote: Just depends on where you have the connection. On my CB I'm plugged into the headlight accessory connector so the ignition needs to be on. On my ST it does not as I have a Powerlet outlet wired directly to the battery.
On the CB I also have a battery tender cable like yours wired to the battery, but I keep the end behind the left side cover so only use it every now and then, mostly in the Winter.
If it's wired to anything other than the battery, you're going to get the flat 11.8ish volts that the rectifier puts out rather than the battery voltage. In other words, you're getting a false reading. If the battery reads 11.8 volts directly, it's close to dead (it's ~ 1/3 charged). The battery should read 12.7v when it's 100%.