lights kill battery

[Pearl]

hi all I have a linhai 260 main street. if I drive with the main lights on the battery dies after about 20 min of riding and bike cuts out. when I check the voltage before I start its at 12.6 after I start it lifts to 12.9 if I turn the main beam on the voltage steadily drops offs and just gets lower and lower. any one experienced this before? and any ideas what it could be.

[Gimpdog]

I don't know a lot, but I do know these Chinese batteries aren't too good and crap out fast. Plus they're small, and all the stock lights are energy hogs. Lots of scoot owners change out their lights to LEDs with good results...

[ozarkman]

Take the battery out the scoot and have it load tested at a local battery shop.
If it turns out bad your at the right place to get a new one.

I'm concerned that your only reading 12.9 volts with the scooter running.
It's no wonder that it goes dead when running the headlights.
Could be your charging system needs some attention. Good luck!

[Pearl]

thanks for the info guys. what type of voltage shoul a battery give with the engine running?

[thumper650]

13-14 ish. It probably won't do it when at idle. Rev it up a little and see if it's charging.