With the quad at idle the voltage holds at 12.3V when running at speed anywhere from 3000 to 5000 RPM the voltage at the battery climbs and keeps climbing.. Westopped it when it hit 15.5V. Is this normal or is the voltage regulator faulty?

 

You are fine. 15.5 volts is normal for any 12 volt system. The 15.5 volt output insures the battery is fully recharged to 12 volts.

 

mines 14.1 @ 3300 rpms

 

Does it hold at 14.1 or does it climb higher the longer you monitor it?

 

do all models actually have a regulator?

I put an aftermarket "car type" volt meter on mine and it seems to always be charging at 16 v whilst any speed over dead idle and never drops back as one might expect if a regulator

but after sitting for say 10 minutes with sound system blasting the crocs away, that "surface charge" slips from 13 v back to 12 or so and if after say 30 mins it creeps back below 12 v I know it's time to turn off the sound or it might not want to start

 

15.5 seems rather high. Would think it should be more in the 14-14.5 range at 3k.

 

My Factory Service manual says 13.0 - 14.6 V D.C with the RPM increased between 3000-4000.
.........Caper...........The manual is for a 2005 SP 400/500 and 2006 SP 450/500

 

sorry but I meant to say it sits on 14 V and not 16 V

of course it will all depend on the state of charge of the battery as well as the condition/age of the battery

I know all about this as my home [donga] is solar powered and after 4 years or so those big expensive batteries start to refuse to suck in the amps and the voltage creeps up, at which point the regulator cuts in

then it's $400 for 2 more of those big 6 V suckers

 

Last dumb question I will ask about this.. If I check this at the battery with the quad running, will I get the right reading? Or does that represent something else?

 

you will get the correct reading at the battery. unless you are going above 15 plus volt and blowing lights or others it most likely fine. just my thought.