Author Topic: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear  (Read 1636 times)

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Offline Artie

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Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« on: May 13, 2020, 04:31:58 PM »
Because it’s still so damn cold around here And I need all the electricity my K1 will put out,to run my Oxford grips,and heated jacket, it’s a war that the battery slowly looses during a full day of riding around  between 15-60mph range
I have some days  lost enough juice to crank but it kick starts instantly.
I know all the limitations of the stock system and aware that I’m asking it to do way more than it was ever designed for but if I get more  reserve power it will help ,if I shut off both for 30 minutes in the highway as the day warms up battery’s back to 12.5 volts static, am using newish motoblat  12AH now
I know I’ll always get home but.....
12-14 Amps standard compartment size but what’s the most powerful battery I could put in there?
Can you put larger battery but loosing tool tray and tool kit.
Is there any larger output alternator available I’ve never seen anything

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2020, 04:43:38 PM »
Look at the lithium batteries. They are more power dense, so the Li batteries of equivalent size to standard lead acid and AGM should have more reserve capacity.
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Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline American Locomotive

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2020, 05:01:44 PM »
12.5v is still low. A lead acid battery isn't fully charged until it's back up to around 13.6-14.4v. More reserve capacity is great, but if your alternator can't keep up - it won't matter. It just means instead of your battery dying this ride - it'll die the next ride. That is unless you keep the thing plugged into a battery charger whenever you get home.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2020, 05:13:42 PM »
Easiest and safest upgrade is the AGM or the sealed lead-acid ones from Yuasa. You need a battery made from virgin lead, and only these 2 types come that way today. Lithium-ion batteries are problematic, and have even burned these bikes down by catching on fire, so unless you are real savvy about getting the proper (and expensive) electronic voltage regulator to use with those, avoid them.

You can also install a field coil from the CB750A bike: this will increase the output of the alternator above 2200 RPM by about 20% more than the one you have now.

Another thing with the K1: the alternator bullet connectors in that bike were zinc-plated, 3.0mm size. They are usually cooked black by now, losing about 15% of the alternator power as heat. You can get new brass ones, slightly larger (like in the later 750K4+) at 3.5mm size, from Vintageconnections.com. Look up their 3.5mm Bullet connectors in male and female. These are right behind the sprocket cover, to your left as you look at the engine. While it takes some patience, you can change them out right there. You will have to trim off about 1/8" of the back side of the female silicone boots in order to make them fit, but it works. I do it to every engine that comes thru my shop. This will restore the lost power from the cooked plugs you have now.
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

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Offline Artie

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2020, 05:22:31 PM »
Thanx Hondaman will inspect thoroughly
I do put it on battery tender after each gear ride and it’s 13.5volts in the am

Offline Deltarider

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2020, 01:11:20 AM »
I do put it on battery tender after each gear ride and it’s 13.5volts in the am
Rule of thumb test for every 12V lead acid battery is: after fully charging, leave the battery alone for at least 2 hours. Then measure voltage. It should be 12,6V (or more). Below 12,6 it is time to start looking for a new one.
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Offline tlbranth

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2020, 12:18:24 PM »
How about changing out all your light bulbs to LED? You'd need an electronic flasher to do it though. Or you could buy a car.
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Offline gtmdriver

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2020, 12:11:26 AM »
As mentioned above it's not about the battery.

Unless the alternator can supply the power needed to drive the heated gear you are adding then the battery will still go flat. It will jus take longer with a higher capacity battery.

Offline david 750f

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2020, 01:58:19 AM »
I have found that heated gloves work better than heated grips. If you get the battery powered gloves, that will save you 30-60 watts over the heated grips. (Depending on the brand). Every little bit helps 😊
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Offline HondaMan

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2020, 04:26:02 PM »
(You're all wusses....I never had electric anything, just leathers, long underwear, Vetter fairing and lowers, rode all winter...).
;)
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book
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Link to website: https://sohc4shop.com/  (Note: no longer at www.SOHC4shop.com, moved off WWW. in 2024).

Offline Artie

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #10 on: May 19, 2020, 05:12:47 PM »
Wusses?
55 years ago I rode my MC year round it was my only vehicle !
Rain gear was a trash bag with 3 holes if you stopped and bought a box of them
generally you were already soaked and at least an hour from home
My new moto is no bad riding days only bad gear
My coldest weather gear is Olympia one piece with liner well made had it for 6-7 years day Flo hi vis with lots of armor it’s heavy tho but real warm Along with heated jacket liner BMW heated grips with moose mitts on my GS comfy NE riding above 40F
Have various other jackets and pants outfits also I’m now a AGATT guy Always
Oxford grips on my K1 And other rides great product high quality there a must out this way
I’m old and I’ve suffered enough
Poor circulation of the blood in fingers as I’ve aged just  hope I keep aging!

Offline Tom C

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #11 on: May 20, 2020, 02:55:15 AM »
I wouldn't recommend a Li battery for use in cold weather.  I had one in my Tiger 1050 a few years ago - when cold these batteries are terrible, the voltage drops down to where the bike would not crank.  The electrical draw of cranking heats the battery up eventually but this was a problem on the Tiger because the starter relay would not switch on when the voltage was low so I couldn't even work the starter to heat up the battery.... I ended up replacing it with a conventional battery. 

I'm interested in the responses about beefing up the charging system of these bikes as I'd like to do some touring on my 74 CB550 eventually and unlike Hondaman I am not too proud to turn on the heated gear when the temps drops! :)
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Offline bryanj

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #12 on: May 20, 2020, 05:04:19 AM »
There is no "beef up" for the 550 i'm afraid unless you go to the expense of having a coil rewound, the alternative coil Hondaman mentions is only for 750
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Offline newday777

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #13 on: May 20, 2020, 05:42:12 AM »
Well Artie I agree on the need for heated gear as I'm in NH summers and fall(usually...) and ride to San Diego for the winters and spring, on my Goldwing....I left late October last fall.
I did get a late ride on my K5 up to Lincoln the 3rd week of October for a last ride on it before it's winter nap, without heated gear..... It was in the low 40s that day and no fairing to block the wind. It sure would have been nice to have the Gerbings on.
My plan once I get unstuck from San Diego..to ride back, is to change my halogen H4 headlight bulb to a H4 LED Pathfinder, change the tail light and turn bulbs to LED bulbs and LED flasher to lower the draw so to at least use my heated gloves but will try the jacket liner too.
I do like the sound of the 750A windings higher output so I'll try that too.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2020, 05:46:57 AM by newday777 »
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My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 1 K2, 4 K6, 1 K8, 1 F1, 1 F3
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
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Offline ckahleer

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2020, 08:26:28 AM »
My son has one of these jump starters. I'm amazed at how such a small thing can jump start a car with a completely dead battery.
It is rated at 12AH. Not sure how long it would keep heated gear running, but may be an alternative to using the bikes electricity.

https://www.harborfreight.com/lithium-ion-jump-starter-and-power-pack-62749.html?_br_psugg_q=jump+starter

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Most powerful Battery Available for heated gear
« Reply #15 on: May 20, 2020, 11:31:42 AM »
I have found that heated gloves work better than heated grips. If you get the battery powered gloves, that will save you 30-60 watts over the heated grips. (Depending on the brand). Every little bit helps 😊

I believe that was the whole point of the thread. He understands that heated clothes will cause the battery charge to fall over time because the alternator can't keep up, so he wanted extra reserve.
"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200