Tech Forums > SOHC/4 Bikes

really dumb battery question

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eldar:
well for batteries, charging is all relative. You can jump them with higher amperages but only for short time periods. And you want to make sure you have sufficient electrolyte and that the battery is venting properly otherwise you could have a boom. The hydrogen gas output from a car battery can produce enough force to blow the hood off, now think of what would happen to the ever important butt crack?! :o
As for the original question, a new battery could help but while waiting at the stoplights, turn off any extra accessories that you can and rev the engine every so often. The bad zone is around 2000 rpm though, at that rpm, supposedly the charging system does nothing.

Paul:
A word or caution, I had the same problem on my bikes as I only use them occasionally (dry weather). My trickle charger <2A. came with a permanent fused lead to install on the battry. So I used it regulary. Firstly... it always comes on when you plug it in first because it needs to charge up to approx 14V and then lets it drop to 12+ before going into monitor mode to hold it there. (Technically the battery should receive no charge whilst monitoring until it falls below 12V ish) or starts to draw a certain amount of Amps (Can't recall how much). trickle charger should only charge up to and not beyond the "gas" stage so everything would seem OK, However my battery only lasted 4 months whilst connected to the trickle charger until one cell went down. Since then I've left it off the charger and check it regularly - rather than leaving it plugged in 100% I just plug it in when the check shows a charge needed. On that note ...if your battery is that bad, then the trickle charger should do no more harm as it will keep it up there and not beyond which seems to have caused my trouble.  ( In a nutshell....bad battery probably won't get much worse....good battery ....only charge it when required provided there isn't something else causing the draw.  :-\even I'm confused now!

Spear:
. . . and remember - hook the battery up before you turn the charger on, and make sure you turn the charger off before you remove the leads. May not sound important, BUT IT IS!

Gordon:
This thread reminded me of another one from the Greenspun board a while back.  I remember someone (maybe Terry) saying he had come up with something that would rejuvenate a tired battery.  Does anobody know what I'm talking about? 

If it was Terry, maybe this is just another use for the amazing Vegemite!

Gordon

Sandcast 2356:
alright, what in the world is the Vegemite of which you guys all speak??

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