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Message started by kelpike on 12/29/08 at 16:02:39

Title: Battery Charging?
Post by kelpike on 12/29/08 at 16:02:39

Someone on here stated that they bought a $10 adapter from Harbor Freight that you hook to your battery to trickle charge it through the winter. On a link from another post here I read that you need to keep the top off your battery while it is on a charger. So, is it ok to attach this adapter through the winter without taking the top off your battery?

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by EssForty on 12/29/08 at 17:23:11

Are you talking about a float charger like this one?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

A float charger has a current limiter and should not boil your battery like some trickle chargers will. Therefore, I would assume that you would not need to vent the battery to float charge it. Of course, the best advice would be to go to Harbor Fright and confirm this by reading the manual in the box.

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by Oldfeller on 12/29/08 at 18:08:31

I own and use one of said chargers. Mine will not actively bubble the battery and as such it could be left in place continuously.

However, such continuous charging is NOT necessary. If you charged the battery for a couple of days once or twice a month that would be plenty to keep it healthy over the cold winter months. Batteries only lose 10-15% of their charge in cold storage over a one month period.

If you ride the bike 1-2 times a month over the cold months, that is sufficient charge time to keep a good battery healthy. Or you can do like me, charge it every few weeks and ride it occasionally.

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by kelpike on 12/29/08 at 18:47:41

To be honest, I'm not sure if thats the type of charger or not. I cannot seem to find the post that mentioned it. I know it said something about an adapter that attaches to the battery, then you just attach the charger when needed.

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/29/08 at 22:38:14

If you hook up leads to the battery posts so you can can attach a charger easily, then you need to charge at low enough current rates to avoid bubbling the battery.That would be an 'Adapter" so you can hook up a charger. If I was gonna do that, Id use the type of connectors that a cell phone charger uses. Putting the female side on the bike & the male end on my charger. I think the float chargers from Harbor freight have that kind of set up & , on sale, cost less that $7.00.

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by Oldfeller on 12/30/08 at 14:04:27

Well, I'm pretty sure it's the same thing. How can I be sure?

Yoda told me.

;D

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1224420945/6#6

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by Rustbucket on 12/31/08 at 20:31:17

I have the $20.00 battery tender from walmart, (Bell Brand) so far so good. Keeps my battery charged. It comes with the pigtail that you hook to the battery and you can quickly plug it into your bike via the pigtail. On the left side by the air cleaner cover is a great spot to tuck the wire out of the way when not in use. Anyway if the real deal costs only 20 bucks. Why mess with making one out of a cell phone charger that'll just drain your battery as said in the other thread?
http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Powersports-Motorcycle-Battery-Charger/dp/B000HX562W

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by SuziQ on 01/15/09 at 05:39:48

I don't believe your question was answered. Leave the battery caps on when charging. Like Oldfeller has pointed out all that charging isn't necessary. A battery likes a modest charge once a month for a few minutes at about 1 amp. This will bubble and clean the plates unlike a trickle charger will do. A 14 Ah (amp hour) battery can be charged at 1.2 amps for 5 to 10 hours or at 5 amps for 1 hour but only if DEAD. Put your battery on charge at 1 amp for 1 hour once per month. Also as a precaution always disconnect the battery from the electrical system when hooking up a charger and connecting to an AC outlet, especially important if there is a computer or regulator rectifier in the system with a voltage sensing wire. Remove the battery or at least disconnect the ground strap and don't let it toggle to the battery connection, make one quick connect or disconnect. Another alternative is to power the charger from a surge protector as you would your personal computer.

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by Starlifter on 01/15/09 at 10:49:40

I have always used baking soda mixed with a little water to clean battery terminals...seems to work okay. Now I see all these ads for foaming spray-on terminal cleaners. Am I missing something here?

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by bill67 on 01/15/09 at 10:56:29

I don't think your missing anything baking soda has worked for me for many years,It also good for brushing your teeth

Title: Re: Battery Charging?
Post by thumperclone on 01/15/09 at 15:18:38

750 milliamp charger for maintainence if fine..
i found a better way..
can o beer 4 me,open the carriage house doors fire up suzi,hook up the mp3 and watch the oil temp rise, by the time it gets up to 80c im good for two more weeks..btw lil marvel mystery oil in the gas..and youve "lubed" your carb..looks like sat will be a ridin day here!!YAHOO!!