Honda-SOHC

Other Stuff => Tricks & Tips => Topic started by: marroinia on September 02, 2023, 12:22:50 PM

Title: Batterie charging
Post by: marroinia on September 02, 2023, 12:22:50 PM
Hi every one,

I had problems with my starter motor that didn't want to spin. Bike runs great, kick starter works fine, starter relay clicks ok, starter motor ok , bushes ok. I finally find out the 3 years old Yuasa battery is passing away. I have to ride more often and longer.

As I don't want to kill another battery, I would like to use my little battery charger/maintainer while my garage queen is sleeping, and I would like to plug it on a timer so the thing charges 15/30min per week, on a preventive use.

So here is my question: Can I leave the battery connected to the bike while charging/maintaining? I don't want to screw/unscrew the battery when going for a ride.
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Johnny4428 on September 02, 2023, 12:31:14 PM
Hello! A proper battery optimiser is designed to be left on for extended periods of lay-up. I have one one my touring bike in the winter. Other batteries I take off the bikes and charge up once a month, seems to work fine.
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: K2-K6 on September 02, 2023, 12:31:41 PM
A connection can be permanently mounted to battery terminals and used easily to plug charger into bike, like this one
 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394610252534 and just leave the end under the sear when not used.

Connect positive battery to shielded terminal to avoid contact when not in use, or use a different type connector with both terminals covered.
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: marroinia on September 02, 2023, 12:51:58 PM
thank you guys, so I won't burn anything if battery is left connected, I use a Al300pro, it seems to lower the current when battery is charged. It  goes 300mA max during charging.

Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Athame57 on September 02, 2023, 12:57:39 PM
After what happened to my flat mate I prefer to plain take out the battery if a bike is to stand there a long time. Her CBX550 shared a garage with her Yamaha 125 dirt bike that did sparky things one night and burned the place down with it's hapless mechanical residents.  :o
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on September 02, 2023, 01:00:47 PM
I leave a C-Tek type charger permanently connected to one of our rarely used cars in our garage have done for the last 18 or so years, first battery an old fashioned type where you could top up the cells lasted about  10/12 years, current AGM battery (2nd) is still good. It's the early version that Merc sold but made by C-Tek it's just under 3 amps iirc with just a green & amber LED.

I have a  plug connecter lead permanently attached to the battery, similar arrangement now on my 400 except It's only plugged in once a month of so using a later version of the C-Tek MXS 5.0 that is also suitable for m/cycles . Only need to lift the seat to plug it in so no danger of shorting.

Like these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204446542475?hash=item2f99f6aa8b:g:sgAAAOSwEMtk8LY7&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4H262QQYocJbOH798PmhvCUib0BERweRFfWtHv2JEjo4RI2BnAdJ4Gl%2FiaoN9XlNBl5JXokiYuyCn0HxiDn1v4AIzs1xpYMBmtcOCQDHPbJ9WfvhZYd5wvUIBSLx13v7P8Set1cIsRy2fdo8%2BmXLZdDtzcDyLX4TxVIwdpr3haaJfUwoZN35q03el%2B32c%2F8Tjv2MUDLdVQPtHCqtyl5BLBUxXd78R8h1WAGqnrunLZwSfn89rQR1M7MT98B7I4CXU7DQD%2BBt9a6hMVhoG0HBkz6xjNsA52FBq69y1IN8tWac%7Ctkp%3ABFBMxr6e3Mpi
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: marroinia on September 02, 2023, 02:00:12 PM
The idea is to maintain the charge with a timer so that its live only when i'm at home, like early in the morning before going to work so I can make sure there is no strange smell in the garage and everything is off before leaving.

My charger doesn't look as safe as the C-Tek...but I'm properly insured ;D  So I will let in charge 30min weekly with battery still connected to give a try, I will report you back if Hell invited itself for a party in my garage!
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Trigger on September 02, 2023, 02:57:49 PM
I changed all my batteries to Gel and just take them off in the winter, put them in the inside work shop for the winter and they have been fine for the past 4 years with no trouble  ;)
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Johnny4428 on September 03, 2023, 02:09:54 PM
Any preference on gel batteries Graham? I have a few Mottobatt batteries and a few lead acids. All as good as when they were purchased I’m sure. I suppose as with all bike batteries don’t let them get run down.
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Trigger on September 03, 2023, 02:21:50 PM
Any preference on gel batteries Graham? I have a few Mottobatt batteries and a few lead acids. All as good as when they were purchased I’m sure. I suppose as with all bike batteries don’t let them get run down.

I have been using AGM YB12A-A for the past 4 years, fitted to all the 500's and 550's from >>> https://www.tayna.co.uk/motorcycle-batteries/powerline/yb12a-a/

As i ordered 10 batteries i got a nice trade discount  ;)
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Johnny4428 on September 03, 2023, 02:25:58 PM
Thanks, I have no experience with AGM batteries but bear in mind if I need a replacement.
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Trigger on September 03, 2023, 02:46:45 PM
I always look at them as a consumable item and the AGM ones are cheap.
Julie had a new battery put on her Land rover bloody £266 and she had to have the car reprogrammed to accept it. Splashing out £25-£30 on a bike battery is nothing  ;) 
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: marroinia on September 03, 2023, 04:15:32 PM
Well, I will have a close look to AGM batteries too, thanks.
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Johnny4428 on September 03, 2023, 04:19:42 PM
I always look at them as a consumable item and the AGM ones are cheap.
Julie had a new battery put on her Land rover bloody £266 and she had to have the car reprogrammed to accept it. Splashing out £25-£30 on a bike battery is nothing  ;)
Must have been the 18ct gold top version!😳😳
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Trigger on September 03, 2023, 06:39:17 PM
I always look at them as a consumable item and the AGM ones are cheap.
Julie had a new battery put on her Land rover bloody £266 and she had to have the car reprogrammed to accept it. Splashing out £25-£30 on a bike battery is nothing  ;)
Must have been the 18ct gold top version!😳😳

No gold Johnny, just a stop start battery which are twice the price of a STD one and £85 + VAT to have the car reprogrammed  :o
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on September 03, 2023, 08:00:02 PM
I rate AGM batteries as the loss of charge is much slower iirc they were developed via Leisure Batteries.

On older cars you can switch battery type, Ah & CCA with impunity on more modern cars you have to update the ECU system for the charging rate to accommodate them. Might be the case with modern bikes as well.

On Wendy's Freelander  2.2 TD4 GS 13 plate I fitted an AGM battery 80 Ah 800 cca for £137 from Tanya Batteries no software update was needed. No stop start though.

That said if a vehicle is used pretty much daily the cost difference imho can't be justified just stick with standard or Gel. Over the last 10 years the cost difference has narrowed.
.
Title: Re: Batterie charging
Post by: Matt_Harrington on September 04, 2023, 10:04:51 AM
Should it be of any use, I have had a few AGM batteries go flat and they are sods to charge up. I have found that putting a charges battery in parallel with the flat one fools a modern intelligent charger and it will then get charged up. Of course if you have an old charger with no intelligence and a flickering needle gauge then you will probably be OK!  ;)
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