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GateKeeper
something like this would have been better
for leave it connected and forget about it....type of deal
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I like to pull the battery from the bike, the thought of a fire scares me, not that there would be one, but lead acid produces gases, a spark could cause
a fire. I know this is extreme, but I feel more comfortable if I'm not going to be in the immediate area about leaving it.
If lead acid you can check the water level also. I also have one of those sealed "maintenance free" batteries on my 1100. I have charged that in the bike, but now I pull it also.
Funny thing, the older lead acid battery holds a charge longer than the newer maintenance free one, and it also takes half as long to charge. I think "maintenance free" is an oxymoron.sigpic
Steve
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." :cool:
_________________
'79 GS1000EN
'82 GS1100EZ
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1_v8_merc
I have a 1.5amp charger from wal-mart.
It has a selector switch and works Great, been using it for years.
There's a newer version, which is fully automatic, THAT one has had problems since day one....I don't trust it.
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koolaid_kid
AGM batteries do not leak, hence do not need to be pulled.
My fully automatic Shumacher from WalMart is at least 20 years old and is fully automatic. I trust it completely and use if for both my bikes and my street rod TransAm.
This is the current one (no pun intended)
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Tkents method works, my last battery went for 8 years before I replaced it, using that method. You want to charge them at less than 1 amp for best effect, the slower the better as I understand it. I've been using a ~40 year old Sears motorcycle/automotive battery charger with a variable pot for the lower amperage range. I also bought a Yuasa smart charger last year and will try it this year for winter storage. Good tip about removing battery if idle for long periods."Men will never be free until Mark learns to do The Twist."
-Denis D'shaker
79 GS750N
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GateKeeper
I have been using this one
Don't jump start your battery. Maintain it. CTEK Battery Chargers are the industry-leading, original smart charger and they work on batteries in cars, ATVs, RVs, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and much more. Stop throwing money away on dead batteries with CTEK.
more in particular this one
What you should know about battery chargers | battery charger for cars. A vehicle has approximately 200 ECUs and therefore the battery MUST be in top condition.
I plug the unit to the battery still in the bike, and leave it alone for the winter season, no issues so far.
Actually 2 batteries were done this way last year over the winter, and both bikes started and no ill effect to the batteries...
and both batteries stay in the bike, the connection between the battery and charger is permanently attached to the battery, no fuss no muss....
your way might differ.....this works for me...
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Originally posted by mvalenti View Post
1. The charging rate is WAY too much.
2. Although it says "fully automatic", it never really shuts off.
Better would be THIS UNIT for about $21.
As others have mentioned, a lower charge rate is better, especially with these smaller (compared to cars) batteries. The "charger/maintainer" will charge the battery fully, then turn off and go into a "monitor" mode which will monitor the voltage and turn on only when necessary. Essentially, it does the same thing as tkent's suggestion of only charging a few hours a month, but you don't have to remember to check it.
.sigpic
mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
#1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
#2 son: 1980 GS1000G
Family Portrait
Siblings and Spouses
Mom's first ride
Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
(Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)
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koolaid_kid
Great minds think alike, Steve. That is the exact model I pointed to in my post. And yes, I keep it connected; it is a quality unit that does exactly what it is supposed to do. On my older unit, it has 2 LEDs, one for charging, one for monitor mode. If the battery is bad the charging LED blinks. Perhaps both, I forget and the instructions have long since vanished into the ether.
My last AGM battery lasted 6 years after I purchased the bike; no telling how long it was in there prior to my purchasing it.
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Originally posted by eil View PostI have a Battery Tender Jr and it works very well for my purposes.
If you absolutely insist on spending more money, though, you can go to Sears and get that same Schumacher unit, but it will now have a "DieHard" label on it and it will cost about $10 more.
.sigpic
mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
#1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
#2 son: 1980 GS1000G
Family Portrait
Siblings and Spouses
Mom's first ride
Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
(Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)
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koolaid_kid
The junior is a fine unit also, but for the same money you can get twice the capacity and use it on a car battery as well, which is what I do.
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