Battery issue

[Herzie]

Hi guys

today I took my acid battery of the tender that has been charging it all winter. I unfortunately discovered that it was almost dry. I refilled it and got 14v across the poles. But when I connected it to the bike I got absolutely 0 response from the bike, no lights no nothing. I did some testing but couldn't find a problem. The fuses gets 14v.

Can the problem be the battery regardless or should I look for the problem elsewhere (suggestions appreciated). Can the battery deliever volts but no amps?

Peter

[posplayr]

Can the problem be the battery regardless or should I look for the problem elsewhere (suggestions appreciated). Can the battery deliever volts but no amps?

Peter

Yes it sound like it is failing a basic load test.
Low electrolyte level - battery plates exposed to air will immediately sulfate.

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

8. Battery life and performance - Average battery life has become shorter as energy requirements have increased. Two phrases I hear most often are "my battery won't take a charge, and my battery won't hold a charge". Only 30% of batteries sold today reach the 48-month mark. In fact 80% of all battery failure is related to sulfation build-up. This build up occurs when the sulfur molecules in the electrolyte (battery acid) become so deeply discharged that they begin to coat the battery's lead plates. Before long the plates become so coated that the battery dies. The causes of sulfation are numerous. Let me list some for you.

• Batteries sit too long between charges. As little as 24 hours in hot weather and several days in cooler weather.
• Battery is stored without some type of energy input.
• "Deep cycling" an engine starting battery. Remember these batteries can't stand deep discharge.
• Undercharging of a battery to only 90% of capacity will allow sulfation of the battery using the 10% of battery chemistry not reactivated by the incompleted charging cycle.
• Heat of 100 plus F., increases internal discharge. As temperatures increase so does internal discharge. A new fully charged battery left sitting 24 hours a day at 110 degrees F for 30 days would most likely not start an engine.
• Low electrolyte level - battery plates exposed to air will immediately sulfate.
• Incorrect charging levels and settings. Most cheap battery chargers can do more harm than good. See the section on battery charging.
• Cold weather is also hard on the battery. The chemistry does not make the same amount of energy as a warm battery. A deeply discharged battery can freeze solid in sub zero weather.
• Parasitic drain is a load put on a battery with the key off. More info on parasitic drain will follow in this document.

[waterman]

Hi guys

today I took my acid battery of the tender that has been charging it all winter. I unfortunately discovered that it was almost dry. I refilled it and got 14v across the poles. But when I connected it to the bike I got absolutely 0 response from the bike, no lights no nothing. I did some testing but couldn't find a problem. The fuses gets 14v.

Can the problem be the battery regardless or should I look for the problem elsewhere (suggestions appreciated). Can the battery deliever volts but no amps?

Peter

Yes a battery can deliver volts but very little amps. If your battery boiled dry from overcharging, it is most likely toast. Unfortunately, you will most likely be replacing it with a new battery soon.

[Steve]

Yes, a battery can deliver volts, but no amps.

Apparently you boiled the water right out of it and cooked the plates in the process. You say you had a charger on it all winter. I have no doubt that it was a small-capacity charger, but was it a "manual" charger, an "automatic" charger or a "charger/maintainer"? A manual charger will simply keep pumping current into the battery and will actually overcharge it. This usually results in what you have seen, a dry battery. An automatic charger will sense a full charge and reduce the charge rate. It will still overcharge the battery, but will take much longer to do so. A charger/maintainer will sense the full charge, then turn off, but will keep monitoring the voltage and will turn back on, if needed.

Sorry, but it's time to get another new battery, in spite of your good intentions of keeping it charged.

.

[Herzie]

Thank you for your replies. Guess it's time for a new battery, Was thinking about getting a maintenance free gel battery anyway.

The charger I used is supposed to be "intelligent". It has a maintenance funktion that allows the battery to fully charge and then it will charge and discharge a little. Maybe it's just crap or my battery is/was.

[bellucci]

I just bought a AGM battery from a local shop(Interstate) because my battery died also. I needed a stronger one due to a higher compression engine. I got 210 cranking amps in the same size for $59.95. It spins the engine effortlessly. Worth the money all day long... Now if I can get it to run right, I will be happy...

[Ikazuki]

According to the Motorcycle Safety Class a battery can last 3 to 7 years depending upon the level of maintanence one gives. Ideally one should place the battery on a trickle charge every single day. And maintain correct fluid level. Good luck and take care, Ikazuki

[Steve]

According to the Motorcycle Safety Class a battery can last 3 to 7 years depending upon the level of maintanence one gives. Ideally one should place the battery on a trickle charge every single day. And maintain correct fluid level. Good luck and take care, Ikazuki

Not necessarily so.

IDEALLY you would ride every day and your properly-operating charging system would keep the battery charged.

.

[Philly_Chris]

Semi-Hijack, but it is on topic..

I just re-charged my new in November AGM battery. Unfortunately it had been sitting outside in my unridden bike all winter. Took what appeared to be a full charge on the 'tender, but now drops to 0 volts when I turn the key to on (park position yields 5V and a super dim taillight). I really can't think what else would show these symptoms except a fried battery.

It was fully charged once back in Nov, then I took about a 15 mile ride and parked it. Did I just spend $70 on one start?

Chris
82 850G

[gggGary]

Man that sucks but it sure sounds like it. For my 2 cents (and worth every penny) I use a maintenance tender type of battery charger and make the rounds of all the summer toys 2 or 3 times a winter. I usually leave it on each battery a day or two or until the next time I am out in the shed and think oops gotta move that charger to a different battery. Seems to work great for me and I don't need to change batteries often, except I am always buying and selling and a good battery is VERY rare in barn finds!