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Battery chargers
- mark1122
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i hear that batteries for our bikes should be charged with trickle chargers that are less than 1 amp.
true or false ?
i see chargers at .9ma and others at 1.5 or even 2 amps from battery manufactures such as Yuasa. whats up ? which 1 do i need? will my 2 amp charger do any harm?
i read that your bat will last longer if it is kept up to charge between rides .
My kz or cbr can sit for a few weeks between rides, sometimes longer.
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- Motor Head
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- FIX UP YOUR BIKE RIGHT AND CHEAP
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www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=float+charger
I've got a current coupon for $4.99, they work really good. I keep my batteries on this charger when not in use, all winter.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- bountyhunter
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1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- andy9802gt
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'78 KZ1075 LTD
stage 1 head by Larry Cavanaugh
race built crank by John Pearson
Mikuni rs34's
k410 cams
back cut tranny
8" over D&G swinger
proving once again that age and treachery is better than youth and enthusiasm
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- mark1122
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bountyhunter wrote: The "2A" rating refers to max current. Good chargers use what is called "CC/CV" which means constant current/constant voltage method. When the battery is low, the charger pumps in the maximum current (constant current). When the battery reaches the correct voltage, it tapers off the current to hold that voltage (constant voltage mode). For bike batteries, a 2A max should be OK since most are in the 10-15A-hr ballpark. What's important is that the trickle chrger will charge to the correct voltage and hold it there, and that it has the proper temperature compensation on the set point voltage to match the battery.
I am wondering why some are .9ma and some are 1.5amp,some are 2 amp.
the local dealer said i should have less than 1 amp for bike batteries??
is that false ?
Yuasa has a .9ma a 1.5 amp.and a 4 amp.
www.yuasabatteries.com/pdfs/2011_yuasa_apps_specs.pdf
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- bountyhunter
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Check the internet for info on the charger before buying. A dumb charger will boil the water out of the battery. A smart charger will not.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- jjack010
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1974 Kawasaki Z1
Central Texas
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- RonKZ650
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321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- dejavoodo41
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1977 KZ1000A With 1980 KZ1000A MKII engine, Wiseco 1105 kit, Dyna S Ignition, 3 Ohm Dyna Coils, Cams, Mikuni RS34 Carbs, Vance and Hines Pro Pipe with Comp Baffle
New Smyrna Beach, FL
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- bountyhunter
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A properly designed charger can't overcharge. If it is doing what you describe, it's either not intended for continuous (float charge) or it's just a piece of junk. I have had my charger attached to my battery steady for about 15 years.RonKZ650 wrote: No doubt every charger is different. I have a 1.25A Battery Tender that is generally regarded as a great safe charger. I have like 8 motorcycles give or take I rarely ride and for years I would use this charger once a month for 24 hours on each battery all of which are stored indoors. The result was all 8 batteries would be bad whithin 2 or 3 yrs, so I was basically riding around 50 miles on each battery before it crapped. I came to the realization that either I was overcharging or the battery tender was just a waste of time and effort to use, so I got the pulse tech extreme battery charger and use it instead, but only once every 6 months or so and all the batteries were purchased 11 years ago and still fine, so my take is don't overcharge.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- mark1122
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bountyhunter wrote:
A properly designed charger can't overcharge. If it is doing what you describe, it's either not intended for continuous (float charge) or it's just a piece of junk. I have had my charger attached to my battery steady for about 15 years.RonKZ650 wrote: No doubt every charger is different. I have a 1.25A Battery Tender that is generally regarded as a great safe charger. I have like 8 motorcycles give or take I rarely ride and for years I would use this charger once a month for 24 hours on each battery all of which are stored indoors. The result was all 8 batteries would be bad whithin 2 or 3 yrs, so I was basically riding around 50 miles on each battery before it crapped. I came to the realization that either I was overcharging or the battery tender was just a waste of time and effort to use, so I got the pulse tech extreme battery charger and use it instead, but only once every 6 months or so and all the batteries were purchased 11 years ago and still fine, so my take is don't overcharge.
are u saying your battery has lasted for 15 years??
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- bountyhunter
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I get an average life of about 6 - 7 years out of my batteries, but I leave the battery constantly connected to the charger even during riding season to keep it topped up.mark1122 wrote:
bountyhunter wrote:
A properly designed charger can't overcharge. If it is doing what you describe, it's either not intended for continuous (float charge) or it's just a piece of junk. I have had my charger attached to my battery steady for about 15 years.RonKZ650 wrote: No doubt every charger is different. I have a 1.25A Battery Tender that is generally regarded as a great safe charger. I have like 8 motorcycles give or take I rarely ride and for years I would use this charger once a month for 24 hours on each battery all of which are stored indoors. The result was all 8 batteries would be bad whithin 2 or 3 yrs, so I was basically riding around 50 miles on each battery before it crapped. I came to the realization that either I was overcharging or the battery tender was just a waste of time and effort to use, so I got the pulse tech extreme battery charger and use it instead, but only once every 6 months or so and all the batteries were purchased 11 years ago and still fine, so my take is don't overcharge.
are u saying your battery has lasted for 15 years??
I built this particular charger back in about '95 so it's been in constant use since then.
The reason my batteries last so long (aside from proper charging) is my electrical system has been modified so it disconnects all the electrics except the ignition while the starter cranks. Reducing the start load extends the life of the battery significantly.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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