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Trickle Charging.


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#1 daveRapide

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Posted 26 May 2019 - 02:35 pm

Can anyone tell me if its okay to fit a charging lead to my 2009 900 and leave it plugged in to a trickle charger with the bike's electrics still connected? Or does the battery have to be disconnected/removed from the bike first?



#2 fixitsan

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Posted 26 May 2019 - 02:44 pm

In theory it's fine, but what voltage does it reach ? (using a voltmeter to measure it)

 

Sometimes overcharging a lead acid battery can bring cells at different states of charge up to the same level (known as balancing) but it almost always means some evaporation of water from the electrolyte.

 

Trickle charging can also release water for a similar reason. In principle trickle charging isn't necessary, it became popular for use with cells that need to be held at absolute maximum capacity, which received regular top-ups . Often these would be used in telephone exchanges and backup supplies in critical establishments.

 

A bike battery doesn't need it, a regular run or application oif a charger once a month will keep any lead based battery as healthy as if a trickle charger had been employed.

 

Batteries really only start to die when they're stored in a discharged state, so a regular top up from an external charger, or just by running the engine for 10 minutes will do the same job without the risk of losing water.


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#3 trevini

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Posted 26 May 2019 - 05:20 pm

I don't leave mine plugged in to a charger/ optimiser when the bike is not in use. I just put mine on every month or two for a few hours until fully charged to top it up. Battery doesn't seem to have suffered for it as it's about 11 years old now and still going strong (yuasa).


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#4 Robodene

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Posted 26 May 2019 - 09:32 pm

I use an optimiser constantly, shared between two bikes. I swap bikes roughly once a week. I have only ever bought two batteries for 5 bikes in 12 years. They are supposed to help reduce sulphuration, which is apparently a benefit.
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#5 daveRapide

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Posted 27 May 2019 - 10:04 am

All good replies about frequency of charging, but my question was: does the battery need to be disconnected from the bike's electrics while being charged? (I have always assumed so, but it is an awful faff getting the battery in and out of a niner.)



#6 dablik

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Posted 27 May 2019 - 10:05 am

All good replies about frequency of charging, but my question was: does the battery need to be disconnected from the bike's electrics while being charged? (I have always assumed so, but it is an awful faff getting the battery in and out of a niner.)

 

I have an Optimiser 3+ and have never had to disconnect the battery whilst connected on the 9r.


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#7 Robodene

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Posted 27 May 2019 - 01:09 pm

I have leads permanently attached to the battery which are plugged into the optimser with the battery still in place and connected to the bike. My only further thought is to question whether or not your reference to a "trickle charger" includes or means a modern optimiser. I believe that the two are different animals. I would only attach my battery, the way I do, to an optimiser. (BTW, to replace it, I got my TDM battery out with the aid of some coat hanger wire).
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#8 fixitsan

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Posted 27 May 2019 - 01:17 pm

I left it open in my first response. In theory, it should be fine (to leave the battery connected), but what is the output voltage of the charger you're using ? Some trickle chargers use low current and 15V (too high voltage for maintenance free batteries IMHO)

 

Have you put a voltmeter on the battery terminals while the charger is hooked up ?


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#9 daveRapide

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Posted 28 May 2019 - 07:06 pm

Thanks for all replies. By "trickle charger" I meant an Optimiser OF950. Label on it says output 12v, 0.6A. I haven't put a voltmeter on terminals while charging. Is it OK if not above 12v?



#10 Studley Ramrod

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Posted 28 May 2019 - 08:17 pm

No need to disconnect the battery and it's also ok if the voltage is below 12v. :)


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#11 MipeTDM

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Posted 30 May 2019 - 09:06 am

If the ignition switch is off, you effectively already disconnected the bike's electronics from the battery.

#12 daveRapide

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Posted 30 May 2019 - 07:46 pm

If the ignition switch is off, you effectively already disconnected the bike's electronics from the battery.

That sounds like a good point.




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