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battery charging

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by boldstar, Nov 15, 2008.

  1. boldstar

    boldstar Member

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    is it save guys 2 leave caps on battery when on a trickle charge over the winter?
     
    boldstar, Nov 15, 2008
    #1
  2. bill

    bill Active Member

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    Safer to take them off IMHO.
     
    bill, Nov 15, 2008
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  3. Big_Ross

    Big_Ross Member

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    Can't comment on what happens when you put your bike away for winter, but I often hook the battery up to the trickle charger without taking the caps off. (The charger is hard wired and lives in the tail fairing).
    Never had a problem.
     
    Big_Ross, Nov 15, 2008
    #3
  4. flash1259

    flash1259 Member

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    I found a web site once that said that the battery loses about 1% of its charge each day. takes about 3 month to make it dead depending on how often you forget to run it a while.

    I try to start mine once a week for 15 mins and put it on a 1 hour 2 amp charge every 2 weeks watch the water level so you don't boil the battery dry.
     
    flash1259, Nov 15, 2008
    #4
  5. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    from http://www.yuasabatteries.com/pdfs/TechMan.pdf
    and http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone.htm

    * Always store a lead acid battery in full-charge condition. Observe the open terminal voltage and recharge the battery every 6 months or as recommended by the manufacturer.

    Lead-acid batteries must always be stored in a charged state. A topping charge should be applied every six months to avoid the voltage from dropping below 2.10V/cell on an SLA. Prolonged storage below the critical voltage causes sulfation, a condition that is difficult to reverse.

    For extended storage, remove the battery from the vehicle
    and charge to 100%. Charge the battery every month if
    stored at temperatures below 60°F. Charge every two
    weeks if stored in a warm area (above 60°F).

    Two of the biggest battery killers – sulfation and freezing
    – aren’t a problem if the battery is properly maintained
    and water level is kept where it should be.
    Sulfation: This happens because of 1) continuous discharging,
    or 2) low electrolyte levels.

    A fully-charged battery can be stored at subfreezing
    temperatures with no damage. As the
    chart at right shows, it takes -75°F to freeze electrolyte in
    a charged battery. But at just a couple degrees below
    freezing – at +27°F – a discharged battery’s electrolyte
    turns to ice. That’s a difference of more than 100°F
    between the low temperatures a charged and discharged
    battery can stand. At temperatures such as these, incidentally, the selfdischarge
    rate of a battery is so low that a recharge
    usually isn’t needed for months. But to stay on the safe
    side, test.
     
    Polock, Nov 15, 2008
    #5

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