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I’ve never had any of my bikes on a trickle charger, I ride all year around, I now have two bikes and I had this old charger sitting around and it’s got a few settings, I would like to know if this is the correct setting to trickle charge. I have it on regular, maintain, and 12 volt 2 amp.
Now that you have a second bike, I assume that one of them will not be ridden and may need to be put on a "tender". The link below is the manual for the above charger:
If you must use the one you have, the settings you have shown above are probably correct. Other comments:
>A gel battery is very rare. Most motorcycle batteries today are AGM types (Absorbed Glass Mat).
>The lowest setting is recommended. Most true motorcycle "tenders" charge at a rate lower than 2 Amps. Mine (like the link) charges at 3/4 Amp to avoid heat buildup. Note that these also have an in-line fuse which is a good safety idea.
>The "maintainer" looks function like a "tender" but does not have the fuse.
Do you have a pigtail for charging or will you hook directly to the battery. Installing a pigtail (ring terminals for battery, fuse, specialty plug) on each bike will make life easier for you. You can tuck the pigtail under one of the side covers of your bike and leave it there.
Now that you have a second bike, I assume that one of them will not be ridden and may need to be put on a "tender". The link below is the manual for the above charger:
If you must use the one you have, the settings you have shown above are probably correct. Other comments:
>A gel battery is very rare. Most motorcycle batteries today are AGM types (Absorbed Glass Mat).
>The lowest setting is recommended. Most true motorcycle "tenders" charge at a rate lower than 2 Amps. Mine (like the link) charges at 3/4 Amp to avoid heat buildup. Note that these also have an in-line fuse which is a good safety idea.
>The "maintainer" looks function like a "tender" but does not have the fuse.
Do you have a pigtail for charging or will you hook directly to the battery. Installing a pigtail (ring terminals for battery, fuse, specialty plug) on each bike will make life easier for you. You can tuck the pigtail under one of the side covers of your bike and leave it there.
A trickle charger is simply a battery charger that only charges at a low rate, or 'trickle'. It is an old concept and they go back decades, indeed I used to own one. I recommend buying a modern device, variously called 'tender' or 'minder', because they 'tend' to a batteries every need or 'mind' them, providing a charge as and when required. Good quality ones ain't cheap, but should last a long time. I recently bought two Optimate 4, which are also compatible with canbus vehicles (an old faithful died recently).
A trickle charger is simply a battery charger that only charges at a low rate, or 'trickle'. It is an old concept and they go back decades, indeed I used to own one. I recommend buying a modern device, variously called 'tender' or 'minder', because they 'tend' to a batteries every need or 'mind' them, providing a charge as and when required. Good quality ones ain't cheap, but should last a long time. I recently bought two Optimate 4, which are also compatible with canbus vehicles (an old faithful died recently).
What makes you think the OP's device isn't modern? It's controlled by a micro-processor. According to the owner's manual.
According to the instruction sheet listed above, it seems clear to me that for sealed AGM batteries, a tender is the best snd safest choice. Not a charger or a trickle type.
Yet... ask any battery manufacturer that is willing to tell the truth...and a 2 amp is absolutely fine...If [note the large word] IF you use it correctly....like any tool..
ie my AGM 20AH battery should be 12.6 or 12.7 volts at any time I check it... If it comes up at 12.3 or 12.4 even... it is sitting at 50% charge.
place 2 amps on it for 5 hours equals the 50% it is down...5 hours Only.... take charger back off and ignore all the BS ....
We ran many pieces of Equipment total loss ...and the Only way to have a battery live...and be useable is this method, and do Not leave the thing in a discharged state for any length of time..Tenders??? sure real tender is probably Fine, in general.. ... but not worth a crap at replenishing a Battery down by up to 50%
I do Not require a tender... and cheap agm batteries go at minimum 3 years around here....Prolly gotta spend more than 50 bucks to get better!!!!!!
Flame On!!!!!!!
EDIT; The biggest battery Killer is???? Overcharging... Be careful... If it is Not a Battery Tender... it is probably a trickle charger...and will overcharge and Ruin yer battery...
Last edited by Racepres; Jan 21, 2020 at 02:27 PM.
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Maintain battery/Trickle charge
