Starting Issues
Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 2
From: El Mirage, AZ
Another how-to for charging motorcycle batteries.. weird that I could find this information so quickly.
This is from http://www.howstuffworks.com/under-t...le-battery.htm
Like all lead-acid batteries, motorcycle batteries will lose their charge if they are left unused for a period of time. This can be prevented by charging your motorcycle battery regularly. It is important to remember to never use a car battery charger for your motorcycle battery. Car chargers supply far too much current for an ordinary motorcycle battery and will ruin your battery very quickly [source: Motorcycle Consumer News].
Here's how to charge your battery.
This is from http://www.howstuffworks.com/under-t...le-battery.htm
Like all lead-acid batteries, motorcycle batteries will lose their charge if they are left unused for a period of time. This can be prevented by charging your motorcycle battery regularly. It is important to remember to never use a car battery charger for your motorcycle battery. Car chargers supply far too much current for an ordinary motorcycle battery and will ruin your battery very quickly [source: Motorcycle Consumer News].
Here's how to charge your battery.
- It's advisable to use goggles and wear protective gloves when handling the battery, as the fluids in the battery are highly acidic and toxic.
- In a well-ventilated area, remove the battery from your motorcycle with pliers and place it on the floor or a flat bench or table. Check the connections for corrosion or tears.
- Remove the chamber caps and fill the chamber with distilled or deionized water. Don't use tap water -- it contains chemicals that can harm your battery.
- Connect charger cables to the battery. Make sure you connect the positive cable to the positive terminal and the negative cable to the negative terminal.
- Plug the charger into an outlet and turn it on. The length of charging time will depend on how depleted the battery is. It may be necessary to charge the battery overnight if the battery is completely depleted.
- Turn off the charger when the battery is fully charged. Disconnect the battery from the charger. Replace the caps of the fluid chambers and reconnect the battery to the motorcycle
Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 2
From: El Mirage, AZ
http://www.ehow.com/how_4842968_jump...ttery-car.html
Opening paragraph and bullet point 3..... hmmm... something looking familiar here?
Opening paragraph and bullet point 3..... hmmm... something looking familiar here?
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 731
Likes: 7
From: Windsor Ontario
@ parrishbjj -your first two references are for charging batteries... NOT jump starting and risking damage to your electrical system... two entirely different things. The last reference recommends leaving the car off... that is to minimize potential damage to the car should there be an accidental short while clamping the cables or a short in the battery.
The amount of current available is irrelevant, since it is ultimately limited by the load attached. Unless you have a serious short in the bike's wiring system or the battery itself... the bike will only draw the current required to start it, and recharge the battery for the short duration it is being jumped. Leaving a high current source attached to a dead battery for an extended period will generate excessive heat, that is where the potential danger lays, but that's not what we do when we jump start a vehicle.
The only risk involved in jump starting a dead vehicle is if there is something seriously wrong with its wiring or battery. That is not the case here.
The amount of current available is irrelevant, since it is ultimately limited by the load attached. Unless you have a serious short in the bike's wiring system or the battery itself... the bike will only draw the current required to start it, and recharge the battery for the short duration it is being jumped. Leaving a high current source attached to a dead battery for an extended period will generate excessive heat, that is where the potential danger lays, but that's not what we do when we jump start a vehicle.
The only risk involved in jump starting a dead vehicle is if there is something seriously wrong with its wiring or battery. That is not the case here.
Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 2
From: El Mirage, AZ
Nowhere does it say the potential damage is to the car. In fact that opening paragraph in the last reference specifically talks about damaging the motorcycle battery. And bullet point three, last sentence specifically says Leave the car turned off... which is the same thing almost everyone says when asking about jumpstarting a motorcycle with a car. The reason being, is that if you leave the car off, the motorcycle batter will take only what is given from the car battery. With the car on, you now have the charging system from the car giving more current to the motorcycle battery then what is recommended (as talked about in reference one) and COULD damage the battery.
As I first said.. you CAN do it but its not optimal. And IF you are going to do it, keep the car turned off. Never did I say it wouldnt work. Just that you pose a greater risk to harm the motorcycle battery and/or charging system. Im sure I could post many more sites that tell you all of this, but you can look them up yourself, or continue to believe what you will without researching it.
As I first said.. you CAN do it but its not optimal. And IF you are going to do it, keep the car turned off. Never did I say it wouldnt work. Just that you pose a greater risk to harm the motorcycle battery and/or charging system. Im sure I could post many more sites that tell you all of this, but you can look them up yourself, or continue to believe what you will without researching it.
Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 2
From: El Mirage, AZ
Man, I could come up with this stuff all night... http://motorbikelicense.blogspot.com...-with-car.html
Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 2
From: El Mirage, AZ
Weird.. looks like this has been discussed here before... what was the advice given???
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/elect...rom-car-3.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/elect...rom-car-3.html
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 731
Likes: 7
From: Windsor Ontario
It says: "when you start your car engine then you are delivering considerably more than 12v of power. It is this additional power which can cause damage to the motorcycle"
really?
When my truck is running, the voltmeter reads 14.2 V
When my Sportster is running... it measures 14V +/- depending on RPM.
Sorry, the arguments presented hold no water. I'm pretty comfortable with the basics of electricity, and I've jumped vehicles many times without incident or resultant damage to either vehicle.
If you don't know what you're doing or are uncomfortable doing it then call Triple A to come help you out, you can use the money you would otherwise spend on a good pair of jumper cables, you'll be better off.
really?
When my truck is running, the voltmeter reads 14.2 V
When my Sportster is running... it measures 14V +/- depending on RPM.
Sorry, the arguments presented hold no water. I'm pretty comfortable with the basics of electricity, and I've jumped vehicles many times without incident or resultant damage to either vehicle.
If you don't know what you're doing or are uncomfortable doing it then call Triple A to come help you out, you can use the money you would otherwise spend on a good pair of jumper cables, you'll be better off.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 2
From: El Mirage, AZ
Unfortunately, not everyone knows the proper terms when it comes to electricity.. they did say it delivers more of the 12v.. but what they meant was it delivers more current. Which is what everyone says. Im comfortable with more than basics of electricity due to schooling and work experience. The funny thing is I have given numerous pages of people that support what I have said, and really could just keep posting more. Yet you have not given me anything that supports your view. Yes, your experience counts, but even I said it would work... just that the possibility of damage is there.
