Battery drain
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 15
Likes: 3
From: Vermont
Thought i had it figured out i charged the battery with a real charger, then load tested it it reads bad. This battery was bought new at the end of last year, and went dead after four days. This year i charged the battery upluged the radio fuse and the batt did not go dead, but it was warm out temp dropped and battery wont hold a charge .Have a new battery coming tomorrow will start over tomorrow. something is draining it but i will start with a fresh battery and troubleshoot from there.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 2,572
From: NC USA
Thought i had it figured out i charged the battery with a real charger, then load tested it it reads bad. This battery was bought new at the end of last year, and went dead after four days. This year i charged the battery upluged the radio fuse and the batt did not go dead, but it was warm out temp dropped and battery wont hold a charge .Have a new battery coming tomorrow will start over tomorrow. something is draining it but i will start with a fresh battery and troubleshoot from there.
If it's coming to a local store, take your meter and ask to check it before you pay for it. Same specs apply and if deficient, leave it on the counter.
The AGMs will not tolerate being below 12.4 for very long at all and though a new one will charge up and do well, they will not last nearly as long as they should. Of course a strong parasitic is rough of them too.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 15
Likes: 3
From: Vermont
Ordered another tender, think i will just leave it on all the time, the biggest problem is i don't ride it enough,find myself riding the sportster more and more, need to take longer rides with the bagger.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 15
Likes: 3
From: Vermont
Well i feel like starting over, it's cold and raining outside good time to work on the bike, but it's cold and crappy out. This is what i know so far. Battery is fully charged with my multimeter at 200 ml and radio fuse unplugged i have a draw of .107 that seems to much. if i plug the radio fuse back in meter goes off the scale.If i put my meter to 10amps with everything plugged in it spicks to .03 then goes to .01 If i unplug the battery fuse i have no draw on the battery, Getting ready to just leave it on a tender and give up.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 2,572
From: NC USA
I never trust any range lower than 10A for automotive stuff anymore...
The high draw (20 - 40mA) when first putting power to a radio with memory (they all do anymore) is normal and the 10 mA constant draw is normal.
The high draw (20 - 40mA) when first putting power to a radio with memory (they all do anymore) is normal and the 10 mA constant draw is normal.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: W. Texas
It would seem to me you had a bad battery problem all along sir.
WP
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Joined: Mar 2021
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From: backwoods
If you leave off tender for a few days after being on tender or good ride, will it start?
If it does, then leave on tender, maybe you just ain't riding enough to charge.
Though a bike should go a week fine,my 2007 with radio, no fob will go weeks. My 2015 with fob goes couple weeks, though they say charge new bikes if not riding weekly.
My tractor has a draw. I just disconnect to lazy to find it. Plus I don't know tractors.
The danger is bad battery or charging system and you don't know about.
Carry a jump pack. Be careful where you go for awhile