ran down the battery
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
ran down the battery
... hunting for a CD while my wife's standing by the car ready to go, I left the bike ignition on accessory overnight. CD was in the car! Ran the battery way down.
Battery is ~ year old. Not dead, but won't turn over motor. Clicking. Battery has been fine.
Can I recharge using my puny 800 Battery Tender?
To ensure my battery is good as can be, must I use a real charger or can I simply ride and let the charging system handle it?
BTW, just had to replace a 2-year old chrome regulator, which had failed. Figured it out w/ help of test procedure pinned to the electrical sub-forum (new to multi-meters). Reinstalled the original and everything has been fine. Good charge action.
thx
Battery is ~ year old. Not dead, but won't turn over motor. Clicking. Battery has been fine.
Can I recharge using my puny 800 Battery Tender?
To ensure my battery is good as can be, must I use a real charger or can I simply ride and let the charging system handle it?
BTW, just had to replace a 2-year old chrome regulator, which had failed. Figured it out w/ help of test procedure pinned to the electrical sub-forum (new to multi-meters). Reinstalled the original and everything has been fine. Good charge action.
thx
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
get a real battery charger a tender won't recharge a battery- it will "tend" or maintain a charged battery.
If you try to charge the battery running the motor, then the charging system will be stressed.
It is then not only keeping the bike and lights going, but your duff battery is a substantial load on the charging system- and can damage it ($$$)
pt 3: a discharged battery will only recharge to about 60% of it's previous capacity.
so a 300 CCA battery, if allowed to discharge is now a 180 CCA battery- roughly.
it is on it's way out- so keep an eye on it.
It could last for years- or weeks.
Mike
If you try to charge the battery running the motor, then the charging system will be stressed.
It is then not only keeping the bike and lights going, but your duff battery is a substantial load on the charging system- and can damage it ($$$)
pt 3: a discharged battery will only recharge to about 60% of it's previous capacity.
so a 300 CCA battery, if allowed to discharge is now a 180 CCA battery- roughly.
it is on it's way out- so keep an eye on it.
It could last for years- or weeks.
Mike
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
Heres what I use
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher...em+Description
If the battery is dead on my cage I charge at 10 amps for 5-10 minutes and then drop it down to 2
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher...em+Description
If the battery is dead on my cage I charge at 10 amps for 5-10 minutes and then drop it down to 2
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
Update: Sloooow charged it at nearby trusted auto repair. Post-charge voltage tested good. That mechanic echoed mk's comment: run down batteries never are good as new. Will replace at first sign of trouble.
Thanks
Thanks
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 331
Likes: 1
From: PHOENIX
Did the same thing last year, totally drained it. My local HD dealer charged it for a few days (for free) and did a hi tech test. He said it should be fine. Zero problems since and the PHX heat eats batteries. Having said that, depending how old your battery is and where you ride, the piece of mind may make buying new good insurance. But I'll run mine long as I can.
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