Is my battery on it's way out.....

[Fazerider]

[quote author=Fazerider link=topic=1733.msg12969#msg12969 date=1329299727]
Your battery/alternator tester is a simplified voltmeter and, from those results, I don't think you need to worry about replacing the battery.

You sure on that one Fazerider? The tests mobile mouse has done, were all with engine running, so surely all we've achieved (although a worthy thing to prove) is that the charging systems are all working?

I'm not saying the battery IS knackered, just that we don't know either way; and there are other things that need doing first, notably the bar swicthgear, and then the other checks you've detailed above.

My experience with my bike though, makes me think the battery probably has had its day. (I know, I said I wasn't saying the battery was knackered :lol )
[/quote]
Fair point, MM still needs to check the battery retains charge OK. But it is only 4 years old: I wouldn't expect it to be dying yet, particularly when he's found other reasons for his electrical problems.
Perhaps I'm biased because mine is still going strong despite this being its 14th winter.

[richfzs]

Perhaps I'm biased because mine is still going strong despite this being its 14th winter.

Wow, how lucky have you been

Mine have lasted 3 years on average (although guilty of buying cheap ones!). Mine doesn't get used through winter, and sits in the garage on an optimate. The battery has died, on each occaision, becuase I forgot to plug the optimate in  :o , and when I remembered the damage was done. Cold weather and a Meta alarm does not a happy battery make. I reckon MM's lack of decent charging run on the commute, combined with the various drains we've discussed, may have left him in a similar situation.

MM, dont let this waffle distract from your fault finding :lol got to get that sorted, or any potential new battery will go the same way!

[mobile mouse]

Hi,


Thanks for the feedback. It's all much appreciated.
I charged the battery on the optimate last night and there were no problems today at all in either direction too and from work.


The bike is on charge again tonight but I will not put it on charge Friday night and do the voltage check Saturday morning.
I will clean the starter button and clean the connectors and grease the battery terminals as advised and then see were we are.
I will get back with the results.
Thanks again for your comments.

cheers,

[mobile mouse]

Hi,


Just a quick update.
I checked the battery voltage about 6pm today roughly 24hrs from being parked in the garage.
Voltage read 14.23v
I will check at 6pm tomorrow.
The batter NOT on charger over the weekend.

cheers,

[Major Rant]

If it reads 14.23V after 24 hours of 'resting' then your voltmeter is inaccurate... :'(

Typically they read 14.3 volts (ish) when they're fully charged and still charging.
If you let them rest from that state then they gradually relax (over a few hours) to about 12.9V.
Over the next month they self-discharge down to about 12.0V.

No 12V battery I ever saw will maintain 14V after 24 hours of inactivity.

BTW ... to check your voltmeter... a brand new  Duracell 1.5V alkaline battery at room temp is about 1.56V.
(that's the simplest 'calibration' I've managed to think up over the past 10 years. Everything else relies on a 'special chip' or a calibration lab.)

[bikemad62]

Take the battery out of the bike. check the voltage. Leave it alone for half a day then go back take another voltage reading. If the second reading is signifcantly lower than the first then the battery is shorting out internally. best find a new one.

[Major Rant]

If the second reading is signifcantly lower than the first then the battery is shorting out internally.

Not true my friend ...  :\

If you charge a good battery to , say, 13.5V and then take it off charge it will still read about 13.5V. Over the next few hours it will decay exponentially to  well below 13V.

[mobile mouse]

Hi,


Sorry for the lateness of this extra info.
My multimeter was in error. The 9v PP3 battery in the multimeter needed replacing.
The multimeter WAS over reading.
After replacing with a new PP3 battery.
The bike battery read 12.9v.


I used GT85 and saturated the starter switch and cleaned up the switch and checked some of the connectors under the tank all look ok, sprayed them with ACF-50.


After a good charge on the optimate all seams fine touch wood.


In my opinion running the bike on my 8 mile each way commute with dipped beam and heated grips every day over a week.
Drained the battery enough to cause the symptoms.
Currently I have not needed to used the heated grips but still use the dipped beam and the battery seams to be ok.
with no difficulty starting.


We shall see over the summer if I have any re-occurrance.
Cheers for all your help.

[bikemad62]

The battery in question was not a good one and dropped from 12.5 to 10.1 in six hours the went to great battery heaven lol.

[Major Rant]

The battery in question was not a good one and dropped from 12.5 to 10.1 in six hours the went to great battery heaven lol.

That's pretty much what you'd expect from a "fairly shagged" battery with a single "very shagged"  cell (the most common failure mode for the OEM fit gel battery  :rollin ).

They end up as 10 volt batteries and they will just about start a bike on a nice warm day - otherwise you get the 'machine-gun' noise from under the seat and you're stuck.
I've killed 2 batteries that way in 12 years. :o