Help & FAQs    Search BCF    Members    Groups    Events Calendar
Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


another bloody battery question !

 Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> The Workshop
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

Valentino Mossy
World Chat Champion



Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Karma :
PostPosted: 12:58 - 27 Jan 2005    Post subject: another bloody battery question ! Reply with quote
short but sweet...... Can a gel battery be recharged from flat or is it better to buy a new one ?
____________________
Ducati 916,white framed corse replica https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=239309
Ducati 160 monza jnr soon to be cafe racer
https://blauschatfroums.freeforums.net/
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

pipnet11
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 17 Sep 2004
Karma :
PostPosted: 13:16 - 27 Jan 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
I dont see a reason why they cant be charged from flat, however i have limited experience with this type of battery.

Is it TOTALY flat? like the multimeters saying 0? if it is then you might have to do something different, but if theres some sort of reading, even half a volt, you should be able to charge it as normal.
____________________
I love the girls that do, I hate the girls that dont, I hate the girls who say they will and then they say they wont, but the girl I like most of all and I think youll say Im right, is the girl who says she never has but looks as though she might. - Max Bygraves
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

catgate
Two Stroke Sniffer



Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Karma :
PostPosted: 15:08 - 27 Jan 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Due to the nature of the electrolyte (a paste) it is necessary to charge it more slowly than you would with a battery containing a normal very mobile liquid sulphuric acid solution. (Bubbles of gas and so forth). Only use about 2 amps.
____________________
"Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else."
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts

Scotsman37
World Chat Champion



Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Karma :
PostPosted: 15:27 - 27 Jan 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Usually theirs info on the side of the box or with it that will tell if the battery charger is compatible gel batteries or not? Remember it's a bike battery and they require a trickle charge from what I remember!
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

map
Mr Calendar



Joined: 14 Jun 2004
Karma :
PostPosted: 15:52 - 27 Jan 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
catgate wrote:
...it is necessary to charge it more slowly than you would with a battery ... Only use about 2 amps.

Errr, NO

First, use a proper bike charger. These give out very low amps - 500mA or less. The reason being a bike battery is small. Put too much into it too quickly you'll buckle the plates. Car batteries are bigger, car charges start at about 2 amps.

Second, if a battery is totally flat then it's a bin job and buy another. An optimate (or similar) may be able to recover some but the battery isn't ever going to be right.

Anything in between then use the optimate (or similar) as this will recover the battery and try and get it to as near as 100% as it can manage (or the battery can take if damaged). Never run a battery down too low, say below 80-90%. Always put on charge if possible. When on the bike the battery will only be charging at usually about 5-7000 rpm.

HTH
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger? Very Happy
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts

Valentino Mossy
World Chat Champion



Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Karma :
PostPosted: 20:43 - 27 Jan 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cheers for the reply's ! Thumbs Up Smile
Got a new one for £25, the old one i connected up to my multimeter and it registered about 5 amps. Mad
It was allright last week when i started it up,i think some one knocked the alarm on which might have drained the battery.
(The alarm is only on when i leave it in town etc..)

I'll stick the old one on slow charge and keep it as a spare. Thumbs Up
____________________
Ducati 916,white framed corse replica https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=239309
Ducati 160 monza jnr soon to be cafe racer
https://blauschatfroums.freeforums.net/
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Big Pete
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Karma :
PostPosted: 12:30 - 28 Jan 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
map wrote:
[
Second, if a battery is totally flat then it's a bin job and buy another. An optimate (or similar) may be able to recover some but the battery isn't ever going to be right.

Anything in between then use the optimate (or similar) as this will recover the battery and try and get it to as near as 100% as it can manage (or the battery can take if damaged). Never run a battery down too low, say below 80-90%. Always put on charge if possible. When on the bike the battery will only be charging at usually about 5-7000 rpm.

HTH


actually a deeply discharged battery can be recovered, but you need a high voltage charger or a variable voltage DC power supply (which is what I use).

When a lead acid battery is very deeply discharged the internal resistance rises to the point that a normal charger doesnt have enough driving voltage (usually 14 or 15 volts) to push any charge in. all that happens is the battery gets warm. If you raise the voltage to 30-35v at a low current setting (1/4-1/2 amp), the battery will start to charge. As the charge level increases, the internal resistance drops and the voltage needs to be reduced accordingly.
____________________
Trust me, I`m an engineer
GarageOfPower.co.uk
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 21 years, 7 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> The Workshop All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 
Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.06 Sec - Server Load: 0.22 - MySQL Queries: 14 - Page Size: 54.71 Kb