Battery Drain

[rdbrooks14]

Hi All,

Well I thought I had all my light issues worked out on my ACE100 with the new battery. So I had the key OFF for a month or so and I go to ride the bike and I had all the same symptoms with the lights again. Headlight on at handle bar - no horn or tail light. Head light off - Horn and Tail Light.

Last time it was the battery and when I checked voltage it was 1vdc! Something is draining it KEY OFF! I charged the battery and it all works again. So the question for the group is how the heck do I figure out the drain on the battery?

Did I mention I hate electrical problems?

Bob Brooks

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Key off, test various points in the harness after the key for voltage. Or, insert a positive off switch in the battery lead between battery and ignition key, similar to a master switch often sold for use with old cars that sit a lot. Or, put it on a maintainer when parked.

[rdbrooks14]

Makes sense! Thanks! For now I just pulled the fuse to disconnect.

[viclioce]

I got a 6 volt battery charger/tender.
When I'm not using the battery bike (Ace100) I put the tender on it. Works well and tending batteries makes them last longer!

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I agree that keeping a battery tended helps it last. However, tiny motorcycle batteries such as the 6V in the Hodaka or the 12V in my Yamaha are very low amperage batteries and can easily be overcharged. Keep close watch for the first couple days. If the battery stays warm to the touch or drops liquid level, disconnect the charger. It is better IMHO to charge small lead acid batteries regularly rather than continuously. Most maintainers charge at a tenth to quarter amp give or take. When the battery is only a three amp battery, a quarter amp is a lot. Even so-called smart chargers charge continuously if variably, and have a charge rate below which they can't go. They don't just turn off far as I know. I know my Ctek charger cycles but doesn't ever shut completely off.

There may be one or two motorcycle battery charging devices out there that won't overdo the charge, but they aren't cheap. A friend of mine who is a motorcycle guy and advisor for Thumper Talk uses the Optimate 4, and pretty much leaves his batteries on the charger when not in use, but I believe he uses his machines often enough that the batteries are not on the charger more than 30 days, and he checks them regularly when not in service. Optimate 4 uses a 30 minute on/30 minute off maintenance cycle at .8 amps. Whether there is a residual charge rate when off, I don't know without testing one myself, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some charge all the time.
I
What I wouldn't suggest is using a maintenance charger to keep the battery up rather than finding the source of the drain. That's just a bandaid. I would find the fault or disrupt the circuit if I could not find the problem, and consider battery maintenance a separate issue.