Basic electrical question

[AusTLR]

I generally only ride weekends. Each weekend, the battery is so low is barely cranks & I have to use jumper leads. After a short ride it's ok, but not great.

I know - I need a fresh battery (only 18 months old?)

Can I hook the bike battery to the car battery to charge it (out of the bike? Is it +/+ parrallel circut of +/- series circut to do this?

It only seems to have started since I changed indicators and made mods to the tail section. I've checked the connections & they seem to be well insulated.

Any ideas?

[Davcruz]

Could it be possible that a light is staying on?

About the car battery, you will want to hook it + to + (PLUS to PLUS) and - to - (MINUS to MINUS) or Negative. Kepp in mind that if what ever is killing the battery is strong enough it will just kill both.

[AusTLR]

Thanks Dave.

What's the easiest way to test if it's the circutry or the battery?

[Steve TLS]

Originally posted by AusTLR
Thanks Dave.

What's the easiest way to test if it's the circutry or the battery?

You need a multimeter that can measure amps, or milliamps. Remove your key from the ignition, then remove the negative lead from the battery. Hook one lead of your multimeter up to the -ve of the battery and the other to the actual -ve lead, you should have 0.000amps drawn while the ignition is off.

(whatever you do, don't hook the meter up between =ve and -ve when on the amp range. You'll kill the meter).

FWIW: My bike is 4 years old on the original battery, and it can sit for upto 8 weeks at a time without a problem. Still starts 1st attempt (looking for wood to touch).

Consider buying a battery tender or an intelligent charger that is designed to be left on the battery indefinitely, bring the battery right up to full charge. It also could be a problem with your charging circuit. Measure the battery terminal voltage with the bike at around 2500rpm. If it is low, the battery might never get fully charged while you're using the bike, and it is slowly wearing it down.

[doug]

disconnect the + lead on the battery and put a voltmeter in between the + battery post and the plus cable and see if there is any voltage showing with the key off. If there is voltage you have a problem.

[doug]

Also you should have around 13.5 to 14 volts at the battery at 5000 rpm if not you have a charging problem also I posted picks in the performance section a while back on how to fix the wiring problems in the harness do a search for ground problemsshould show up.

[Stabber]

I was having problem all the time myself last year. Bought a battery tender and a YUSA sp? battery and havent had any problems since. Use the tender if the bike is going to sit for a while sometimes I plug it in after ever ride. Its cheaper than buying a battery every couple years.

[AusTLR]

Thanks guys - much help.

[Guest]

check the recitifier too

-

[2perrev]

Yeah that's strange. I too only ride mine on the weekends, but my battery stays up....no problem.

Hey Crashtd, flew an H-60 over your house last week and parked at the S.B. airport for gas. Did you hear me??

[miketlr1000]

Just to let you know, everytime you kill your battery you drop it's life span 50% therorically and it will never be able hold a charge like it did before you killed it.
I take all precautions not to ever let it die.
DO the current draw test in series and start unplugging things 1 at a time until it reads 0 amps or ma, when it does you have found your problem, if it reads 0 off the bat, you have charging problems or you need a new battery. Charge the battery at about 2a or trickle charge it for a while, take the charger off and take a volt reading, turn the key on for about 10sec and take another reading, should bounce back within a volt of oringinal reading. if it does not buy a new battery. if it does, look at your charging system. also new use your car to charge a bike, too much current too fast, you boil the life out it.
You want a slow 1-2 amp or less, 13-14 volt charge, slower the better.
Good luck

[katana750]

The one item overlooked here.
If all else appears good...take off the battery connections and clean then with fine sandpaper. Corrosion can kill an otherwise perfect connection!

[rzarobbie]

Hey guys.. what will a Bike Alarm do to the setup.. since it is obviously Always drawing current.. should I just keep a closer Eye on it, and re-charge accordingly?

[Steve TLS]

Had a bike with an alarm, had to rig up a plug and connector to constantly trickle charge the battery when it was parked at home. The alarm would have the battery down enough not to be able to start the bike after a couple of days. (But the alarm would go off before this because of the low voltage, must have appeared as a voltage drop, like when the interior light of a car comes on and sets the alarm off.)

[rzarobbie]

Because of my Ghetto Fab lifestyle and the area I live in..
Actually.. I live in a nice neighborhood.. but 1 stolen bike is enough for me.. So the Alarm is NEEDED.... our garages are easy to break into.