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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: redhawkdancing on February 08, 2010, 02:46:42 PM

Title: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: redhawkdancing on February 08, 2010, 02:46:42 PM
I have one of those sealed scorpion batteries that I just got in and a battery tender jr. The battery tender instructions recommend that your attach  24 inch long 6(AWG) insulated, battery extension cable to the negative battery post, if your going to charge outside of the motorcycle.

Does anyone charge without the extension cable, and if so have you ever had any issues? 
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 01:41:00 PM
Why?  Just put the effing battery on a piece of rubber so it doesn't discharge due to moisture and isn't grounding out by some miraculous feat.  I don't have one but I do have a Bach. degree in applied industrial robotics and an Assc. degree in Electrical technologies...  wire length isn't going to do anything unless it goes somewhere special maybe?
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: sledge on February 09, 2010, 04:23:50 PM
Quote from: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 01:41:00 PM
  I don't have one but I do have a Bach. degree in applied industrial robotics and an Assc. degree in Electrical technologies...  wire length isn't going to do anything

Sounds like you dont have an understanding of  UL-1236 either   :D
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 04:38:54 PM
Quote from: sledge on February 09, 2010, 04:23:50 PM
Quote from: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 01:41:00 PM
  I don't have one but I do have a Bach. degree in applied industrial robotics and an Assc. degree in Electrical technologies...  wire length isn't going to do anything

Sounds like you dont have an understanding of  UL-1236 either   :D

What are you talking about?  UL-1236 is irrelevant to his question.  He asked if it could be done.  Yes it can.  Wire length is irrelevant.  If you were so bright why didn't you just answer his question?  Maybe you should spend some time with the NEC.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: sledge on February 09, 2010, 04:57:50 PM
Its not irrelivant at all. Burried away in UL-1236 (which covers battery chargers) it says the battery under charge must be a 12ft cable length from the AC socket....hence the reason for the extension cable. Dunno what the reason is but it must be a good one, probably safety related. One thing for sure is that those UL people know what they are talking about.

Tell me??....Do you make a habit of ignoring UL requirements and NEC codes etc..... and is a it a good idea suggesting that others do??
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 05:22:13 PM
Wow... The short answer to your question is, yes you can do it safely. 

As for Sledge, if you don't know the reason why something is the way it is, don't talk.  You're safer that way.  Tell me...  Do you make a habit of waiting for someone to offer advice before you shoot off your mouth when you couldn't be bothered to answer the actual question etc...... and is it a good idea to appear not very bright on a regular basis??
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: Paulcet on February 09, 2010, 05:49:03 PM
MX, everyone here is allowed 1% "shoot off your mouth" posts and .5% "willingly displaying your ignorance" posts.  Sledge is under his quota. 

You've used yours up.
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 05:57:19 PM
Ok.  You explain the theory then.  Wait, let me start another thread with a relevant question, then we can all get together and slam each other and not answer the question.  THAT sounds like a useful way to spend time.  Once again, if you don't understand how something works, just don't say anything.  If I was asking a question, please feel free to drop in and tell me something not useful.  That'd be awesome.  But since I'm not why don't you try and answer the guys question better than me.  That'd be great.  Explain to him about EMF fields, and voltage drop, charge rates, etc.  Or just to save time, why not answer his question.  Yes you can safely, without risking yourself or your material possessions, charge your battery without an extension.  Battery guy, if you have ANY questions about how or why or anything else, feel free to PM me.  Not gonna waste my time arguing with someone who just bought there first grinder and now thinks they're a machinist.
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: centuryghost on February 09, 2010, 06:00:34 PM
 :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: gsJack on February 09, 2010, 06:34:57 PM
Scorpion AGM battery is a good choice, I put one in last spring.  First winter I've started up everytime in freezing weather without a jump after the bike sat a couple weeks.

I charged it up overnight with an old $10 charger with a 1 amp output before I installed it and haven't touched it since.  As far as the important question goes I charged in on the kitchen counter overnight by hooking the battery up and then plugging it in and pushing it back near the outlet maybe a foot away.  Same as I've charged all my batteries for years.  Am I living too dangerously?  Would that be relatively more dangerous than an old man riding fast thru the mountain twisties on a GS500 with a clip type master link on his drive chain?  Not serious questions because I'm too old and set in my ways to change now anyway.   :icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol:
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 06:40:05 PM
 :thumb: gsJack
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: BaltimoreGS on February 09, 2010, 08:17:39 PM
Not sure if it is the reason but you try to keep the battery a good distance from the charger so it doesn't ignite the hydrogen gas that is released when a battery is charging.  I don't think that logic would apply to a "sealed" battery though...

-Jessie
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 08:41:36 PM
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on February 09, 2010, 08:17:39 PM
Not sure if it is the reason but you try to keep the battery a good distance from the charger so it doesn't ignite the hydrogen gas that is released when a battery is charging.  I don't think that logic would apply to a "sealed" battery though...

-Jessie

In this case its not so much a safety concern as it is an undesirable effect concern.  Basically, certain thing can shorten your battery life, damage electrical systems, etc.  Since you've already got 120vac going into the charger into a step down transformer you really aren't going to do much by distancing the charger from the outlet.  As you stated, a sealed battery doesn't leak gas, so thats out.  They make those recommendations to give you the absolute best result out of a product under ideal circumstances.  For example, its recommended that you use an AGM charger for Optima type batteries, and they are only good for like 6-8 jumpstarts.  Can you charge it without an AGM charger?  Yes.  Can you jump a ninth car?  Yes.  Great thought Jessie!  :thumb:
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: sledge on February 10, 2010, 03:35:40 AM
Quote from: MXFun86 on February 09, 2010, 05:22:13 PM


As for Sledge, if you don't know the reason why something is the way it is, don't talk.   

Rather a hypocrital comment IMHO but anyway..........Can I, or anyone else for that matter qoute you on that in the future??,.......somehow I dont think we will have to wait very long  :thumb:



Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: ohgood on February 10, 2010, 04:24:25 AM
Quote from: redhawkdancing on February 08, 2010, 02:46:42 PM
I have one of those sealed scorpion batteries that I just got in and a battery tender jr. The battery tender instructions recommend that your attach  24 inch long 6(AWG) insulated, battery extension cable to the negative battery post, if your going to charge outside of the motorcycle.

Does anyone charge without the extension cable, and if so have you ever had any issues? 

simple answer: no, i haven't had issues in any charge situations ,with or without said cord.

drama answer: i hate blah blah blah and newbies blah blah blah and goats that fart blah blah blah ;)


you'll be fine man, nice battery. enjoy the ride. :)
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: dauphinc on February 10, 2010, 09:57:37 AM
Haha...goats that fart.  :icon_twisted:
Title: Re: Battery charging without extension cable
Post by: redhawkdancing on February 28, 2010, 12:01:53 PM
Got her charged...thanks all!   :thumb: