Hey everyone.
Just wondering what a good brand of trickle charger is my battery is dead so I need one ASAP.
Battery Tender Junior
(http://home.comcast.net/~stykers/bts.jpg)
I use the harbor freight float charger
http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html
5 bucks with coupon :)
I have one I never use if you want to come over and get it.
It came with Trey and I put in LiFe batteries so will never need it and never ever used it even with regular batteries.
Never mind - SuzukiStevo is not the one needing it. Sorry. You're a little too far away to come and pick it up.
Quote from: missk8t on September 30, 2011, 10:56:16 AM
Hey everyone.
Just wondering what a good brand of trickle charger is my battery is dead so I need one ASAP.
Someone didn't use the kill switch to turn off their bike and forget to remove the key, did they?
If you really need to get going ASAP, then a trickle charger is not really the way to do it. Either push start it or jump start it - AFTER making sure your battery levels are full.
As you're in Australia....
I have the SCA Battery Charger (http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Battery-Charger-6-12V-4800mA.aspx?pid=155831#Description) from Supercheap - does 6v and 12v and various battery types.
For a supposedly Better one, you can try the Optimate 4 (http://www.moto-tech.com.au/optimate). I'm not too knowledgeable on it, so I'd suggest to call Steve on 0405-548-757 (Tell him one of Ozzy's customers put you on to him - won't get you a discount I don't think but he'll know where the call came from - Ozzy is my maestro motorbike mechanic and riding buddy and Steve knows/rides with him too). :thumb:
Michael
Eep! I need help guys all this amp-age is confusing me. I bought a trickle charger that does 6 or 12v. Now the Suzuki book says to charge at a rate of 1.1A with caps off, this means I need to switch the charger to 6v. Well, I just spoke with my dad who's a sparky and he said I should charge the battery at 12v even tho it shoots out an ampage of 2.4 with caps on.
Now in the safety of not wanting to blow my house up can I get some help here please?
If you want to charge a 12V battery then you need to use the 12V setting. It is really that simple.
Then why does the suzuki book say not to charge at an ampage greater than 1.1A and if you look at a trickle charger on 12V the minimum ampage is 2.4? This just doesn't make sense.
If it states a minimum charge rate of 2.4amps, then what you have is not a trickle charger.
The Harbor Freight Float Charger will not charge a dead battery, it will only maintain a fully charged one. The Battery Tender Junior will charge a dead battery @ 750 mA (3/4 of an amp) and then maintain it.
:oops: I feel so dumb here when charging your battery should be such a simple task.
:icon_sad: I'm so lost. I bought this trickle charger http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Battery-Charger-6-12V-4800mA.aspx?pid=155831#Description (http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Battery-Charger-6-12V-4800mA.aspx?pid=155831#Description) now i'm lost
only issue that looks more like a proper battery charger and not a trickle charger that you can leave pluged in for days, are you planing to just charge up batteries every now and then, or leave them to be constantly topped up over a long period of riding, if the first one, then that charger is sweet for it
Quote from: missk8t on October 01, 2011, 10:12:18 PM
:oops: I feel so dumb here when charging your battery should be such a simple task.
:icon_sad: I'm so lost. I bought this trickle charger http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Battery-Charger-6-12V-4800mA.aspx?pid=155831#Description (http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Battery-Charger-6-12V-4800mA.aspx?pid=155831#Description) now i'm lost
4800 mA is 4.8A
about 4 amps more than you need for a M/C :yikes:
I have 8 of these for my bikes, garden tractor ext, it's really all you need http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger (http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317534157&sr=8-1)
And they come with a lead you leave on your bike, for quick EZ hookup :thumb:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61meydBt7VL.jpg)
The fast charge setting is 4800 but the trickle charge 12v setting is only 2400.
Quote from: missk8t on October 01, 2011, 10:55:04 PM
The fast charge setting is 4800 but the trickle charge 12v setting is only 2400.
The GS uses an 11 Amp-Hour battery, you should be able to safely charge it's battery at 1/3 it's Amp-Hour rating (3.6) so actually 2.4A is not too high. (I tend to go less is more and just spend more time doing it)
It has a 6v switch but I imagine that wouldn't work with a 12v battery?
Quote from: missk8t on October 01, 2011, 11:31:58 PM
It has a 6v switch but I imagine that wouldn't work with a 12v battery?
Correct :cheers:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Checking-and-Charging-Motorcycle-Batteries&id=189427 (http://ezinearticles.com/?Checking-and-Charging-Motorcycle-Batteries&id=189427)
:woohoo:
Thanks so much for your help Stevo!
If you've got an electric garage door a trick that some folk do is to connect the standard type of battery charger to the socket on the door mains supply so the battery gets a shot of 12v whenever the door is opened. Battery doesn't really need much juice to maintain the full charge.
missk8,
Just to clarify... there is a difference between a Trickle Charger and a Charger. What you have will Charge the battery. Job done. Go riding. :thumb:
Trickle chargers take Much longer
Battery charger should have an auto off. Off and it's ready to rock and roll :woohoo:
Michael
I agree with Stevo, 2.4 amps won't hurt it as long as either it has an automatic cut out when the battery is full, or you only charge it for 2 or 3 of hours. Its likely designed to charge a typical car battery which would have 4 or 5 times the capacity of your bike's. Definately don't leave it on charge overnight.