Battery chargers

[nightpilot]

I have heard it said that the new glass mat batteries needed different chargers or they would get burned up or otherwise destroyed. Others have said not true but need to charge at low amperage. Anyone know the truth of the matter.

[XJOK2PLAY]

I've been told that the glass mat types are already charged fully, and need no charging before installing.

I also know that my battery charger has 3 seperate selections to charge various types... and that one is one of them. So there must be a difference... either in charging rate, cycle, time rate... some difference.

I've also tried in the past to use the small wallwart type trickle chargers... 2 amp type. Found out for periods of 1 week or more, that's WAY too much!!!

Since then, I've bought a new 900 ma 12 VDC from Napa... $25... now I leave it on anytime the bikes parked at home... no problems. The 2 amp caused the standard type battery I run (non sealed) to boil the acid out the overflow, and onto the frame... not good for anything!

Since switching to the 900ma, no problems.

[TomRodgers]

Personally, i have always used a "Battery Tender Jr." Inexpensive, low juice going into battery, and it maintains it...... In the summer i dont worry about it too much, but as the weather drops below 50, i put it on...just to make sure. i have 3 of them....i use them on my garden tractor, snowmobile, and on the bikes....work great.

[jetmechmarty]

Battery charger

I lifted the following from another news group:

In other news; I found a great little battery charger/conditioner/desulfator
that I'm recommemding to all my friends. It's called the BatteryMinder
Model #12117, see http://www.pacificbattery.com/batteryminder.html for link
and best price I've found on the net.

It's perfect for motorcycle applications and much better than the comparably
priced (and heavily advertised) BatteryTender, which does nothing to prevent
or reverse deadly (lead) sulfate buildup, the #1 killer of recreational
batteries.

For AGM batteries, VDC has a charger #12118 that is designed to deliver a
higher charge and maintenance voltage http://tinyurl.com/ykhf3sd

Both models have pulse technology which prevents and reverses the evils of
lead sulfate formation.

Recommended!!

[nightpilot]

Thanks guys great info and urls.

[oldyam80sg]

This year is the first year that i am not hooking the battery up to the tender.I read somewhere that these bikes dont really charge until its running at 3500 rpm and higher.So far the bike has been starting up every time-granted i start it up every 2 weeks and also have a somewhat new battery in there.

[b.walker5]

Some good info here on charging AGM batteries...

http://www.firststartbatteries.com.a...intenance.html

[latexeses]

Cripes!. Went looking for a distributor until I realized where the post came from! That would take some serious shipping charges.

Good info though!

[Jerry]

Short answer: use a "float" charger, not one of the "trickle" chargers. A float charger monitors the state of the battery and won't overcharge it, a trickle charger puts out a fixed amperage and may overchage your battery.

A Battery Tender (brand name) is a good way to go, Motorcycle Superstore had them for $10.00 off a few weeks ago, reg $40.00 on sale for $30.00.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...x?sst=RR%7C950

Don't know if the sale is still on.

The BatteryMinder (also a brand name) is also a good choice, but quite a bit more expensive. While sulphation is a problem, my understanding is that vibration / heat in a motorcycle is more of a problem.

Still my favorite, and least expensive charger, is this one:

http://www.gemplers.com/product/1560...attery-Charger

When I bought mine several years ago ( I have a couple) they were only $10.00, now up to $15.00, still a god bet. I have 2 riding lawnmowers that I use these on over the winter as well as both bikes. They work well on both standard lead-acid and the AGM battery I had in the XJ for 5 years.

[cywelchjr]

You know, I have a couple of cheap maintainers that have worked very well for me for a couple of years now. Both of them were bought from Walmart for around $20 and have worked flawlessly keeping both auto and MC batteries fully charged without overcharging. I have also seen them in other locations for around the same price (stay away from MC shops for those things that can be bought elsewhere, you will ALWAYS pay more if you don't).

[Ivan]

Wouldn't it make sense that if an AGM took a different charger, then we would have to use a different alternator? AGM batteries merely have the electrolyte suspended in a fiberglass mat which stabilizes the lead plates so they don't short out from mechanical damage. Allows thinner plates and more of them, so the capacity can go up for the same form factor. So, at its core, its really just a lead acid battery, which is more durable.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Wouldn't it make sense that if an AGM took a different charger, then we would have to use a different alternator? AGM batteries merely have the electrolyte suspended in a fiberglass mat which stabilizes the lead plates so they don't short out from mechanical damage. Allows thinner plates and more of them, so the capacity can go up for the same form factor. So, at its core, its really just a lead acid battery, which is more durable.

Then, is there not a different charge rate, duration, pulse, or cycle frequency for an AGM?

Why do chargers have different settings? Mine has one for a standard battery, one for deep cycle, and one for AGM /gel cell...

I had also heard that another reason for the developement of AGM's was that they have LESS lead than conventional batteries...

[Larrym]

Not Gellin' wit me....

The gel cell is the only battery I've owned which truly needs a specialty charger or setting. The reason is that the gel can only be charged to a max voltage of 14.2 volts before bad things happen: gassing and swelling.

Unfortunately the gels are made in the same size/group numbers as regular lead acid batteries and sometimes people buy a gel battery hoping to eliminate maintenance. They fit in the same battery box. The problem is that the standard voltages for car and bike charging systems are 14.4-14.5 volts in normal operation so the gel batteries get cooked at .2 or .3 volts over the max: they plump up like a ball park frank.

Same math applies to in home chargers no matter how many or how few amps they put out: if the gels are charged above 14.2 volts then they cook-bake-fry.

Some of the AGM batteries are sensitive to the charging rate: Amps. This is only what I've read about.

I'm with Ivan regarding whether the AGM or Gel or any type of battery needing a special charger with special amps/volts: The charging system on our bikes/vehicles use the standard voltages/amperages of common alternators/regulators. If the AGM battery truly requires a special charger then I'd say it was unsuitable for use in an ordinary vehicle application.

I've seen the hoops other people have had to jump through in order to use gel cells safely on their boats. Wouldn't do it myself.

For further info:

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html#3

[Jerry]

I came across this tidbit from Batterystuff.com:
[

We cater specifically to microprocessor controlled chargers, also known as Smart Chargers. Determine what type of battery or batteries you will be charging. Maintenance Free, Wet Cell (flooded), AGM (absorbed glass mat), Gel Cell or VRLA (valve regulated lead acid). In most cases one charger will work for all types except for Gel Cell. However, some of our Gel Cell chargers will work well with the other battery types.

Gel cells generally have lower charging voltage points. Basically, any quality charger with float capabilities should work on AGM batteries.

[DeanR]

I keep both bikes on a Battery Tender Jr. year round. One AGM, the other regular cheap variety and never a problem. Always good to go.