Checking and Charging Motorcycle Batteries

How are Motorcycle Batteries Rated?

Checking and Charging Motorcycle Batteries

Checking and Charging Motorcycle Batteries

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Checking and Charging Motorcycle Batteries

Checking and Charging Motorcycle Batteries

The amp/hour (AH) capacity is the basis for rating motorcycle batteries. For example, a 12AH battery can produce one amp of current flow for 12 hours, or two amps for six hours. In order to calculate the amount of time needed to use up a fully charged motorcycle battery by turning the lights on, we have to take power in watts, and divide it by volTAGe, which gives us the current draw in Amps. Therefore, a 72 watts beam and tail together, divided by 12 volts equals a 6-amp draw. So in 2 hours, the 12AH battery is dead.

Checking Motorcycle Battery:

If you decide to check if your new motorcycle battery is done correctly, follow this actual factory-recomMended service procedure.

If the battery is not a maintenance-free type which doesn't have a vent tube, unwrap the battery, unkink the vent tube and snip about a half-inch off the end. Fill it with electrolyte midway (between the high and low level markings on the case) and leave it undisturbed for one or two hours. Remember, the battery will still be at only 65% of full charge at this point. Add electrolyte again if required.

If your battery is a refillable lead-antimony type, it should be charged at one-third of its rated capacity in amp/hours for four to five hours to get it to full charge. Maintenance-free type battery should be charged with a constant-current charger that can drive the charge with as much as 16.9 volts. This should be closely supervised so as not to exceed full charge.

Next, recheck the electrolyte level and add water if required. Let the battery cool so the case contracts enough to fit into its typically tight little holder. Run the new breather tube, if the battery comes along with one, carefully through the original factory routing.

Things to Remember when Charging the Battery:

1. First of all, it is important to remember that Red is positive and Black is negative in order to avoid any accidents such as short-circuits and nasty shocks.

2. The charger should be compatible with the motorcycle battery, and give a greater output than the battery volTAGe but not too high.

3. Make sure the connections are clean and the electrolyte is at the upper level, and don't fill the cells up to the very top of the battery.

4. You can either use an optimizer on the battery which can effectively switch off the battery when it's charged and prevents overheating, or disconnect it manually.

5. It is recomMended to put your battery on charge every two or three weeks.

6. An upper and lower level battery should have all the cells on the upper level, not over and never under the lower level.

7. For topping off the low cells, use only distilled water.

8. The minimum charge for a new batter should be at least for 8 hours.

9. If you have a dry battery, fill the cells slowly and leave the battery for around half an hour.

Checking and Charging Motorcycle Batteries

Starter Clicks But Engine Does Not Turn Over-Tech in Trunk?

If the car's starter clicks and the engine does not turn over, this could be caused by several things. The most common cause of clicking when the car is being started is a low battery. Most people would assume that the starter is bad if it only clicks, but low-volTAGe can cause the starter to make this sound.

Starter Clicks But Engine Does Not Turn Over-Tech in Trunk?

Starter Clicks But Engine Does Not Turn Over-Tech in Trunk?

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Starter Clicks But Engine Does Not Turn Over-Tech in Trunk?

Starter Clicks But Engine Does Not Turn Over-Tech in Trunk?

The battery is the heart of the starting and electrical system. If the battery has been drained or has a weak cell, this can cause the starter to only click. Many times the battery could just been drained due to a door left slightly open, making the dome light stay on. Other times a vanity light or a phone charger could be left on. During my time as a master auto technician, I've had a trustworthyco-worker close me up in the trunk so I could make sure the trunk light went off when the trunk was closed!

In order to test the battery, it must have a good charge. If the battery is not charged completely the tester will indicate that it needs to be charged before testing can proceed. The first step when checking the starter and electrical system is to make sure the battery is in good condition. Most parts stores will check batteries for free. Once it's determined the battery is good the rest of the system can then be checked. Loose or corroded connections can also cause a clicking and for the car not to start.

Starter

The starter solenoid on many Ford vehicle's is on the inner fender well, on most othervehicles the starter solenoid will be mounted on the starter. The clicking that is heard many times is the solenoid. But low-volTAGe either from a drained battery, bad battery, or poor connections can cause this. Most of the time if the vehicle can be jump started the starter is okay. This would also indicate that the connections to the starter are good.

Alternator

Once the vehicle is running the alternator output can be checked. If the alternator is not charging the battery, it will be drained during the process of starting the car and driving. When the alternator is checked, the voltage and amperage output can be measured. Also the diode pattern will be checked to make sure the alternator won't drain the> battery when the engine is turned off. In the past do-it-yourselfers could disconnect the battery while the vehicle is running to check the alternator, if the car kept running the alternator was good. Doing this on Computerized vehicles can be harmful. If the battery is disconnected while a Computerized vehicle is running the alternator output can increase sharply allowing excess voltage to spike the computer.

Battery

When purchasing a replaceMent battery, the cold cranking amps required for the vehicle should be checked. It's best to purchase a battery with more cold cranking amps than the minimum required. Also when purchasing a battery you should consider if you want maintenancefree or not. If the battery is hard to access or has a cover then a maintenance free battery is preferred. For instance on some Chrysler Sebrings and Chevrolet Corvettes the battery is located behind an inner fender and on a Chevrolet SSR. the battery is located underneath the bed where the spare Tire would normally go. If installing the battery yourself be sure to notice which side is positive and negative in case you were sold the incorrect battery.

Terminals

Starter Clicks But Engine Does Not Turn Over-Tech in Trunk?

Golf Cart Battery Basics

Golf cart batteries are the life-force behind your electric golf cart.

Golf Cart Battery Basics

Golf Cart Battery Basics

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Golf Cart Battery Basics

Golf Cart Battery Basics

Golf carts run off of what are called deep-cycle batteries. Although they look similar to normal car batteries, deep cycle batteries serves a completely different purpose. While both are lead-acid based, deep-cycle batteries provide a steady current over a long period of time, whereas car batteries provide a very large current over a short period of time. This is because golf carts, like other electric vehicles, derive all their power from their batteries.

One battery is not enough to run a golf cart. Instead, they use battery packs that consist of multiple batteries. Individual golf cart batteries usually come in 6-volts or 8-volts. The combined total of the volTAGefrom each battery makes up the total golf cart volTAGe. For instance, a 36-volt golf cart probably has six 6-volt batteries. And a 48-volt golf cart probably has either eight 6-volt batteries or six 8-volt batteries. And as you can probably guess, the higher the volTAGe the longer the run time and the greater the power.

If your batteries aren't charged, however, it doesn't matter how many volts your battery pack has, it's still not going to run. The type of golf cart charger you would need depends on the total number of volts your battery pack has. A 36V golf cart requires a 36 volt charger, and a 48V golf cart requires a 48 volt charger. If you have a 36V golf cart and later decide to upgrade to a 48V golf cart by adding twoadditional 6V batteries, you can either purchase an additional 12V charger for two new batteries, or you can replace your 36V charger with a 48V charger, just so long as the volTAGe from the charger corresponds with the voltage of the batteries.

To keep your golf cart running strong you're going to want to charge your batteries after every use. Most new chargers are fully automated, which means they regulate the current so that you do not over-charge your batteries. If you have an older golf cart charger that is not fully automated you would want to set a timer to shut off the charger after your cart is fully charged. A good rule of thumb is to charge it for at least twice as long as you drove it.

Golf Cart Battery Basics

The Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters

You have a cell phone and now want to accessorize it with the latest cell phone technologies. You have already purchased a Bluetooth, so now the next big purchase on your list is a cell phone signal booster. Your cell carrier isn't the best, and you've noticed that your reception could be clearer. You want more bars when you need them. Cell signal boosters are made to enhance the quality of your outgoing and incoming calls. You will have more bars, like up to two extra, and your cell range will be larger. When using a booster you will receive phone calls in areas that were not able to receive calls in before. In some cases using a booster also improved the sound quality of calls.

The Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters

The Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters

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The Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters

The Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters The Best Cell Phone Signal Boosters

How to Start a Scooter the First Time

The scooter was received and assembled, now finally to the long awaited moMent, starting the scooter. The urge to stick the key in the hole, press the button and hear the engine purr is close to irresistible ...

How to Start a Scooter the First Time

How to Start a Scooter the First Time

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How to Start a Scooter the First Time

How to Start a Scooter the First Time

But it must be resisted. Though above may sound ideal, is not the case. Imagine a car that was parked for six months; it may not start at first try. In this case we are talking about a scooter that may have been sitting for 6 or more months in addition to having travelled by sea for 2 or 3 weeks; salty marine carburetors love fresh Air.

This article aims at guiding first time scooter owners to properly start their scooter without blowing anything out.

Dos and Don'ts:

1. If the scooter is 150cc or 50, don't try the electric start; at first kickstart only
2. Do not, under any circumstance, try to jump start the scooter
3. Avoid using a charger. The engine will recharge the battery when it is started. If a charger is used, insure it is a motorcycle charger set to no more than 2 amps
4. If the scooter is equipped with an alarm, do not try the alarm or the remote start until the scooter started
5. Buy the most expensive fuel and fill the gas tank all the way up
6. Do not use any fuel additives or carburetor logo cleaner solution
7. Once the scooter is started, be ready to ride it for at least 15 minutes to charge the battery -letting the engine charge the battery is by far the best

Remember that a new battery is very fragile. If it runs all the waydown, it may get damaged as well as permanent damage other components such as the fuse, volTAGe regulator and/or the CDI unit. In order to protect the battery and the other components, all 50cc and 150cc scooters should be first started with the kick start then try the electric start a couple times as described below.

Since most 250cc scooters don't have a kick start, 250cc scooter owners should follow the electric start procedures.

Kick start procedure:

1. Fill the gas tank all the way up with the best gasoline available
2. Put the bike on the center stand
3. Check that the kill switch is pointed towards the circle, not the X
4. If the scooter came with remote, click the UNLOCK two consecutive times
5. Turn the key to the on position
6.Accelerate all the way and keep throttle open of 1 second, repeat 3 times
7. Unfold the kick-start; gently push it down with your foot half way
8. Let the kick start as back up
9. Kick the kick start 3 or 4 times vigorously in a row making sure the starter goes all the way down and comes all the way back up every time
10. Then keep on accelerating all the way (step 6) and kicking all the way a few times (step 9)
11. Do not accelerate while kicking

Try the electric start only AFTER having tried to start the bike as described above with the kick-start.

Electric start procedure:

1. Follow steps 1 to 6 in the kick-start procedures above
2. Hold the rear brake
3. Gently turn the accelerator to pickup the slack; do not accelerate, just hold theslack
4. Press the start button for 3 seconds and let go
5. Accelerate all the way and let go, hold any slack in the throttle
6. Press the start button for 3 seconds and let go
7. Let the electric start motor cool down for 30 or 40 seconds and repeat the steps above one more time.

Overheating the electric start motor may also damage the scooter by blowing the starter motor, the fuse and other electrical parts.

If the bike did not start, do not try the electric start procedures more than 2 times; rather go back to the kick start procedures and repeat it 2 or 3 times. It may take a few tries, most bikes start at the 2nd or 3rd try.

If all else fail:

Some scooters my have a hard time starting. This may be due to several factors. In 90% of the cases, thefailure to start is due to no or insufficient fuel getting to the carburetor logo. The simplest way to check and cure this, is to prime the carburetor logo manually:

1. Open the seat
2. Unscrew the access panel screw carburetor logo (usually a single screw)
3. Remove the access panel and locate the carburetor logo
4. The top of The carburetor logo looks like a metal dome with 2 screws holding it
5. Remove the 2 screws from the top of the carburetor logo
6. Put 3 to 4 spoonfuls of gasoline directly inside the carburetor logo
7. Replace the top of the carburetor logo and secure with the 2 screws
8. Follow the electric start procedure only if it was not followed more than 3 times; otherwise kick-start

How to Start a Scooter the First Time

Dead Car Battery-4 Common Reasons Why Car Batteries Die

A dead car battery is one of the most common problems drivers face. You are running late for work, an appointMent or to drop the kids off to school and tragically, your car won't start. When this happens, there is a good chance that your batteries are dead or have a low charge. There are many reasons why this happens.

Dead Car Battery-4 Common Reasons Why Car Batteries Die

Dead Car Battery-4 Common Reasons Why Car Batteries Die

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Dead Car Battery-4 Common Reasons Why Car Batteries Die

Dead Car Battery-4 Common Reasons Why Car Batteries Die

Drainage--Something was left on while the car was off. For example, the headlights, interior lights, Air conditioning or the radio is left on while the car is not running. One of the most common is leaving the headlights on while the car is parked. This will cause the batteries to drain. You can prevent this by simply making sure everything is turned off when the car is not running.Alternator-The alternator continuously charges the battery while you drive. If the alternator is faulty, then it does not properly replace the charge to your battery and your battery therefore slowly drains from use until it is completely out of charge. Temperature-Extreme hot or cold temperatures can completely ruin your battery. In really hot temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the car battery drains more quickly because the extreme heat causes the battery to expend energy at a Faster rate. In very cold temperatures, the motor oil thickens and makes it more difficult for the battery to start your engine. The cold temperature slows down the chemical reactions needed to make a car start. Old> battery--The lifetime of a carbattery is about four to six years. As the battery ages, the inner plates get coated and affected by sulfation. Once this happens, the battery no longer holds its charge as long as it use to and eventually loses all charge.

Sometimes your car will give you hints that the car battery is starting to wear down. For example, your keyless entry may stop working, your power windows may move slowly or your headlights dimmer than usual may be.

Many times, though, you will not get any hints at all, so always be prepared by carrying a portable car battery charger, jumper cables and membership in an auto club or road side assistance.

Dead Car Battery-4 Common Reasons Why Car Batteries Die

Battery Reconditioning Collector

Reconditioning collector old batteries and reviving batteries which appear to be dead is not a major problem once you know how. To learn how to recondition batteries requires little outlay with many experts on the net giving the low-down for well under forty bucks.

Battery Reconditioning Collector

Battery Reconditioning Collector

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Battery Reconditioning Collector

Battery Reconditioning Collector

Once you have learned the methods (there are one or two, depending on the type of battery) the costs for battery are extremely low and the effort involved to recondition an old battery very low indeed. If you learn how to recondition a battery, you may even find it to be a profitable business venture on a small or larger scales. Handy resources will be referred to later in the article.

Although it isn't hard to recondition or revive a battery, excellencein anything should never be underestimated. To learn how to fix a battery to its original state, it is crucial to understand the following.

Simple techniques to revive a completely dead battery back to 100% of its original charge capacity (full power) are readily available. It's really not that difficult. Keep in mind that rechargeable batteries enable users to forget about power cables which hinder manipulation of power tools, for example and restrict moveMent of any device to length of the cable from a power source.

Think about how many devices requiring electricity for power are portable nowadays. Okay, the type of battery may vary-be it for a fork-lift, a cell phone, a golf cart, power tools or iPods, to Mention just a few-but for eachtype of battery, there are quick and easy ways to revive them. I would stress again that the methods are cost effective whether for purely personal use or for business.

To learn how to recondition batteries automotive batteries, motorcycle batteries, marine batteries and motorized wheelchAirs batteries is of great interest for people in all countries. In the States these batteries are expensive for any user and there will be an ever increasing market for reconditioned batteries when the cost of a new one is looked at. Conversely, there exists an ever increasing market in third-world countries where the price of a new battery is also prohibitive.

It is important to take on board that the unhealthy (if not dead) condition ofa battery can be due to its charger which frequently malfunctions. But, much more frequently, it is the battery which is murdering the charger. I know it is unfortunately common to find people replacing a perfectly good charger, in the belief that the charger is the problem, only to find it destroyed by the real culprit-the battery. Once a battery's ' natural ' lifespan has been exhausted it must be properly reconditioned in order for it not to be a threat to equipMent and chargers.

It is also essential to know how to accurately measure the charge capacity of the battery in question. Of course this varies, but once you know precisely how much energy a battery can store at a given time, you can beginto assess the improvement you have made to its performance.

The importance of knowing how to revert to reversed cell cannot be overstated. It is one of the first things to evaluate about a dead battery. You won't be able to do anything with it until you have fixed the reversed cell.

One of the best things to understand is exactly why it is that a battery needs reconditioning collector. A new battery develops a memory effect but, guess what, a battery reconditioning collector properly should dispel this effect completely. Now that is some feat and means it is possible to continually rejuvenate suspect batteries.

Battery Reconditioning Collector