Battery Testing

[3dogs]

The Current Effects.com website is the on-line extension of my book "Motorcycle Electrical Systems, Troubleshooting and Repair." Many members of this forum helped me with information/photos for the book several years ago (thank you again). I have teamed up with a partner to produce an on-line version of the book that will highlight electrical system testing for motorcycles.

Our proof of concept is Battery Testing, using a digital voltmeter etc... Out target audience is someone that has no prior knowledge of 12-volt electrical systems. We are interested in feedback about what we have put together. There is a place to comment on the site or you can put in your 2 cents on this post.

Hope you get some useful information from our efforts.

Thanks in advance for any help/feedback.

Tracy Martin...

 

[Crash Cash]

Hope you get some useful information from our efforts.

Thanks in advance for any help/feedback.

Tracy Martin...

So you guys mention Yuasa & TecMate chargers, which are probably the dog's danglies, but I have Battery Tenders and I'll bet that's what most of the forum has.

What's your opinion of them vs. the Yuasa units?

The cheap crap charger that came with my Sears electric mower nearly killed the batteries, so I tore it apart and now I'm trying to see if my Battery Tender will resuscitate them per the article.

 

[3dogs]

So you guys mention Yuasa & TecMate chargers, which are probably the dog's danglies, but I have Battery Tenders and I'll bet that's what most of the forum has.

What's your opinion of them vs. the Yuasa units?

The cheap crap charger that came with my Sears electric mower nearly killed the batteries, so I tore it apart and now I'm trying to see if my Battery Tender will resuscitate them per the article.

Nothing wrong with Battery Tenders. Any of the "Smart Chargers" do a good job of battery maintaining. Many of these chargers claim that they can bring back to life a heavly sulphated battery but success with that depends on the individual battery more than the brand of charger--hence results very widely. In general, onced a battery is damaged (sulphated) even if it can be made to hold a charge it will never be as efficient as a non-damaged battery. OK for a lawn tractor but probably not a motorcycle used for transportation.

 

[SkooterG]

Nicely done Tracy! An excellent resource for someone knows little or nothing.

 

[3dogs]

Nicely done Tracy! An excellent resource for someone knows little or nothing.

The site has received lots of positive reviews from other forums. I'll start adding more content and post when it is available.

Tracy...

 

[mcatrophy]

Nicely done Tracy! An excellent resource for someone knows little or nothing.

The site has received lots of positive reviews from other forums. I'll start adding more content and post when it is available.

Tracy...

One slight proviso on your battery test. If it tests as "good", that's fine. If it tests as "bad", it could be a starter motor issue, we have heard of starters drawing much more current than they are supposed to. I point you to wfooshee's little problem.

 

[JR'SFJR]

Agree. I use my small inexpensive load tester to check battery volts and cca output first. Make sure the battery is good before doing any cranking tests where a bad starter could be misleading.

 

[3dogs]

One slight proviso on your battery test. If it tests as "good", that's fine. If it tests as "bad", it could be a starter motor issue, we have heard of starters drawing much more current than they are supposed to. I point you to wfooshee's little problem.

Even with a defective/worn out starter using the starter as a way to load the battery for testing still works. A good battery when loaded with even a "bad" starter will still maintain around 9 volts with the starter cranking. A bad battery (even one that holds a charge) will drop to below 7 volts (usually 2 or 3 volts) as soon as the starter button is pressed.

The next electrical project for the Current Effects website is how to test/install 12-volt relays using photos, diagrams and video.

Stay tuned!

Tracy...

 

[FJRRider08]

Good stuff Tracy, thanks