Motorcycles are a bundle of energy, if there was ever one, condensed tightly into the smallest space. With all the trappings of modern man it makes sense to make the ride as easy and comfortable as possible. The lights, blinkers, indicators, audio gizmos and whatnots of technological advances that flood man in this age and time all demand clean power to be fed incessantly. And the most popular and reliable source that has served the purposes most conveniently and adequately is the motorcycle battery. It is capable of supplying increasingly larger and maintenance free DC power without lots of fuss.
Motorcycle batteries come in as many shapes, sizes and power capacities as the number of motorcycles donning the roads. Each machine's demands vary so very much from that of the others that the manufacturers of motorcycles opt to have batteries from the battery manufacturers. The charging rates of the motorcycle batteries, the discharge rate, the duration and optimum amperage and voltage of discharge define the electrical properties that differentiate each battery from one another.
The electrolyte, meaning in chemical terms the acid that goes into making the charges constituting the current that makes things work, like the lights, the blinkers and even used for spurring the engine to life instead of conventional kick-start, feed the electrical power generated is one of the most common types of batteries found in motorcycles.
It would do a world of good for motorcycle riders to be informed and aware of the ratings of the batteries that reside in their machines. Being educated about the periodic maintenance and top-up that the motorcycle battery requires would go a long way in ensuring longer life and consistent performance from the batteries.
It is also equally important to check the specific gravity and voltage levels to avoid irritating inconveniences. As the days wear on one could find salt deposits on the terminals that grip the electrodes (made of lead generally). Cleaning them periodically would save valuable contact assurance and also contribute to longer life of the battery.
To sum it all- know your make of motorcycle battery. It will in all probabilities vary with each motorcycle make. Be educated about the periodic maintenance it demands. Don't overcharge it or, on the other hand let the battery go into deep discharge. Clean the terminals if and when required. Enjoy the multiple benefits that the batteries can offer just by being aware.
No matter what the application, a battery is built for longevity. However, they will wear down over time, and will eventually cease to work. When the sulfate that naturally flows over the plates begins building up a residue, the conductivity begins diminishing as that residue builds up. Once the residue has gotten thick enough, all conductivity ceases, and the battery no longer ceases to function. When it comes to replacing motorcycle batteries, there are three steps in the process.
Choosing the right size battery
The first step when it comes to choosing the right sized battery is to know the number of cold cranking amps (CCA) of your bike. The CCA, is the amount of amps at 0 degrees F that lead-acid motorcycle batteries deliver for a period of 30 seconds while maintaining 1.2 volts per cell. The next step is to measure the height, length, and width of the battery cavity so you'll know if the battery will fit.
Removing old motorcycle batteries/installing new ones
The first rule of thumb, when it comes to this step in the process, is to never remove the old battery while the motorcycle is running. If there is no longer a charge, remove the negative cable before removing the positive one. When you are installing a new battery, reverse the order and attach the positive cable before attaching the negative one.
It probably doesn't need to be mentioned but for safety's sake, always make sure you know which terminal is which. The dangers of reversing the polarity are two-fold --- it will either cause the battery to explode, therefore causing you serious injury, or it will do some serious damage to the bike's electrical system.
Recharging motorcycle batteries
Sometimes a thorough charging will be good enough to correct a battery that seems sluggish or won't crank. Before you recharge your battery, check the voltage. Never recharge the battery at more than one-sixth of the amperage of the capacity that the battery is rated for. As an example, if it is a 7 amp per hour battery, never exceed 1 amp while recharging it. If it's an 18 amp per hour battery, don not exceed 3 amps when recharging it.
There are two critical rules to observe while recharging any battery. NEVER smoke while working around a battery (it contains explosive gasses) and ALWAYS wear protective glasses or goggles. Additionally, there are other important cautions that you need to observe as follows:
- Before you add water or recharge the battery, make sure that there is no electrolyte covering the plates.
- Once you have added water, make sure that all the vent caps have been properly replaced and secured before you start charging
- NEVER start to recharge any battery if those vent caps are not properly closed
- Once you are completely finished recharging the battery turn off the charger (first) and then remove the cables from the battery's terminals
Hopefully, when it comes to perform any of the above with motorcycle batteries, you will have a little bit better handle on how to do it safely, so as not to harm yourself or your bike's electrical system.
Both Victor Epand & Justin Stewart are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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