How Many Volts!?

2 to be exact. So we'll call that one fucked up battery then. I
charged it a few weeks before and when I got back, zippo. Still, choke
cable replaced, battery replaced, everything running, just waiting for
the snow now.

 

LOL..

You could stick a PP9 in there and it would be pokier.....

 

Enough to light the dash lights, thats about it. The starter went
"Zzzz..."[1] and the big clue, the horn went sort of "Waarrkkkkllaahhh".
Out with multi metre and as usual it told me I'd just dropped another
30 squids. I should get rid of that infernal thing.

Hmmmm....its been a month since the 'Bird was fired up, I feel the need
to break out that Optimate :-(

[1] Seems to be enough to turn it but not engage the 3/8ths Gripley.

 

I love these phonetic sound effects. ukrm could do with more of these, I
feel.

 

What are the panel's recommendations for multimeters?

There's quite a selection in Halfords.

The Wing's been on the Optimate for nearly a week, now.

Ho hum, that's another £65 I won't see again in a hurry.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..73063../..17250.../..3180./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4
'^'

 

I used one of Maplins best at 9.95. I reckon you need a reasonable volt
range, current up to 10 amps, an audio indicator on the ohmeter for a
short circuit and a digital readout.

<snip>

 

Can someone explain, using simple terminology, why bike batteries die

Its because the discharge process changes the batteries chemistry - in the
discharged state Lead Sulphate forms on the surface of the plates. Lead
Sulphate is insoluble and non-conductive and so unaffected by the charge
process, leaving a non-conductive surface on the plates.

Answer is to never let the batteries get discharged for more than a few mins
/ hours as the Lead Sulphate will be forming..... Charge immediately and
maintain in a good / full state of charge.

Cheap way around the Optimate etc is to use a Bench Power supply, CB Power
supply, both checked / adjusted to be producing about 13.8 volts at the temp
of your garage or say about 5 deg C (there's usually a pot. internally to
twiddle). You will also need an accurate multimeter to be sure you have set
it to 13.8 Volts !

Some old cellphone chargers (Motorola / Panasonic) were about this voltage
and adjustable to 13.8 - and pretty good quality too.....

Hope that helps

Nick DL-1000 V-Strom in N.E. Hants

 

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the

The plates form a lead sulphate coating which prevents electron flow
from one plate to another across the electrolyte.

Bike batteries are more prone to dying early simply because of the much
smaller surface area of the plates - a larger battery would take longer
to be terminally affected, but it will happen nonetheless.


Bill Darden's webshite (google) should have a breakdown on it.

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19 COSOC#10

 

Prolly cos lead/acid are cheaper, easier to charge (Ni-Cad need
constant current and suffer from a memory effect if not discharged
regularly.

Lead Acid are actually quite good all things considered.

 

-----------^

You stand accused of the last, and possibly worst, pun of the year. How
do you plead?

 

Or those gelcell batteries for bicycle lights?

I bet its cost, but thinking about it, lead acid batteries arent cheap.
Storage, whats a bike battery ~20 amp/hours?

 

I don't have an optimate. Not had a flat battery for a few years
either. It's a matter of just riding the thing occasionally... It's
only the fair weather 'bikers' that seem to suffer. **** 'em I say.
After the revolution, I shall make Optimates illegal to own and use.

Sensible policies for a happier Britain.

 

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the

I was lead on. Antimony made me do it.

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19 COSOC#10

 

There is still hope for the Mr. Fusion Home Reactor.

 

I've got toothache :-(

 

I'd imagine they can but lead acid is cheaper hence that's what ends up on
bikes.

 

It did, thanks, but why can't they produce something that does the job

They have - NiFe cells (Nickel and Iron) but they are best suited to things
like Submarines !!! What I am researching is why NiCad / NiMH can't be
used as they don't mind being left discharged - probably just down to cost
and size - a 12aH battery at 12 volts would be quite a size compared with
the old faithful Lead Acid technology ! Amazing considering its been around
for so long.
Happy New Year to you,

Nick

 

I think the problem with NiCad is the very narrow window of charging
current it will accept without damage and the fact that it prefers to
be fully discharged before recharging - somthing that doesn't happen in
normal automotive use.