07 990 ADV battery issues

[pdsquire]

Originally Posted by piguglyshandydrinker

Constant use of chargers knackers batteries.

Phil

+1

Philip

[Wee Jack]

Originally Posted by piguglyshandydrinker

Thats the problem!
Constant use of chargers knackers batteries.
Phil

I didn't know that ? you learn something new everyday. So all the advice thats given out in the bike press to keep your battery charged during a lay-up is pish ??

So it looks like I shagged your battery JB and I was only trying to be nice to it ???

[Lutin]

This thread could well degenerate into a "Yes it does / No it doesn't" slanging match.

The simple fact is that batteries will self-discharge over time. Lower temperatures also don't do batteries any favours, they are very simple chemical reactions after all.

The best thing is probably to connect the charger one a week or once a fortnight.

However, the Optimate web-site probably says different.

[Wee Jack]

Originally Posted by Lutin

This thread could well degenerate into a "Yes it does / No it doesn't" slanging match.

Only if we allow that to happen and we're all big boys and girls and we are very mature and we are above all this petty posturing................... No let's have a good old slaggin match and maybe a wee punch-up for good measure .......... we aint had one of those since the last one

[Lutin]

Originally Posted by Wee Jack

Only if we allow that to happen and we're all big boys and girls and we are very mature and we are above all this petty posturing................... No let's have a good old slaggin match and maybe a wee punch-up for good measure .......... we aint had one of those since the last one

On reading that, I was beginning to wonder which forum you were referring to Jack, but it all turned out right in the end.

[pdsquire]

Originally Posted by Lutin

This thread could well degenerate into a "Yes it does / No it doesn't" slanging match.

Someone who knows what they're talking about should be along soon, but I thought it was something to do with the battery continually shedding charge when it's connected to a charger leading to the chemistry in it becoming less able to store. When on the bike, the reg/rec prevents that.

The problem with this explanation is that it shouldn't happen with a modern charger that stops charging when full...

Surely the solution is to get out and use the bike! (That said, my ZZR's battery was in fine fettle after three months laid up...)

[Yeti]

Originally Posted by Wee Jack

........we're all big boys and girls and we are very mature and we are above all this petty posturing...................

ohhhhhhhh no we're not!!

[Buggles]

Originally Posted by pdsquire

That said, my ZZR's battery was in fine fettle after three months laid up...

Same here, the battery on my DR800 was fine even after being in storage for 8 months. It took a bit of encouragement, but started after 3-4 tries. And that's a BIG piston to move.

I'm doing the check Lutin recommended this evening, checking the current drawn in alarmed & unalarmed state on the bike. Unless that shows up any weird results, the battery is probably done. I've found some decent replacements online though, with a Varta battery that's apparently quite good at £50, and the original at around £80...

Since I can't keep the bike on charge anyway (I have no power in the garage) we'll see how she does. I wish it were easier to check the current though. Having to drop the sumpguard every time is getting a bit tedious...

Still, I love the bike. Even sat without a battery in the garage it looks the dog's danglies!



JB

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Originally Posted by Wee Jack

I didn't know that ? you learn something new everyday. So all the advice thats given out in the bike press to keep your battery charged during a lay-up is pish ??

So it looks like I shagged your battery JB and I was only trying to be nice to it ???

Nuthin' scientific Jack. The year when I thought I'd keep my bikes' batteries well topped up & in good fettle, was the time when I had battery troubles.
Mysteriously, I stopped using the charger regularly & my battery troubles vanished!

I still use a charger - but sparingly

Sorry for the hijack Buggles & hope that you get the beast rollin' soon

Phil

[StumpyFingers]

A battery will drain over time, it is designed to.
Constantly pushing it up is likely to cause premature failure.
I use a Solar charger that trickle charges during daylight hours but allows the battery to discharge slightly at night as it would under normal use.
I thought the optimate was supposed to do the same with it's charging cycle.
I would first try checking all your wiring for loose or corroded fittings.
You could try a high wattage lamp connected to the battery to give it a large drain and see if the battery holds up to it, that or get a battery tester and force a discharge to check the condition.