How long to trickle charge

[Crackerjacker]

Hi

with the cold weather and not riding my baby vara the battery has been draine by the immobiliser. This happened last year too so ended up buying a new battery last year.

I also bought a trickle charge an am going to use it to hopefully to rexhare the battery.

Does anyone know how lon I need to hav the trickle charge on for?

Thanks in advance

[AlanH]

If it's an optimate or something similar, just leave it plugged in when you're not using the bike and that will keep the battery in tip top condition.

[Crackerjacker]

The chrge I have simply plugs into a normal plug socket in the house. I eill need to take the battery off the bike and plug it in the house so I am not wanting to leave it on constantly for health and safety reasons.

Anyone know how long I should have it on or shall i just turn it on whenever I am in the house over the next 2 weeks until I need the bike again? Or is there a danger that I will damage the battery doing it this way?

[Lumiya]

A trickle charge will not damage the battery long term, but saying that it's all dependant on the battery capacity and the charge current as what's trickle charge to one battery might not be to another.

What you're doing is asking us how long a piece of string is without showing us the string

[BobA]

Without knowing what charger you have, nobody could answer the question safely!

If it's an Optimate or similar it will be an intelligent charger that monitors the battery in between charging cycles, and adjusts its output accordingly.

If it's full on charger, I'd leave it on for 24 hours then switch off and check to see if the battery has taken the charge.

If it's one of those little (lidl style) trickle chargers, you could leave it on for 24 hours and then check, or you could be canny and plug it into a plug in style timer, which switches the charger on/off in 12 hours or shorter segments.


Good Luck


Bob

[Crackerjacker]

The charger is a normal plug that you can select 6v or 12v on it. Looks very similiar to a mobile phone charger. It doesn't automatically see the charge of the battery and has no timer on it.

I have taken the battery off and it says on the back of it that a standard charge of 0.6amps is for 5 to 10 hours.

Do I set the charger at 6v and charge it for 5-10 hours or set the charger at 12v for 5-10 hours.

The battery is a 12v battery.

Just confused as battery also says can do a quick charge for 1 hour at 3 amps but dont know what amp my charger is.

You can tell I didn;t pay attention in physics!

Can anyone assist with this please? Thanks

[BobA]

Errrr I would suggest charging at 12v if you have a 12v battery Sir!

Sounds like a charger with a very small output, so 24 - 48 hours shouldn't do any harm, but still might not be enough to recover a deeply discharged battery which is sulphated. I would strongly suggest you do not charge a battery indoors, and would also point out that this is just what I would do, but I'm not an electro wizard, so listen to what everyone else says and make an informed decision.

I replaced quite a few batteries and spent a long time being stubborn and not buying an Optimate charger, but I would have to agree that it is one of the best things I've ever bought, and for the price of one battery will save you any future hassle, so go on, treat yourself in the sales, or use one of the forum discounts to get one online.


Good Luck


Bob

[Crackerjacker]

I ride my bike everyday normally so didn't think i would need a optimate. It is only as been off work sick that I haven't been riding.

I will charge the battery in the conservatory as don't have a outside socket. I will have a look in the sales for optimate like you suggest but will probably just disconnect the battery from the bike next time I am not using it for more than a couple of days.

I will only charge the battery when I am in the house and will turn off at night. Will charge for 48 hours and see if that will start the bike.

Thanks. Anyone else have any ideas please let me know.

[davsato]

the optimate would probably have saved the first battery, and paid for itself there and then. i got mine free with a mag subscription.
you can leave it plugged in permanently as a battery monitor, and it senses automatically 6v/12v. i use it for the car, bike, nippers 6v 4x4 before he grew out of it, etc.
no need to take the batteries out of anything, the optimate has different connections, i use croc clips on the car and 12v hella plug for the accessory socket on the bike

[jasonbc]

Hi

with the cold weather and not riding my baby vara the battery has been draine by the immobiliser. This happened last year too so ended up buying a new battery last year.

I also bought a trickle charge an am going to use it to hopefully to rexhare the battery.

Does anyone know how lon I need to hav the trickle charge on for?

Thanks in advance

When i'm not using the Varadero i leave it plugged in permanently. I wired in the lead that came with the optimate so that it come out behind the right side panel that way i dont have to take the seat off everytime i want to plug it in