Battery going flat went left at night

[StrayAlien]

Ok,

Been in the garage.

New battery that has now gone pretty flat was (with engine switched off) 12.45v.

When cranking that battery it went to about 1v, Nasty.

I jump started the bike and the voltage across the terminals was 11.9. Less than I thought it should be and it idled like crap. I let it run for 3 or 4 mins and the regulator was very warm - I don't know if that is expected.

But, I put a freshly charged pretty serious (Ducati 999) battery in and started it and voltage across the terminals was 14.2 - so charging looks okay (?).

With the battery -ve disconnected and the multi between battery -ve and frame earth wire and with the multi-meter on amps and then milli-amps going from 10A down to 2000u I saw no reading > 0 at all.

I turned on the water temp LCD and saw no reading > 0 at all in any multi (amp) setting .... so was I doing it wrong?

Resistance was 1 between battery +ve and disconnected (from battery) earth wire.

Any clues in there?

[magg]

Hot rect/reg is normal. 14.2 volts suggests the charging system is ok. Your current and resistance readings indicate zero leakage and therefore your battery should not go flat.

However, your new battery is stuffed and, as you have found, the engine can run poorly even if you cab jump start it. What charger are you using on the battery?

[Neosophist]

As magg has put, your battery sounds knackered, probably an internal short draining it.

Did you fill it with acid and slowly charge it with a trickle charger before using it?

If you fast charge them they can die.

[StrayAlien]

Righto. Cheers. New battery is a sealed type so I can't monkey with it anyways.

It does seems strange. I gave it a recharge and have now left it for two days and it has maintained its charge at 12.48v pretty steady. The Ducati 999 battery has been left in the bikeas well and it has maintained 12.78v.

The charger I have been using is a "Battery Link". Not a very expensive unit I have another that I use also so I'll fish a connector for it and give that a go as well.

Looks like time for for a new battery. I'll give that a go. Thanks.

[magg]

12.78 volts is a charged battery, 12.48 is a discharged battery. How do you know when the battery is charged, is there an indicator on the charger?

[StrayAlien]

ok. Thanks. Charger gives a green light when done. I'll try it on the other battery charger (which is a 'tender') when I round up an adapter for it.

[magg]

put a multimeter across the battery as it is charging and check the voltage. Should get to minimum 14 volts before the green light comes on. You can load test the battery with a 60W 12v bulb to see if it holds a charge, should remain above 12 volts for at least 15-20 minutes.

[StrayAlien]

Thanks Magg. I'm back. Got a replacement (new) battery.

It is a SSB Powersport YTZ5-S ... one of these little guys:

http://www.ssbpowersport.com.au/Product ... fault.aspx

I hook up my battery tender at is settles at 13.3v after a few mins. Then I put on my Autobarn special and it goes to 13.8.

Is my battery tender rubbish, or the other way? It is a CBE.

[magg]

What model Battery Link charger, CBE Battery Tender and Autobarn charger do you have? Difference between CBE battery tender 13.3 volts and Autobarn 13.8 volts suggests the Autobar charger has greater capacity, which is to expected if it is a car battery charger. Would avoid the Autobarn charger if it is for cars, keep to the CBE Battery Tender if it comes recommended for bikes.

With a new freshly filled low maintenance battery, that has been fully charged before use and is connected to your CBE battery tender you should have no problems.

Recommend that once you get the bike started check the battery voltage again to confirm that the bike charging system is functioning correctly. Give the reading a few minuted to stabilize as the voltage will be a little low until the bike charging system can put some energy back into the battery.

Should get >14 and <15 volts at 5000 rpm, remember to reconnect the CBE battery tender after you stop the engine to return the battery to full charge.