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[Chief]

I need to get a battery charger that wil bring up the bike battery from near-dead to fully charged SAFELY overnight and then go into either trickle charge, or better yet, float mode like the Battery Tender.

The reason I need this is because when I am working the Breast Cancer walks, the bike is parked for several hours at a time, with the radio going full blast, almost killing the battery by the end of the day. There just isn't enough opportunity to ride the bike around to charge up the battery. Last year, push starting was required on one day.

I will be able to plug the bike in at night, so I need a charger that will quickly bring up the battery, but still be small enough to pack for travel on the bike because this year I will also be going to Tampa for the walk down there.

How many amps will I need to restore the battery, from near death to 100% in say 10 - 12 hours?

Thanks,

Chief

[VaEagle]

Hi Chief,
Have you tried the battery tender to see how long it takes to bring the battery back to full charge? Even at it's slow rate I would think it could charge it in a full night.
From what I have read about bike batteries I would worry about a rapid charger damaging the bike battery due to the increased amps.
Maybe one of the site mechanics will respond soon with more info?
Good luck.

[RJ749]

I need to get a battery charger that wil bring up the bike battery from near-dead to fully charged SAFELY overnight and then go into either trickle charge, or better yet, float mode like the Battery Tender.

The reason I need this is because when I am working the Breast Cancer walks, the bike is parked for several hours at a time, with the radio going full blast, almost killing the battery by the end of the day. There just isn't enough opportunity to ride the bike around to charge up the battery. Last year, push starting was required on one day.

I will be able to plug the bike in at night, so I need a charger that will quickly bring up the battery, but still be small enough to pack for travel on the bike because this year I will also be going to Tampa for the walk down there.

How many amps will I need to restore the battery, from near death to 100% in say 10 - 12 hours?

Thanks,

Chief

When my battery is down the "tender" takes a couple of days to bring it back.  If it is really down a tender slapping 2 amp/hrs into it will only replenish it at the rate of 2 amps an hour.  100 amp/hr battery needs a lot of hours to get back to full charge.  As I understand it you must be careful to not use too high an aperage charger on smaller batteries.

Why not talk to your dealer and ask them to sponsor you with the loan of a shop battery?  Keep one on the charger and one in the bike.  This may be impossible for you since you are moving each day.

Check this FAQ page:  http://www.whitedogbatteries.com/batfaq.htm#3

[Midnight Rider]

Chief...from years of dealing with deep cycle marine batteries, it's best to get them back up as soon as possible without cooking them with too many amp/hours of charge.  I'd head to a Wal Mark and see what they have over in the automotive/fishing dept.  They should have a 6-10 amp charger that would get it up enough overnight and not do any harm to the battery.  Many are selectable as to how many amps you want it to put out, and when fully charged drop back to a "maintenance" mode.  They have them for both wet cell and gel cells, as most trolling motor batteries are now gels.

I have one I've had for years that is selectable from an output of 6 amps or 12 amps, has a meter on the face, and activation switch, and drops back to trickle.  It's 15+ years old, so I'm sure they make them much smaller and more sophisticated now.  Most of the battery tenders I've seen only put out < 2 Amp/hrs and that ain't gonna' get it for your application.

[Chief]

Hi Chief,
Have you tried the battery tender to see how long it takes to bring the battery back to full charge? Even at it's slow rate I would think it could charge it in a full night.
From what I have read about bike batteries I would worry about a rapid charger damaging the bike battery due to the increased amps.
Maybe one of the site mechanics will respond soon with more info?
Good luck.

For a battery that is way down, it would take a really, really long time, like a week or more. The BT Juniors I have only put out 0.75 AMPS (9 watts). That's like 133 hours for a TOTALLY dead 100 AMP*HR battery.

[icybay]

How about one of these? I got a couple at Costco for about 50 bucks.  They start my diesel Dodge and they fit in a saddlebag. Better than jumper cables!





http://www.12vautotech.com/powerstation.html

[Smiler]

I think you also need to bear in mind that by allowing your battery to run completely down, you are doing irrepairable damage to the battery plates, shortening it's life.

[Chief]

How about one of these? I got a couple at Costco for about 50 bucks.  They start my diesel Dodge and they fit in a saddlebag. Better than jumper cables!
http://www.12vautotech.com/powerstation.html

My problem isn't starting the bike, but instead, having a battery that is 100% charged for the next day of the walk. The bike drains down during the day, and I can't ride it enough in the evening to charge it back up, so I need to hook it up and let it charge it's battery while I do the same for my battery (sleep).

[Chief]

I think you also need to bear in mind that by allowing your battery to run completely down, you are doing irrepairable damage to the battery plates, shortening it's life.

I fully understand the damage I am doing to the battery, but I am doing this, to help out the walkers. Other than making sure the walkers safely complete all three days and 60 miles of walking, the other part of my job is to keep up their enthusiasm and spirits, and for this I rely on the radio, and lots of disco music. Last year, the radio was going 7 AM to 7 PM non-stop. Some of the time I was riding, but mostly the bike was parked at intersections where I was stationed. There just isn't any way this isn't going to run down the battery, hard.

If I ruin a battery that's OK, but the music WILL play.

[Fired00d]

Have you thought about a portable (battery powered) boom box?

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d 
 

[Midnight Rider]

Take a look at these, Chief:  http://www.batterystuff.com/battery-chargers/12-volt/gel-cell/BM12248.html

Or this one does more functions:  http://www.batterystuff.com/battery-chargers/12-volt/11-20amps/SC6500A.html

Or one of these solar chargers could be handy to operate things during the day, or at least help keep your batter somewhat charged during the day:

http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/

[Chief]

Have you thought about a portable (battery powered) boom box?

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d 
 

That is a possibilty, but it's still somehting I have to go out and buy and haul on the bike. Looks like I need to buy and haul a (boom box, extra battery or charger). I guess I need to decide which one.

I appreciate all of the ideas.

[Chief]

Take a look at these, Chief:  http://www.batterystuff.com/battery-chargers/12-volt/gel-cell/BM12248.html

Or this one does more functions:  http://www.batterystuff.com/battery-chargers/12-volt/11-20amps/SC6500A.html

Or one of these solar chargers could be handy to operate things during the day, or at least help keep your batter somewhat charged during the day:

http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/

TC,

That first one looks like the ticket. Waterproof, small, and 8 AMPS, with maintenance mode.

Thanks.

[Midnight Rider]

TC,

That first one looks like the ticket. Waterproof, small, and 8 AMPS, with maintenance mode.

Thanks.

Agree....and it's pretty compact too, so won't take up much room.  That would be my choice as well.

[Chief]

Agree....and it's pretty compact too, so won't take up much room.  That would be my choice as well.

$100 at Northern