We love our motorcycles, and we want to keep it well maintained and running. For those that like to tinker and modify their rides, a battery charger is a must have.
Motorcycle batteries are generally 12V lead-acid batteries, most modern batteries are maintenance free batteries; what this means is that the electrolyte is sealed in the battery and doesn't need topping up. A battery lasts and serves longer if it is well taken care of. Avoiding deep cycling and keeping it full-charged at all times will keep the battery work in great condition. Deep cycling means completely discharging the battery and you must avoid terminals to go on short.
A reading of approximately 12.6V across terminals is the recommended reading of a battery that is fully charged. For batteries that require topping up, a specific gravity of 1.26 - 1.28 must be the electrolyte reading of a fully charged one and for maintenance-free batteries, checking can be done by looking at the voltage across the terminals. Also, check the electrolyte level and top up with deionized water if necessary.
Note: The electrolyte is corrosive, wear rubber gloves while handling and avoid body contact.
The battery classification is through its ampere-hour rating and the higher it is, the more energy it can give.
A wide list of batteries of all kinds are readily available in every store in your area, from the economical to the premium. The type of charger you should use to charge your motorcycle battery is called a "Trickle charger" or a "Pulse charger". These chargers gradually charge and do not damage the battery; a generic charger could very well damage or shorten the life of your motorcycle battery.
Trickle chargers use low current when charging the battery that enables it to charge at the same rate as it discharges.
Pulse chargers on the other hand use electronically regulated pulses of electrical energy to charge the battery and are very effective.
Both these types of chargers are available in automatic versions that prevent overcharging and are well worth the extra money as they prolong battery life by not overcharging the battery and do not need to be attended to.
One of the best brands of motorcycle battery chargers in the market is the Motomaster.
Motorcycle batteries are generally 12V lead-acid batteries, most modern batteries are maintenance free batteries; what this means is that the electrolyte is sealed in the battery and doesn't need topping up. A battery lasts and serves longer if it is well taken care of. Avoiding deep cycling and keeping it full-charged at all times will keep the battery work in great condition. Deep cycling means completely discharging the battery and you must avoid terminals to go on short.
A reading of approximately 12.6V across terminals is the recommended reading of a battery that is fully charged. For batteries that require topping up, a specific gravity of 1.26 - 1.28 must be the electrolyte reading of a fully charged one and for maintenance-free batteries, checking can be done by looking at the voltage across the terminals. Also, check the electrolyte level and top up with deionized water if necessary.
Note: The electrolyte is corrosive, wear rubber gloves while handling and avoid body contact.
The battery classification is through its ampere-hour rating and the higher it is, the more energy it can give.
A wide list of batteries of all kinds are readily available in every store in your area, from the economical to the premium. The type of charger you should use to charge your motorcycle battery is called a "Trickle charger" or a "Pulse charger". These chargers gradually charge and do not damage the battery; a generic charger could very well damage or shorten the life of your motorcycle battery.
Trickle chargers use low current when charging the battery that enables it to charge at the same rate as it discharges.
Pulse chargers on the other hand use electronically regulated pulses of electrical energy to charge the battery and are very effective.
Both these types of chargers are available in automatic versions that prevent overcharging and are well worth the extra money as they prolong battery life by not overcharging the battery and do not need to be attended to.
One of the best brands of motorcycle battery chargers in the market is the Motomaster.
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