extending battery life

[bigbore2]

What can I do to extend battery life?   I have a gel battery.  Would taking it inside when its winter and not being used as bike is stored in unattached, unheated garage [ low temps in the 15-20 degree range] help any?

[Arnie]

Yes, that would help.  Also make sure you keep the battery from discharging too low.
Give it a top-up charge every other week or so.

Arnie

[FJ1100mjk]

Hi:

I take my batteries out of the bike at the end of the riding season, store them in the living area of my home, and charge them with an old school 1 amp trickle charger once a month for around ten hours or so.

Been doing the above for many bikes that I've owned over the years, and it has worked well with many batteries lasting in excess of three (conservative) years.

• I think the some of the most important points to battery life, are:
  
  That the battery is a known brand and good one to begin with
  
  The battery is secured properly
  
  Its connections (not just at the battery) are in good shape, clean and tight
  
  And most importantly that the charging system is in good working condition and its connectors are in good shape, clean and tight.

Marty

[FJmonkey]

My last lead acid battery lasted a little over 5 years. Kept in the bike year round, no freezing temps here in SoCal. Kept it on a battery tender when not riding. Checked the fluid level once a month during riding season, used distilled water to top off. I upgraded recently to a sealed AGM battery from Randy, it really holds a charge. I connect the battery tender to it once a week and some times the charger indicates full charge even after a week of sitting.   

[JCainFJ]

Another thing you can do to extend battery life is to check the voltage at the alternator. Over charging a battery will harn it quickly. The smaller red wire that goes to the alternator supplies the field voltage. If this voltage reads low (it will because it passes through the main switch, and several connections) you will need to clean the switch contacts and connectors. The other fix is to use a relay to supply full battery voltage to the alternator and use the original circut to activate the relay.  My 89 was overcharging it's battery all the time because the reg/rec was always seeing a false low voltage. I have installed a nice Bosh 30 amp relay, a 15 amp blade fuse and some 10 gauge wire and it now works fine.

[FJmonkey]

Another thing you can do to extend battery life is to check the voltage at the alternator. Over charging a battery will harn it quickly. The smaller red wire that goes to the alternator supplies the field voltage. If this voltage reads low (it will because it passes through the main switch, and several connections) you will need to clean the switch contacts and connectors. The other fix is to use a relay to supply full battery voltage to the alternator and use the original circut to activate the relay.  My 89 was overcharging it's battery all the time because the reg/rec was always seeing a false low voltage. I have installed a nice Bosh 30 amp relay, a 15 amp blade fuse and some 10 gauge wire and it now works fine.

Good point, over charging is a killer. If you don't feel that handy you could also order a new regulator from Randy. They are not that much and not too hard to replace the old one.

[93fj1200]

Hi:
I take my batteries out of the bike at the end of the riding season, store them in the living area of my home, and charge them with an old school 1 amp trickle charger once a month for around ten hours or so.
Been doing the above for many bikes that I've owned over the years, and it has worked well with many batteries lasting in excess of three (conservative) years.

• I think the some of the most important points to battery life, are:
  That the battery is a known brand and good one to begin with
  The battery is secured properly
  Its connections (not just at the battery) are in good shape, clean and tight
  And most importantly that the charging system is in good working condition and its connectors are in good shape, clean and tight.

Marty

My father was a master mechanic in heavy equipment and he told me that if you keep a strong, new battery in your bike (vehicle), you will have less problems with your electrical systems.  Less work for the alternator to charge a good battery.  Stronger amperage for the starter to use. I have followed his advice by changing the battery in my bike every year whether or not I had problems.  It is really cheap insurance and I always seem to find someone willing to buy the old battery so it costs even less.  Having said that, to date, I have not been stranded or had electrical problems to speak of in 38 years of driving motorcycles.

[bigbore2]

Thanx for all the replies.  It has been a lot colder this year here in Albuquerque. Usually I get to ride at least 1 or 2 times a week in the winter, but not this season.  I use my 1 amp charger to keep it topped up.  I did the regulator upgrade so the overcharging issue should be ok. I will just take battery out and put it somewhere warm until it decides to warm up some.  I only need 45 degrees to fire up the bike and ride.

[Pat Conlon]

Another thing you can do to extend battery life is to check the voltage at the alternator. Over charging a battery will harn it quickly. The smaller red wire that goes to the alternator supplies the field voltage. If this voltage reads low (it will because it passes through the main switch, and several connections) you will need to clean the switch contacts and connectors. The other fix is to use a relay to supply full battery voltage to the alternator and use the original circut to activate the relay.  My 89 was overcharging it's battery all the time because the reg/rec was always seeing a false low voltage. I have installed a nice Bosh 30 amp relay, a 15 amp blade fuse and some 10 gauge wire and it now works fine.

Now that is interesting...Thanks Jon. Makes sense....

Low voltage to the alternator field causing a false reading and thus signaling the alternator to over charge the battery......not something that would be fixed with a new voltage regulator?
...hmmm I wonder if I really need it? I have a Transpo regulator which is adjustable for charging voltage output...currently set at 14.0 volts.

Question: If not....Instead of adding a 5th relay to my bike (1 low beam, 2 high beam, 3 coils, 4 horn) how about I tap off the coil relay for the signal for the field voltage?

[JCainFJ]

Yes, a 30 amp relay should be able to handle that. When I did this to my FJ I had 2 spare relays already mounted to my bike, so I just used one of those. Big wires are important for this too.

[bigbore2]

Went to top off my battery by charging it and see that I bought instead of a gel battery, it is a fiberglass mat battery made by AGM technologies. Supposed to be better? than a gel battery?

[fj11.5]

never used a gel cell,  but both my agm battery,s hold a great charge,  one is in regular use,  but even when attempting to top up the charge on the 88 after sitting for a month or more it shows 12.5 v constantly

[bigbore2]

So you aussie guys have them available there also?     Good to know they are a battery that holds power better.  Maybe I can get 5 years out of one?