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 Post subject: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 5:59 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:29 pm
Posts: 178
Location: Rotherham
My new to me Serrow has a flat battery after a couple of weeks of not using it, so I'm going to get a new battery for it, but I don't want it to die through lack of use.

I don't have mains power where I keep my bikes, I have a 12v 96 amp hour leisure battery for lights that I periodically take in and charge, is there any way to use this to keep a bike battery happy?

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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 6:10 pm 
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200 cc

Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:19 pm
Posts: 341
Location: Norton Derbyshire border
I would disconect it when your not using the bike for a while. You can get battery conditioners that work with a solar panel, you would obviously have to mount the panel on the roof and run the charging cable to the bike. Otherwise it might be easier just to take the battery off and charge it indoors. I can recommend the CTek battery conditioners. The 0.8A one is adequate, bout £35 ish.

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Last edited by Gooders on Sun Jan 04, 2015 9:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 6:38 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:29 pm
Posts: 178
Location: Rotherham
Taking it inside is one option, but the mrs will not be so happy having a battery in the spare room all the time.

As far as I can work out, as long as my leisure battery has a higher voltage the current will flow to the the bike battery, I've no idea about making that safe, thick wire and a big fuse? So sort of diode to prevent the bike battery from charging the leisure battery should the voltage drop lower?

I did think about solar, but then I thought I might as well get a larger panel and charge the leisure battery with it, maybe I could hook the 2 batteries up to charge controller some of the 20-40 watt kits come with.

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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:07 pm 
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200 cc

Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:19 pm
Posts: 341
Location: Norton Derbyshire border
A new battery shouldn't go flat on the bike after a couple of weeks unless there is a problem with the charge rate or there is a drain. I would take it off after a ride, give it a few hours top up charge. Put it back on the bike but leave it disconected until you are going to use the bike again.

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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:41 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:28 pm
Posts: 144
Location: yeovil
Aa said above a new battery shouldn't go flat in 2 weeks......my DRZ will drain its battery flat if left connected for a week....but the bikes are renowned for a drain on the battery. I just disconnect it when I know I wont be using it for over a week. Id take it home with me leave it in a draw....and when you know your gonna be going out give it a 2hour boost charge...a battery in good condition should find this fine


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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:48 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:29 pm
Posts: 178
Location: Rotherham
I'll be getting a new battery anyway as I think it has had it. I'll take it off for now and look in to the solar trickle chargers if I get fed up of trying to hide te battery in the house.


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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 8:15 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:22 am
Posts: 129
Location: West cumbria
Could you not use an inverter from the leisure battery and then use a normal 240 v optimate and use the solar cell to charge the leisure battery
The optimate will only use what it needs and will stop if the battery is ok


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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 9:12 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:29 pm
Posts: 178
Location: Rotherham
Could do, but not sure about the overhead of an inverter, I'll look in to one.


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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 9:25 pm 
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125cc

Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:22 am
Posts: 129
Location: West cumbria
Just a cheap one will do I don't think an optimate or trickle charger will be that high wattage


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 Post subject: Re: Battery conditioner without mains
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 10:05 pm 
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200 cc

Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:19 pm
Posts: 341
Location: Norton Derbyshire border
Not sure how long the leisure battery will last on an inverter, worth a go tho you can pick a 150w inverter up on fleabay for a tenner.

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