Understanding Batteries

[qystan]

A few things to know about our car/bike batteries.

 

1. These are lead-acid batteries.

2. At full charge, after disconnection and settling, you should get 13.2V

3. During charge, it'll show 14.4V, mostly due to your alternator output. Too high, you'll kill the battery, low, the battery gets charged too slowly and may not reach full charge if your trips are too short. Too low, you'll never reach full charge. 10.8V is considered a flat battery.

4. Lead-acid batteries don't take well to being left at not fully charged state. The chemicals react to form a non-reversible state, means your chemical store gets lesser and lesser which translates to lower and lower capacity. Its like being able to crank less and less time before it dies. So remember never to forget to switch off your lights.

5. A large capacity is not always good for you, however, it takes longer to be fully charged. If you don't charge it fully you'll suffer item 4.

6. If you are not going to use the bike for a long time, charge up the battery fully and disconnect the terminals.

7. The 14AH rating is not the voltage, its the battery capacity, imagine it as the size of a bucket, larger holds more water (charge). More charge equates to more cranks etc before it runs out. See item 5 if you think bigger is better.

8. Although your battery can crank non-stop for a long time, don't! The starter is not designed for continuous cranking, it'll overheat and burn.

9. If your battery keeps dying, check the voltage when the engine is running. If its not 14.4V or near it, your charger/alternator needs fixing, battery is probably gone by then. If voltage is ok, then battery is at the end of its life.

 

Hope this helps.