Battery - SV650s 2003

[BigFootIsBlurry]

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Can you connect it to a charger every few weeks or even every couple of months?A full charge once in a while should keep it ok.

I'll be on the other side of the world. The plan is to remove and ask a relative to stick it in charge occasionally but my charger isn't great (halfords "maintenance" charger but read a few reports of them seriously over charging and killing batteries if left on) and I was wondering if there was a way of just leaving it out of the way to avoid spending on an optimate.

[aesmith]

Solar panel?

[Blapper]

Hmmm, an Optimate is the cost of just one decent battery so long term, it may not be too bad an investment you know? Plus you get to walk away from the bike with the battery in it and know it will jump into life when wanted.

[SV650rules]

Originally Posted by Blapper

Hmmm, an Optimate is the cost of just one decent battery so long term, it may not be too bad an investment you know? Plus you get to walk away from the bike with the battery in it and know it will jump into life when wanted.

My feelings exactly as I said earlier in thread, bit of a no brainer as optimate will extend life of all your bike batteries, and good batteries are not cheap, so cost effective to look after them.

[ophic]

Off the bike and given a full charge with a decent charger, it'll last 6 months without an issue. Full charge afterwards, it'll be fine.

Worst case is you need a new one. £40.

[SV650rules]

Originally Posted by ophic

Off the bike and given a full charge with a decent charger, it'll last 6 months without an issue. Full charge afterwards, it'll be fine.

Worst case is you need a new one. £40.

At around 1% a day self discharge after 30 days battery will begin sulphating up. After 180 days ? well battery is going to be below 10.5 volts and permanently damaged / capacity badly reduced. Either charge it once a month, put it on an Optimate or chuck it away and buy a new one when you need the bike again. If battery is fairly new and worth keeping I would invest in an optimate, otherwise if battery has had a few years of use already leave it without charging and invest in a new one when you get back from down under.

When a battery gets to 12.4 volts it needs to be recharged (it is down to less than 75% charge) - if not sulphation starts, some batteries can be stored uncharged or in low charge state (Li-Ion and nicad) and they are actually better off, if only lead acid were the same.

http://www.mmbalmainauto.com.au/PDF/..._batteries.pdf

[ophic]

Originally Posted by SV650rules

At around 1% a day self discharge

I think this should be 1% of remaining charge, ie it won't be completely dead after 100 days.

New batteries sit in the shop for months at a time - I think the shelf life is usually considered to be 6 months. I'm not saying the battery will be in perfect condition after 6 months, but it'll still be usable. And if it isn't, it probably wasn't in very good condition to start with.

My current battery was left attached to the bike for well over 6 months without use and still works now after a charge.

They say they self discharge less when it's cold. Would it be sensible to store it in a fridge?

I'm not disagreeing here with anything said about "how best" to store a battery in tip-top condition. I'm just saying, it'll probably be OK.