Battery life?

Is it reasonable to have a Yuasa YT12ABS battery last 23 months give up even when Optimated regularly? No alarm, no current leakage, no charging problems. I just read another thread where not charging but still connected may drain the power. I have seen a red glow from the optimate ... perhaps this does drain the power.

Optimates are supposed to emulate charging /discharging cycle of a battery under normal use i.e. charge to full capacity, then put a slight drain on then recharge. My ex partner bought her new battery in April (yuasa) & it lasted a whole 4 weeks - she'd have been doing cartwheels to have got 23 months. Then again, I've had them last 5 years without an optimate - go figure.

[tigersaw]

Is / was this a battery you fill with acid yourself then seal? If not done correctly, and this includes by many dealers, the batteries fail early on.

filled it properly and then sealed, though i read the yuasa advert last night and before sealing it must be left one hour.

[tigersaw]

Originally Posted by forklift

filled it properly and then sealed, though i read the yuasa advert last night and before sealing it must be left one hour.

Until it has gone cold, generally an hour or so yes.

i'm going to leave for a week or so unconnected completly from the optimate and monitor the thing. last thing i want is to get stranded, bumping bikes is another thing all together.

[Biker Biggles]

Does the Optimate actually charge it properly and give two green lights?Could it be faulty?
I tend to use the Optimate every few weeks and dont leave it connected.Id say 23 months was very poor for a top battery.My OE SV battery lasted 8 years.

Optimate ok as i have 3 and alternate on 3 bikes. Green lights both come on. I had the reg/rec checked by Orwells in Ipswich and that was ok, i checked the 'current leakage' and that was fine. perhaps the battery is poor, but i do not want to buy a new one just yet incase it is not the battery. My VN battery lasted 8 years too.

[glang]

forklift I fear you entering the twilight zone. I too, like many on here (see the threads) have struggled with repeat dying batteries (honda blackbird). Its difficult to prove without hi tec gear (even then its not easy) but I believe the problem was a faulty reg/rec from charging flat batteries (I'll never bump or jump dead bikes again). One phase fails but the output voltage appears normal however the DC has an AC component that frazzles batteries. Maybe a second expert opinion would be useful?