Two fubared batteries in two winters, causes?

[andrewsmith]

As the title say I've buggered two batteries in a year.

Went to crank the bike this morning and the starter was spinning weakly and not able to spark the motor.

Went to charge it afterwards and the slow charger (1.3a per hour) was charged after 30 minutes. So went to halfrauds and the battery was knackered (fully charged, but at <6aH).

Before I shell out for another battery is there anything i need to check (i.e reg/rec) or has yet another cold winter killed another battery?

For the record the battery has been off the bike stored in the loft since December.

[keith_d]

The traditional (but not the only) cause for dead batteries is sulphation.

The battery gradually discharges with time, dissolving the lead oxides from the plates as lead sulphate. Lead sulphate isn't very soluble in sulphuric acid and left to itself will form white insoluble crystals. When you charge the battery up again most of the active components remain as pretty white crystals and it's game over for another battery.

The best bet is to use something like an optimate when you're not using the bike. This provides a float charge and greatly reduces sulphation though even with float charging batteries don't last forever.

[andrewsmith]

Thought me being tight had caused it.

Cheers for the scientific answer keith, was expecting the first answer to be: its f***ked.
Are the gels more or less prone to crystalisation?

[keith_d]

Some of them have things like EDTA in the electrolyte to try and reduce sulphating, but it's always going to be a problem when the battery is left discharged.


P.S. It's f**ked.

Attics get pretty cold BTW, not much warmer than your garage if your house is properly insulated. Why do you take it out of the bike, don't you have a garage or shed where you could leave it on the bike and on an optimate?

[andrewsmith]

Sadly no, and I dropped the hint about putting a IP66 socket and cable and was told f*** off.

I should have twigged when me beer had icecubes in it

Get your REG REC checked, because if this fails, it can kill your battery. If you presume it's the battery each time you'll just end up buying more batteries. the REG REC can also knacker the generator if it plays up so I'm told. Or, if you are handy with a multimeter you can check it yourself. Optimates are quite expensive, although considered very good, I got an Oxford Optimiser for around £25, does the job. Best thing I ever bought for my curvey is a Yuasa battery, starts on the button every time now.

its f*cked........

hope that helps

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by barwel1992

its f*cked........

hope that helps

I knew you'd say it

God help you when the 33 brake ecu comes off

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by mickhew

Get your REG REC checked, because if this fails, it can kill your battery. If you presume it's the battery each time you'll just end up buying more batteries. the REG REC can also knacker the generator if it plays up so I'm told. Or, if you are handy with a multimeter you can check it yourself. Optimates are quite expensive, although considered very good, I got an Oxford Optimiser for around £25, does the job. Best thing I ever bought for my curvey is a Yuasa battery, starts on the button every time now.

That will be checked in the future as a periodical.

Not reg/rec, me being tights whats killed it as it wasn't on charge over the winter