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Post by Senna1Rossi on Oct 8, 2018 17:10:36 GMT -5
(did search...)
Not sure which section to put this thread, but is there an easy way to test your scooter/motorcycle batteries to see if it needs a replacement or if your scoot has a charging issue?
I ordered three different batteries last night... heh
Thanks
oh, I should have added, "Easy at-home testing method"... |
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Post by pinkscoot on Oct 8, 2018 17:48:29 GMT -5
Welcome back, its been a while. Start here, Brent can tell you how. |
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Post by Senna1Rossi on Oct 8, 2018 19:00:17 GMT -5
Welcome back, its been a while. Start here, Brent can tell you how.
Thanks, pinkscoot!
Ah, Brent always has the answers... heh
Thank you.
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Post by katt on Oct 8, 2018 23:21:22 GMT -5
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Post by gsx600racer on Oct 8, 2018 23:59:26 GMT -5
So you use a 500A load tester on a 4-7A battery ? Seriously ? A new/good scooter/motorcycle battery will test weak/bad every time with that type of tester. Next you will say its ok to to jump start a scooter with a car while its running. Note: fully charged battery 6 months old. |
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Post by gsx600racer on Oct 9, 2018 0:25:01 GMT -5
I'd take a voltage tester and connect it to the battery. Like to see 12-12.5v or better before starting. Then start the scooter and watch the voltage drop. If it goes below 9-10v while cranking id question the battery's health. Once it starts watch how much the voltage increases from the initial start voltage. This will be a good indicator that the charging system is working. Also you can try cranking for several seconds the engine with the kill switch on so the scooter wont start. Watch and the voltage recovery from initial numbers. The quicker it returns, the better the condition batter is.
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Post by katt on Oct 9, 2018 1:31:24 GMT -5
So you use a 500A load tester on a 4-7A battery ? Seriously ? A new/good scooter/motorcycle battery will test weak/bad every time with that type of tester. Next you will say its ok to to jump start a scooter with a car while its running. Note: fully charged battery 6 months old. I gave a general direction for him to dig into if he wants he can research and find the right one for him.
That tester i linked has a dial on left and knob to select how many amps you testing from 0-500amps,
500 amp rating is max capacity...
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Post by oakleyscoot on Oct 9, 2018 14:56:26 GMT -5
Proper load testing requires loading the battery to 1/2 of its rated cold crank amps and is loaded for 15sec.
It MUST be charged to full charge ( 12.6v + ) before testing otherwise results cannot be trusted.
If you cannot get full charge chances are the battery is not good, it probably has a bad cell that is preventing the full charge voltage.
Example,
ctx 7a-bs battery is aprox 100cca so it would be loaded with about 50amps for 15 sec.
While loaded, check voltage at battery terminals with volt meter.
After 15sec,
if the voltage is between 10-11v then battery would be considered good, however it would be on the LOW side of good.
If the voltage is Less than 10v one would consider the battery is on its way out the door.
As mentioned, you can test voltage while turning over the starter, the starter draws aprox 25 amps so your really not pulling enough amps for proper test. If you had two of them connected in parallel you would get close to the 50amps.
The load on the battery can be anything resistive in nature, light bulbs, a heater or some other resistive load, ac or dc makes no difference, it is a resistive load.
60w high beam lights pull aprox 5 amps, so you would need about 10 of them to pull 50amps.
The Harbor Freight adjustable carbon pile tester 0-500amps can certainly used, it would be adjusted to pull aprox 50 amps.
Recharge battery after testing.
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Post by Senna1Rossi on Oct 9, 2018 14:57:41 GMT -5
I'd take a voltage tester and connect it to the battery. Like to see 12-12.5v or better before starting. Then start the scooter and watch the voltage drop. If it goes below 9-10v while cranking id question the battery's health. Once it starts watch how much the voltage increases from the initial start voltage. This will be a good indicator that the charging system is working. Also you can try cranking for several seconds the engine with the kill switch on so the scooter wont start. Watch and the voltage recovery from initial numbers. The quicker it returns, the better the condition batter is.
Cool, thanks gsx!! I'll save this info for future reference too!
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Post by Senna1Rossi on Oct 9, 2018 14:58:31 GMT -5
So you use a 500A load tester on a 4-7A battery ? Seriously ? A new/good scooter/motorcycle battery will test weak/bad every time with that type of tester. Next you will say its ok to to jump start a scooter with a car while its running. Note: fully charged battery 6 months old. I gave a general direction for him to dig into if he wants he can research and find the right one for him.
That tester i linked has a dial on left and knob to select how many amps you testing from 0-500amps,
500 amp rating is max capacity...
Cool, thanks katt!
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Post by snaker on Oct 10, 2018 12:00:19 GMT -5
I had that same model HF pile tester. Its a bit more than what a typical homeowner would need but as mentioned, it is a variable so it works good from very small batteries to very large ones. I used it on scooter type to large tractor batteries.
Its surprisingly heavy duty.
It also gets a bit complicated. You're supposed to find the battery specifications (maybe easy / maybe not)then read the instructions / tables to get a target number. Then find that number on the left side amp gauge. Then turn the variable load knob till the left pointer increases to the target #. Then read the right volt meter till a timer completes.
Very accurate but very complicated.
I also had a resistor element load tester (They're like a bread toaster element ) like what is shown on the HF right side ad panel. I had mine since the early 90's and I think it was a 50 amp. Those are a lot easier to use but you are applying the full load an any test so its important to limit the time that the switch is held in test.
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Post by snaker on Oct 10, 2018 12:13:40 GMT -5
So you use a 500A load tester on a 4-7A battery ? Seriously ? A new/good scooter/motorcycle battery will test weak/bad every time with that type of tester. Next you will say its ok to to jump start a scooter with a car while its running. Note: fully charged battery 6 months old. I don't know why the video says how not to use. That's exactly how its used and the switch is held a appropriate length of time. The scale shows for 300 / 400 / 500 cca which might be a bit big for the battery being tested. It does require interpretation of the reading. The first part of the video shows the pointer in the green. That is a no-load reading and is exactly the same as taking a multimeter reading. When switched to test, the load is applied and the meter immediately drops to approx. 10v and holds. That would be a typical result of a smaller good battery.
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Post by gsx600racer on Oct 10, 2018 17:28:53 GMT -5
Proper load testing requires loading the battery to 1/2 of its rated cold crank amps and is loaded for 15sec. It MUST be charged to full charge ( 12.6v + ) before testing otherwise results cannot be trusted. If you cannot get full charge chances are the battery is not good, it probably has a bad cell that is preventing the full charge voltage. Example, ctx 7a-bs battery is aprox 100cca so it would be loaded with about 50amps for 15 sec. While loaded, check voltage at battery terminals with volt meter. After 15sec, if the voltage is between 10-11v then battery would be considered good, however it would be on the LOW side of good. If the voltage is Less than 10v one would consider the battery is on its way out the door. As mentioned, you can test voltage while turning over the starter, the starter draws aprox 25 amps so your really not pulling enough amps for proper test. If you had two of them connected in parallel you would get close to the 50amps. The load on the battery can be anything resistive in nature, light bulbs, a heater or some other resistive load, ac or dc makes no difference, it is a resistive load. 60w high beam lights pull aprox 5 amps, so you would need about 10 of them to pull 50amps. The Harbor Freight adjustable carbon pile tester 0-500amps can certainly used, it would be adjusted to pull aprox 50 amps. Recharge battery after testing. I didn't think an automotive type tester would go low enough(amps) to test a "motorsports" type battery. I would of thought this tester would of been more approiate. |
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Post by snaker on Oct 10, 2018 18:33:20 GMT -5
Yuasa is a quality brand to me, providing they haven't whored themselves out like many others.
Judging by the description that tester appears to be using some sort of technology other than pure resistive. That and the smallish clamps and cables.
A person never knows if new tech will work or not, kind of need lots of opinions of others. Or some trial and error.
Hard to say if that is a better option than good ol fashion burn the dust off high amps. The high amps is more of a real life approach.
I bought a Optima (Optimate? I cant remember) trickle charger / maintainer / refurbisher when it was new tech maybe in the 90's and I swear by it to this day. you never know.
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Post by snaker on Oct 10, 2018 19:28:06 GMT -5
There was a time when the so-called battery experts claimed that battery's couldn't be accurately tested with meters. You had to read the battery acid electrolyte levels.
Raise your hands, how many have electrolyte testers in your tool boxes.
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