Automotive Addicts

A lot of people are getting their own motorcycles. One of the reasons why is because: it is economical, it is a space saver, motorbikes make it easier to get to your destination minus the heavy traffic, etc. Most motorcycle riders say that there is a different rush when they ride it. That is probably one of the reasons why a lot of people are self professed motorbike enthusiasts.

If you own a motorcycle or an ATV then this article is a must read for you. As we go further I will discuss ways tips on how to properly maintain your motorcycle and ATV batteries. I will also dish out tips on how to buy motorcycle batteries online.

What is ATV?

With this trying time we should all think how to save money. We should also find ways to be more practical and economical. The same thing should be followed with your batteries you use for your ATVs or motorbikes. By the way some of you might be asking what an ATV is. ATV or all terrain vehicles just like what its name suggests, is a mode of transportation that can be driven onto any type of terrain or land. They are smaller than a four-seat car. Owning these bikes need maintenance and one of the parts that needs it is its battery.

Types of motorcycle batteries

So what are the types of motorcycle batteries? We have the conventional one and the maintenance free batteries. Conventional batteries need to be cautiously and periodically maintained. These batteries are obviously cheaper than the other type because this one requires more attention and maintenance. This kind needs to be watered every once in a while to prevent it from burning out. Although water loss is pretty normal due to the increased temperature inside and due to evaporation. Some say that this type does not usually last that long compared to the other type.

Maintenance free batteries just like what its name suggests, it is does not need maintenance. This kind does not need water to be added to keep the acid level on the battery from dropping. They are sealed to make sure that the acid on the battery is securely shut. They are also more expensive than the conventional type of battery.

Tips on battery maintenance

For those who own the conventional type of motorcycle batteries make sure that you regularly check the fluid level of the battery. You can check the battery electrolyte level once a month but of course it will still depend on its usage. Make sure that you use distilled water.

For seasons like winter, remember to connect your battery to a motorbike charger so as to maintain its optimal charge level. This process will also be helpful if you are planning not to use your bike for a longer time and keep it under storage.

Battery maintenance is surely a part of your motorcycle that needs equal attention just like any other parts of your bike. If you are planning to buy a battery online check out sites that has special features for example there are sites that offer motorbike battery selector wherein they will provide a list of brands of bikes for you to choose from. This will make your search for motorcycle or atv batteries a lot easier.

Owners of motorcycle or ATV always complain about their batteries. If you don’t have a motorcycle battery charger or a battery trickle charger, you will definitely have problems. A battery will self-discharge at the rate of 5% per month just sitting around. It would seem logical to assume that a low battery can be charged simply by riding your bike or atv. A low battery cannot be fully charged by riding the bike, no matter how far you go. Let’s start with the battery. If the bike is not in use for 30 days, the battery should be placed on charge with a 2 amp or smaller battery trickle charger for 24-48 hours every 30 days with no usage. This would be a very good idea on bikes that are ridden only once or twice a month as well. Most automotive battery chargers charge at 6, 10, or greater amperage. Using a motorcycle battery charger like that will overheat the battery, warping the plates inside until they ground out against each other, shortening battery life.

A battery should never be charged at more than 10% of its rated capacity. The largest battery in our industry is 20 amps, so 2 amps is the maximum charge rate for that battery. Anything more will damage it. Besides damaging the battery when charging at excessive amperage, the battery remains low on charge after the “quick charge”, and the same damage will occur, even if you are successful in getting the bike to start. Then the charging system will be strained running the bike with the low battery, possibly causing damage to the alternator components. When a battery is in a low state of charge (for a period of time), the acid in it separates (as mentioned in last paragraph). This causes a condition known as “sulfation”. Sulfation causes deterioration of the lead plates inside the battery, leading to an early failure. The lower that the batteries state of charge becomes, the faster sulfation’s effects take over, weakening the battery quicker.

Once a battery has been left completely dead, they will almost always not come back from that totally dead condition. The handful that will, are almost never very reliable or very strong again. The bottom line to this battery deal is to work to never let the battery go dead or stored in a low state of charge. It is best to think of motorcycle battery chargers or battery trickle chargers as a maintenance system. A motorcycle battery chargers or battery trickle chargers are basically designed to replace the energy required to start the motorcycle. In effect, a battery that started the bike at 80% charge, will likely only get to 80-85% after running.

Not only will riding the bike with a low battery not fully charge the battery, this causes the battery charger to charge as hard as it can while trying to charge the low battery. A motorcycle battery charger or battery trickle charger are not designed to stay at full charge level for extended periods. When required to do so, this over heats rectifiers, stator windings, and regulator components causing them to fail. This only adds to the cost of replacing the battery that was failing anyway. A motorcycle battery charger or battery trickle charger can be purchased for below $40. If you prefer not to have to remember to plug/unplug the charger during storage, a battery trickle charger is a great solution as they can be left plugged in.

Without a motorcycle battery charger, the battery will lose capacity overtime and eventually wear out. This happens naturally, and without a battery trickle charger, sulfate will begin to accumulate on the battery plates, which will limit the capacity of the battery. As sulfate builds up on the plates, it will slowly diminish the conductivity potential. If you want to maximize the life of your battery, here are some tips for selecting, installing, and maintaining your next motorcycle battery. Selecting Your Battery: Before selecting a motorcycle battery, you’ll need to know the amp-hour (Ah) requirements of your motorcycle. The amp-hour is the capacity rating of the battery. It is measured over a twenty hour period. To understand how that means to you in terms of run time, divide the Ah rating of your battery by 20. So with you have a 20Ah battery, it can delivery 1 amp for 20 hours. Knowing the Ah rating of your battery will be important when choosing a motorcycle battery charger or battery trickle charger. Installation of Your Battery: When the time comes to replace your motorcycle battery, never remove the battery while the engine is running.

If for reason it does not have a charge, always remove the negative cable before the positive. When installing the new battery, reverse the order and connect the positive cable first before connecting the negative. Take extra caution to identify the positive and negative terminals before attaching the cables. Accidentally reversing the polarity can cause the battery to explode or inflict a great deal of damage to your bike’s electrical system. Charging Your Battery: If the battery won’t start, you will need to charger it. But don’t let this happen, as a standard matter of practice, when not using your motorcycle, always keep your battery connected to your motorcycle battery charger. Motorcycle battery chargers are designed to keep your batteries fully charged and will help limit sulfation and capacity losses. Always check the voltage of your motorcycle battery before charging and never charge your battery at an amperage more than 1/6 the rated capacity of your battery.

For example, it you have a 7 amp-hour battery, you should not charge it at an amperage of more than 1 amps. If you have an 18 amp-hour battery, you can charge it at a maximum of 3 amps. Most battery trickle chargers stated the recommended battery capacities for the charger. You should follow these instructions. As a general rule, don’t use an automotive type battery charger on your motorcycle unless it is designed to handle such applications. Keeping your battery properly charged can be simple, but if your neglect your battery, it will lose capacity quickly. Stay on top of your battery and use a motorcycle battery charger or battery trickle charger when necessary.

Most motorhomes are used in countries with seasonal climates, hence motorhomes tend to get used during the summer time and then parked up during the winter. Inactivity and a harsh winter can cause untold damage to your campervan. Here are some tips how to protect your motorhome during the winter.

First up, if you can garage your motorhome, you should do so. Keeping it out of the wind, rain, snow, ice and even sunshine offers protection to both body and engine. Due to the size of the vehicle, it may not be possible to keep the vehicle indoors, so most vans will have to winter outside. One point to note if a van is indoors over the winter — on occasions moving it outside on dry days is highly recommended. When housed indoors over an extended period, moisture can form in various places, causing corrosion. Putting the vehicle outside on a dry windy day is ideal to dry out these areas. Continue reading ‘RV Maintenance – How to Prepare a Motorhome For Winter’ »