| How are Motorcycle Batteries Rated? | | | | charge. |
| The amp/hour (AH) capacity is the basis for rating | | | | Next, recheck the electrolyte level and add water if |
| motorcycle batteries. For example, a 12AH battery | | | | required. Let the battery cool so the case contracts |
| can produce one amp of current flow for 12 hours, | | | | enough to fit into its typically tight little holder. Run |
| or two amps for six hours. In order to calculate the | | | | the new breather tube, if the battery comes along |
| amount of time needed to use up a fully charged | | | | with one, carefully through the original factory routing. |
| motorcycle battery by turning the lights on, we have | | | | Things to Remember when Charging the Battery: |
| to take power in watts, and divide it by voltage, | | | | 1. First of all, it is important to remember that Red is |
| which gives us the current draw in Amps. Therefore, | | | | positive and Black is negative in order to avoid any |
| a 72 watts beam and tail together, divided by 12 | | | | accidents such as short-circuits and nasty shocks. |
| volts equals a 6-amp draw. So in 2 hours, the 12AH | | | | 2. The charger should be compatible with the |
| battery is dead. | | | | motorcycle battery, and give a greater output than |
| Checking Motorcycle Battery: | | | | the battery voltage but not too high. |
| If you decide to check if your new motorcycle | | | | 3. Make sure the connections are clean and the |
| battery is done correctly, follow this actual | | | | electrolyte is at the upper level, and don't fill the cells |
| factory-recommended service procedure. | | | | up to the very top of the battery. |
| If the battery is not a maintenance-free type which | | | | 4. You can either use an optimizer on the battery |
| doesn't have a vent tube, unwrap the battery, | | | | which can effectively switch off the battery when |
| unkink the vent tube and snip about a half-inch off | | | | it's charged and prevents overheating, or disconnect |
| the end. Fill it with electrolyte midway (between the | | | | it manually. |
| high and low level markings on the case) and leave it | | | | 5. It is recommended to put your battery on charge |
| undisturbed for one or two hours. Remember, the | | | | every two or three weeks. |
| battery will still be at only 65% of full charge at this | | | | 6. An upper and lower level battery should have all |
| point. Add electrolyte again if required. | | | | the cells on the upper level, not over and never |
| If your battery is a refillable lead-antimony type, it | | | | under the lower level. |
| should be charged at one-third of its rated capacity in | | | | 7. For topping off the low cells, use only distilled |
| amp/hours for four to five hours to get it to full | | | | water. |
| charge. Maintenance-free type battery should be | | | | 8. The minimum charge for a new batter should be |
| charged with a constant-current charger that can | | | | at least for 8 hours. |
| drive the charge with as much as 16.9 volts. This | | | | 9. If you have a dry battery, fill the cells slowly and |
| should be closely supervised so as not to exceed full | | | | leave the battery for around half an hour. |