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Post by bezzer on Mar 2, 2019 19:49:25 GMT 1
Apologies if this has been asked before, or if it’s a daft question but … are there any special requirements for charging motobatt batteries?. I know a lot of folk on the forum are using them, so thought it worth an ask. I have a CTEK charger and also my trusty old optimate, and wondered if they’d be suitable?.
Thanks in advance, bezzer
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Post by dusty350 on Mar 2, 2019 21:39:21 GMT 1
Hi mate It's the Lithium batteries that are supposed to need a special charger - they don't like trickle charging apparently. I 've had quite a few Motobatts over the years on different bikes and never had a problem charging as normal with a standard type charger. Dusty
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Post by marrcel on Mar 2, 2019 22:03:19 GMT 1
So far i had a few intelligent chargers. Still i dont trust them 100% I connect them for 8 hours per month if they are sleeping. But how much intelligence is needed for a LiOn? I keep them 8 hours charged if they slept for 6 months. I always measure the voltage before i connect the charger.
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Post by earthman on Mar 2, 2019 23:43:55 GMT 1
I know that I can't fully trust my Optimate 3 regarding the red/green light on whether or not a battery is actually any good, I tried it on my wife's car battery when it suddenly failed, sure it charged it back up to +12 volts and the green light showed but it wasn't fit to go back in the car.
A local battery supplier told me just the other day that he stopped supplying Motobatts, when I asked why he reckoned that roughly 40% of his customers had experienced problems/brought them back, he now stocks another brand.
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Post by bezzer on Mar 2, 2019 23:56:55 GMT 1
Dusty/Marcel, Thanks for your comments, that’s exactly what I wanted to know 👍🏻.
Thanks too Earthman, I know what you mean by the sketchiness of the optimate, I’m on my second!. Must say I’m surprised to hear that people are having issues with the motobatt batteries though?, seems like the power source of choice for most of the lads building specials on here.
Cheers lads. bezzer
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Jethro5
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Post by Jethro5 on Mar 3, 2019 0:21:50 GMT 1
Fitted my first Motobatt battery over 12 months ago. Very happy with it.
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Post by abar121 on Mar 3, 2019 0:30:17 GMT 1
From the Motobatt batteries I have used, the big ones have been great, YTX12 etc.
The smaller LC ones haven't lasted long. I'm not sure why that is.
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Post by dusty350 on Mar 3, 2019 8:38:43 GMT 1
I've read varying reports on Motobatts - some good, some not. I've never had issues but I don't tend to keep bikes for years so cant comment on their longevity, past about 2 years. The AGM and L Ion batteries are great as there is no acid to potentially leak over parts of your bike like the old acid batteries always seemed to do And the L Ions are great for specials - a Motobatt I weighed was 2.5 kg. Same fitment L Ion was just under 500 grams !! Massive weight saving, and physically smaller too if you are tight for space Dusty
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Post by earthman on Mar 3, 2019 9:30:44 GMT 1
I've read varying reports on Motobatts - some good, some not. I've never had issues but I don't tend to keep bikes for years so cant comment on their longevity, past about 2 years. The AGM and L Ion batteries are great as there is no acid to potentially leak over parts of your bike like the old acid batteries always seemed to do And the L Ions are great for specials - a Motobatt I weighed was 2.5 kg. Same fitment L Ion was just under 500 grams !! Massive weight saving, and physically smaller too if you are tight for space Dusty That were my reply to the shop keeper too, maybe he were just unlucky and got sent a batch of the bad ones?? I know what you mean about the L Ion ones, it's like there's nothing inside them. Lol
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Post by copper99 on Mar 3, 2019 15:58:17 GMT 1
been using motobatts for a decade or so now, first on my Busa ,never had one fail yet , in fact, ive never had to replace any battery ive bought myself but I have a friend who manages to get through loads of batterys, no matter what make so im putting it down to dodgy chargers and/or user error...
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Post by bezzer on Mar 3, 2019 17:59:36 GMT 1
been using motobatts for a decade or so now, first on my Busa ,never had one fail yet , in fact, ive never had to replace any battery ive bought myself but I have a friend who manages to get through loads of batterys, no matter what make so im putting it down to dodgy chargers and/or user error... Thanks copper99, The reason for my post was that they seemed to be the most reliable option to go for. I was surprised to hear that people using them have experienced issues.
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Post by Denzil on Mar 5, 2019 9:06:00 GMT 1
I have had 3 Motobatt batteries and to be honest they were all rubbish. I complained to the ebay seller that its not holding charge and he said we are having a bad batch lately so gave me my money back. The other two went dead within 11 months and just would not hold their charge. The guy gave me two different batteries. Would not buy again.
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Post by marrcel on Mar 5, 2019 9:57:56 GMT 1
Do not hold their charge??? In the bike or stand alone? Do you charge them once a month?
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Post by abar121 on Mar 5, 2019 11:44:15 GMT 1
I have had 3 Motobatt batteries and to be honest they were all rubbish. I complained to the ebay seller that its not holding charge and he said we are having a bad batch lately so gave me my money back. The other two went dead within 11 months and just would not hold their charge. The guy gave me two different batteries. Would not buy again. That would make sense. I just had an LC one fail that was trickle charged once a month. It was working fine, then kaput. Other's in my triumph etc have been great for years.
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Post by earthman on Mar 5, 2019 12:16:50 GMT 1
I wonder what the problem could have been, not enough acid or a glitch with the glass matt fibres???
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Post by abar121 on Mar 5, 2019 13:17:29 GMT 1
I don't know. I was initially thinking that the acid might have depleted being trickle charged at 0.8 amps, the min from Optimates and the like, although I never left it for long on charge. Maybe they need to be charged at 0.2amp or so given their capacity? When running though, the bike would put out several times that.
But then my non-AGM LC batteries have been fine, topped up with acid occasionally. I guess patchy QC, possibility fakes? could be the real reason.
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Post by Tobyjugs on Mar 5, 2019 13:29:40 GMT 1
I worked with a man who was regularly servicing black start generators and he explained to me if an AGM battery drops too low in voltage it will be permanently damaged. I think he mentioned 5 volts but that could have been for a 24 volt battery.
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Post by paulperth on Mar 5, 2019 14:33:41 GMT 1
I’ve had two Mottobatt batteries, both failed I think you need to keep them charged
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Post by marrcel on Mar 5, 2019 15:02:04 GMT 1
0,8 amps is no thrickle. Thats normal charging current. 24/7 on a thrickle current all batterys wil die whitin 6 months.
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Post by abar121 on Mar 5, 2019 15:26:06 GMT 1
0,8 amps is no thrickle. Thats normal charging current. 24/7 on a thrickle current all batterys wil die whitin 6 months. Yes, hence not leaving on for more than a few hours every month or so. Still died suddenly even though the 0.8 amps is pulse charged.
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Post by 4l04ever on Mar 5, 2019 19:44:34 GMT 1
I have had one fail on my Fireblade. Went a bit low on voltage, then never came back. Looks like they do not like going too low.
It may be worth putting a timer on the feed to the charger, so it only comes on for a few hours once a week.
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Post by earthman on Mar 5, 2019 21:22:30 GMT 1
0,8 amps is no thrickle. Thats normal charging current. 24/7 on a thrickle current all batterys wil die whitin 6 months. I dunno what the Optimate 3 charger I have puts out but I've used it on 2 different bikes/batteries and never had a problem, I have certainly left them connected whilst away on say two weeks holidays and generally connect it up whenever I think the bike won't be used for 3/4 days especially during the Winter months.
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Post by rigga on Mar 5, 2019 21:22:51 GMT 1
Currently have one on my CCM, which I've not started in about 4 year's, was trickled charged, but at some point I put the charger on something else, so wasn't hopeful it had survived, and having connected my oxford charger it was initially showing zero volts, after 48hrs it was registering 13.6v and today was 13v, I suspect when I remove the charger it will die and certainly not be man enough to turn the high comp motor over (battery is specced for a superduke and it still struggled on a cold start when brand new) Think the one I got off Norbo for the LC is a motobatt and thats been fine.
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Post by dusty350 on Mar 29, 2019 16:07:49 GMT 1
Just an update on Motobatts. Remember I said I've had a few with no problems.... until now !! The semi hybrid is finished, and ready to sell. Couldn't understand an intermittent problem with the horns not working, dull lights on the dash, dim headlight. Charged new Motobatt up - reading 13.4 volts - fit to bike and still no horns, dim lights etc. I thought I had a bad earth or something breaking down in the loom (electrics are not my strong point) but a new Multimeter - first time I've ever owned one, saw a voltage drop of 3v overnight in a warm garage, sat, unconnected on the bench. Long story short, the electrickery maestro that is Yamark very kindly popped over today with a substitute battery, test meter, soldering iron, and more importantly the knowledge of how to use it all, and went through the whole system. Everything checked out, apart from the battery, which is kaput ! I bought it from Busters, via Ebay, in January, and it's taken 20 mins to get through on the phone, just for them to tell me to message them through ebay ! WTF I will get another as it's "one of those things", but I'm not as impressed with them as I once was Cheers Mark, what a star Dusty
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Post by yamark on Mar 29, 2019 19:42:40 GMT 1
Just an update on Motobatts. Remember I said I've had a few with no problems.... until now !! The semi hybrid is finished, and ready to sell. Couldn't understand an intermittent problem with the horns not working, dull lights on the dash, dim headlight. Charged new Motobatt up - reading 13.4 volts - fit to bike and still no horns, dim lights etc. I thought I had a bad earth or something breaking down in the loom (electrics are not my strong point) but a new Multimeter - first time I've ever owned one, saw a voltage drop of 3v overnight in a warm garage, sat, unconnected on the bench. Long story short, the electrickery maestro that is Yamark very kindly popped over today with a substitute battery, test meter, soldering iron, and more importantly the knowledge of how to use it all, and went through the whole system. Everything checked out, apart from the battery, which is kaput ! I bought it from Busters, via Ebay, in January, and it's taken 20 mins to get through on the phone, just for them to tell me to message them through ebay ! WTF I will get another as it's "one of those things", but I'm not as impressed with them as I once was Cheers Mark, what a star Dusty No worries mate , always glad to help. I'm still full up from the "monster breakfast" you supplied . Beautiful bike build.
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Post by sp885 on Mar 29, 2019 20:45:33 GMT 1
I've had a Motobatt in my LC for 3 1/2 years now, still going strong, never charged it once, and I probably only ride it once a month or so, think it cost me about $60 AU Steve
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Post by bezzer on Mar 30, 2019 13:10:19 GMT 1
Just an update on Motobatts. Remember I said I've had a few with no problems.... until now !! The semi hybrid is finished, and ready to sell. Couldn't understand an intermittent problem with the horns not working, dull lights on the dash, dim headlight. Charged new Motobatt up - reading 13.4 volts - fit to bike and still no horns, dim lights etc. I thought I had a bad earth or something breaking down in the loom (electrics are not my strong point) but a new Multimeter - first time I've ever owned one, saw a voltage drop of 3v overnight in a warm garage, sat, unconnected on the bench. Long story short, the electrickery maestro that is Yamark very kindly popped over today with a substitute battery, test meter, soldering iron, and more importantly the knowledge of how to use it all, and went through the whole system. Everything checked out, apart from the battery, which is kaput ! I bought it from Busters, via Ebay, in January, and it's taken 20 mins to get through on the phone, just for them to tell me to message them through ebay ! WTF I will get another as it's "one of those things", but I'm not as impressed with them as I once was Cheers Mark, what a star Dusty Thanks for the update Dusty, sorry you encountered such a frustrating issue, your experience seems to bear out the previous comments about motobatt being ‘hit & miss’ or potentially a ‘bad batch’ getting onto the market. Hope you get things sorted with the supplier, and lucky at least you had Mark’s offer of assistance 🙂, he’s a top bloke and always has a solution! 👍🏻. Good luck with the rest of the build, hopefully it’s plain sailing from now on. ATB bezzer
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Post by dusty350 on Apr 4, 2019 19:23:47 GMT 1
I spoke to Lee at M&P today. I was chasing up a replacement battery as mine is definitely fubar'd. He said they had taken delivery of a batch of 50 Motobatt batteries, and they are all faulty. Seems like mine was one of them. A new batch arrived today, and my replacement should land with me tomorrow. Hopefully that will work as it should.
Dusty
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Post by philmill on Apr 4, 2019 21:08:32 GMT 1
I've got one that I bought from M&P a few weeks ago but with the frame issues I haven't even opened the box, I guess I better check its ok before its too late. Thanks for then heads up Dusty
Phil
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Post by stusco on Apr 4, 2019 21:48:48 GMT 1
Years ago I bought a battery from m&p in Edinburgh for my zx900r ,I fitted it then went to the racing at knockhill ,when I got home I discovered the battery had swollen and spewed acid all over my legs and the bike ,anyway I took it back and when the guy in the shop saw the battery he shat him self went through the back and came back in full indromeda strain get up with full visor just to swap out the battery ,so m&p and battery’s have history ps my jeans never survived first wash they fell to bit from the acid
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