Trickle Charger / Battery Tender

[slow]

There are many trickle chargers out there and I'm wondering which one to buy for your most typical bike. More specifically, what amp charger is right? I see 1A, 2A, 3A....etc...

I'm not looking for brands etc, more so the correct amperage. Any input is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[toysareforboys]

0.5A

Battery Tender Jr. On sale at either Royal or GP bikes this weekend!

-Jamie M.

 

[slow]

Why 0.5A instead of 1A or 2A?

 

[toysareforboys]

Why 0.5A instead of 1A or 2A?

Cause our motorcycle batteries are wusses. Why not be gentle on them?! lol.

-Jamie M.

 

[Boom King]

Why 0.5A instead of 1A or 2A?

Depending on who you ask, you'll get different answers. Recommendations differ among motorcycle manufacturers, battery companies, mechanics, etc. General rule of thumb is charge at 10 % of your battery's ah rating. So for a battery rated at 10 ah, you can use a charge that outputs 1 A. If you're using a charger with a microprocessor, you can charge up to 25 % of the battery's ah rating. My OEM battery is 8 ah and my manual states this 1/10th rule, yet it recommends a 1.5 amp automatic charger.

So if you have a smart/intelligent 4 stage automatic battery charger with a 2 A trickle mode lying around it will work as well. They are able to throttle or vary the output charge based on feedback from the battery to avoid battery gassing. The charge rate during the float/maintenance mode will be quite low and not harm the battery.