would the battery get drained if...

5:12

Well-known member
1) ignition is off, engine kill switch is on
2) ignition is off, one of the brake pedals is engaged
3) ignition is off, signal light switch is left engaged
4) ignition is on, but all electrical units are off

and when i say drained, i mean in a significant negative effect like it would kill the battery, not just regular/normal battery use.


thanks.
 
1 to 3: No, because the ignition is the master switch upstream of all the other electrical controls
4: Yes, because the headlights and gauge cluster will be on

There could be exceptions if you have any devices connected directly to the battery or otherwise bypassing the ignition switch. And of course, a battery naturally loses charge over time even with no load placed on it.
 
Without knowing any details:

1. not normally
2. not normally
3. not normally
4. probably... because not everything would be 'off'

Charge up your battery and do a parasitic current drain test (aka current draw)-- that will tell you if something is 'draining' your battery.

Charge up your battery and do a load test -- that will tell you if the battery just can't hold a charge.

Charge up your battery and test the charging system -- them will tell you if the battery isn't being charged.
 
thats a no to all... but can you tell us a time period? you shouldnt leave a LSA battery uncharged/used for more than a few months...
 
btw, an analogy of the question your asking is, if i turn my light switch on, with no light bulb in the socket, am i using any electricity? or wen i screw in a light bulb with the switch off, am i still using any electricity? :P just wanted to re-iterate that :P unless there is more information you are withholding :P
 
Sounds like OP may just be wondering if there's any risk of draining the battery if he forgets to turn off lights, turn signals, etc after pulling the key out.
 
Sounds like OP may just be wondering if there's any risk of draining the battery if he forgets to turn off lights, turn signals, etc after pulling the key out.

yeah this is pretty much it. and i was wondering if the other switches like engine kill switch and brake lights (ie: depressed brake) would actually continue to draw power after pulling the key out/ignition off.

gonna do more reading about parasitic drain, load test, charging system test and all that.

thanks for the replies.
 
gonna do more reading about parasitic drain, load test, charging system test and all that.
If you want as a quick test:

Check the battery voltage at the terminals
Check it again with the key on
Check it again with the bike at idle
Check it again with the bike at 1/3 of it's redline RPM, with the highbeams on.

Report back numbers and we can go from there.

Devices that can cause parasitic drain are alarm systems, and those fake alarm flashing LED's, remote start, and if wired incorrectly HID headlight time delay relays, etc.

-Jamie M.
 
Bike with remote start? Awesome
Two of my friends had it last year. Worked great, as soon as they started putting on their suit they'd hit the remote start and by the time they got outside the bike would be all warmed up :)

But, if they let their bike sit still for more than a week the battery would be dead. For most of the season they kept it plugged into a battery tender. This season, both of them didn't hook them up after taking it out of storage.

-Jamie M.
 
Last edited:
chances are ,he used the kill button to shut the bike off and didn't use the key, thus draining the battery.
 

Back
Top Bottom