| How are Motorcycle Batteries Rated?The amp/hour | | | | at only 65% of full charge at this point. Add |
| (AH) capacity is the basis for rating motorcycle | | | | electrolyte again if required.If your battery is a |
| batteries. For example, a 12AH battery can produce | | | | refillable lead-antimony type, it should be charged at |
| one amp of current flow for 12 hours, or two amps | | | | one-third of its rated capacity in amp/hours for four |
| for six hours. In order to calculate the amount of | | | | to five hours to get it to full charge. |
| time needed to use up a fully charged motorcycle | | | | Maintenance-free type battery should be charged |
| battery by turning the lights on, we have to take | | | | with a constant-current charger that can drive the |
| power in watts, and divide it by voltage, which gives | | | | charge with as much as 16.9 volts. This should be |
| us the current draw in Amps. Therefore, a 72 watts | | | | closely supervised so as not to exceed full |
| beam and tail together, divided by 12 volts equals a | | | | charge.Next, recheck the electrolyte level and add |
| 6-amp draw. So in 2 hours, the 12AH battery is | | | | water if required. Let the battery cool so the case |
| dead.Checking Motorcycle Battery:If you decide to | | | | contracts enough to fit into its typically tight little |
| check if your new motorcycle battery is done | | | | holder. Run the new breather tube, if the battery |
| correctly, follow this actual factory-recommended | | | | comes along with one, carefully through the original |
| service procedure.If the battery is not a | | | | factory routing.Things to Remember when Charging |
| maintenance-free type which doesn't have a vent | | | | the Battery:1. First of all, it is important to remember |
| tube, unwrap the battery, unkink the vent tube and | | | | that Red is positive and Black is negative in order to |
| snip about a half-inch off the end. Fill it with | | | | avoid any accidents such as short-circuits and nasty |
| electrolyte midway (between the high and low level | | | | shocks.2. The charger should be compatible with the |
| markings on the case) and leave it undisturbed for | | | | motorcycle battery, and give a greater output than |
| one or two hours. Remember, the battery will still be | | | | the battery voltage but not too high.3. |