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Disconnecting battery when bike not in use

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TooJuicy View Drop Down
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    Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 15:10
In the Owners Manual (1200 Sport 8v) Guzzi say:-

Long periods of inactivity IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF USE FOR MORE THAN TWENTY DAYS, DISCONNECT THE 30 A FUSE 

Does anyone do this?

I understand Why, but am unsure whether there might be unexpected consequences.

Tony
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Brian UK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 17:46
Either that or top the battery up by some means.

Disconnecting the fuse will reset the clock and all the trip readings.

I use a solar charger on the Norge. A 5 Watt one works well,  though if you get a period of very dark winter days it's not so good.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Petros GR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 19:38
When OFF, there is a tiny amp draw , only 1,8mA, over a long time it can flaten the battery. Every time the battery is drained out, it losses some of its lifespan. Pulling the fuse is a bit easier that cisconecting the cables...

FIY, there is (was?) a software bug in the dashboard, that may or may not apear, its totaly random.

When powered up after a battery or fuse reconect, the imobilizer may stuck in the key programing proccess. When this happens, it draws about 180mA (100 times more than normal), leaving the battery flat only in some days.  It happened to me a few times over the 12 years I got my bike...

To avoid this, you need to folow 2 steps, everytime you conect the battery OR the fuse:
1- Turn the key to ON, do NOT start the engine, wait for the self-test. 30seconds at ON is suficient.
2- Turn the key to OFF and remove it from the switch for at least 1 minute.
Done
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Mike H View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2018 at 00:53
Put on a charger every couple of weeks, for a couple of hours or so, but don't leave it on a trickle charger indefinitely. OK so it means something you gotta get up off your butt for and do every couple of weeks or so. Big smile


"Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday."
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TooJuicy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TooJuicy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2018 at 08:22
I have heard that leaving a battery permanently on a charger can damage a battery. I use a CTEK which gives a pulse charge then lets the battery flatten, then repeats. I don't know whether this means the battery is can live on the charger. 

The background to my question is a (lithium ion) battery maker saying you can leave their batteries for years between charging - IF they are disconnected (*).  Then I noticed the comment in the Guzzi Owners Manual recommending pulling the 30 A fuse. The final factor is occasionally I'm out of the country for 2 or 3 months so a toddle to the garage to reconnect/disconnect my battery to its charger is not so straight forward.

Thanks for the interesting tips, and Petros about the ECU restart / reboot.

Tony

* note: the lithium ion comment from a battery manufacturer stemmed from people causing more damage charging their Li-i batteries with a Lead Acid charger than if the owners had just left the Li-i batteries alone. New technology & old knowledge/habits can be a troublesome pairing.


Edited by TooJuicy - 23 Apr 2018 at 08:26
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Brian UK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2018 at 13:31
Lithium batteries do have a very long charged "shelf life".

The down side is that generally they also have a lower capacity (AH), so leaving them connected with a parasytic drain, they could well discharge quicker than the OEM lead acid.

I have yet to be convinced that the charging system on the average bike is really suitable for lithium batteries.

The CTEK pulse charging system will certainly be better than some old float charger, and that will include lots of battery tenders.

With a solar panel charging, it only operates in daylight so is never "permanently" charging.
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Oldrat View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Oldrat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2018 at 13:41
I have just one trickle charger, it spends a few days on each bike in rotation, no need for several
chargers 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2018 at 13:43
But that system doesn't work if you are away for a couple of months.
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Mike H View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Apr 2018 at 17:24
So then I'd be looking at some sort of timer that can turn a charger on and off. (?)

I've now got Hive (came with a new central heating boiler), and have also just started using wall socket controllers; you can turn on and off anything that's got a mains lead, both according to a programmed schedule and manually, and from anywhere using a smart phone.

HTH




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