New Battery from where ?

DEN MONKEY · Post by **DEN MONKEY** » Mon May 29, 2006 6:47 pm

Hey came out from work today to find the battery flat on the zx6r (99). After a few attempt to jump her she started fine. So I took it for a run to try and charge it up a little. Once home (45 minutes) it kicked over without issue. SoI figure I've drained it over the course of the day.

I must admit I've put the parkers on when trying to lock the steering a few times. Bloody thing is the next click past lock. Would stop it from doin that if I could. Not like it's ever going to be used anyway.

Oh well. If this isn't the case and the battery is on its way out requiring a new one. Is there anywhere in particular to grab a new battery.

I've spotted a post where someone grabbed one from supercheap.
While wanting to spend as little as needed, I would prefer to spend a few extra bucks for battery life and to avoid getting stuck from buying cheap shit if it makes a difference.

So any votes on brand or places to/not to source a battery from.

I'm in Newcastle too if that helps.

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Mon May 29, 2006 7:21 pm

pm red-dave

he works for a battery place

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:56 pm

Don't worry about the PM mate... I, unfortunately don't do bike batteries...

However, The ones Super Cheap sell aren't too bad... The Yuasa branded ones would be the better option but the standard models aren't as crap as some brands out there... Mind you, Super Cheap only carry a handful of models.

I'd get the battery checked out first (Battery World's all over Newcastle) and buy a maintenence charger. I can do a good one for about $30.00 if you're interested... It's called "Battery Fighter" Part Number BFJ012 http://www.master-instruments.com.au/br ... FJ012.html. They sell them at Super Cheap and Battery World also.

HTH

hoffy · Post by **hoffy** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:58 pm

I can vouch for supercheap batteries. When I replaced my last one I had the choice of $179 from stealership or $69 from supercheap.

They are probably the same one when it comes down to it. Just remember to get the acid from supercheap as tey come dry, you will have to add the acid *carefull*...

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:04 pm

hoffy wrote:you will have to add the acid *carefull*...

If the battery has a vent plug, REMOVE IT before you add the acid! And take out the caps if it has those too... Learnt that the hard way

The battery will be at 75% charge as soon as it's filled with acid so you may need to whack it on a charger for a little while (or roll start your bike)...

wazza1234 · Post by **wazza1234** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:49 pm

my supercheap battery works a charm. I have had no hassles with it. It cost me $29 + acid. Was a prick to fill but a small funnel did the trick.

DEN MONKEY · Post by **DEN MONKEY** » Mon May 29, 2006 10:16 pm

Good work gents cheers.
Took the bike into soccer tonight for another run and looks like I've just drained it. Obviously this will have an effect on the batteries life but meh right now it's working which is the good news.

Will keep all this in mind when I need a new one. Might also invest in a charger.

Might also note that I didn't know about adding the acid to the battery.
Got a car battery from SC and didn't have to.

This specific to their bike batteries or something ?

jewjew · Post by **jewjew** » Mon May 29, 2006 10:49 pm

Battery World

NEWCASTLE 122 Hannell Street
Wickham NSW 2293 (02) 4940 0796 (02) 4961 4545

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Tue May 30, 2006 9:00 am

Any lead acid battery left flooded will begin to sulphate when the voltage drops below 10.4 volts...

Cause car batteries don't generally sit on the shelf long enough, they don't need to worry. Super Cheap would sell 1 bike battery to every 70 or so car batteries so they have them dry and sell them with the acid... Customer gets home, fills the battery and Wha-la - Fresh Battery.

SnypR · Post by **SnypR** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:12 pm

red dave.......

Many years ago, l was standing in a bike shop and 2 blokes came in and asked for battery acid. The bike shop bloke laughed and said that you cant buy it, all it is is water that has not touched metal. He suggested that they catch some rain water in a plastic container and use that.

Now, after telling other people this story over the years, people have said its bullshit and any water is ok, but some people have said distilled water only. So battery acid is only water after its been in the battery so what water goes in?

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Tue May 30, 2006 1:03 pm

SnypR wrote:red dave.......

Many years ago, l was standing in a bike shop and 2 blokes came in and asked for battery acid. The bike shop bloke laughed and said that you cant buy it, all it is is water that has not touched metal. He suggested that they catch some rain water in a plastic container and use that.

Now, after telling other people this story over the years, people have said its bullshit and any water is ok, but some people have said distilled water only. So battery acid is only water after its been in the battery so what water goes in?

In a flooded Lead Acid battery, the liquid substance is called Electrolyte. This electrolyte is made up of a number of things but it is mainly Acid.

In the charging process, whether in the vehicle of with a battery charger, the electrolyte begins to "gas". That is why the filler caps have little holes in them, or the battery has a venting tube. Now the gassing process is only actually the water component of the electrolyte. That's why we top-up these batteries with water.

Filling a dry lead acid battery with distilled or normal water will not work as it needs the other components of the electrolyte to work.

In the topping up process the only difference between distilled and normal water is basically that normal water is not as pure and will shorten the life of the battery by a little.

I haven't got the tech info here cause i no longer work for a lead acid battery manufacturer by can get them if you want.

mike-s · Post by **mike-s** » Tue May 30, 2006 1:14 pm

Ok, when you first fill a dry battery, the electrolyte (acid) is at a specific "gravity" which is affected by the level of acidity and the state of charge etc (ill leave r_d to answer any specifics, but hopefully you get the drift).

When you cycle a battery it produces hydrogen & oxygen as a byproduct of the charging process. Cycle a battery sufficiently, and the quantity of water in the sulphuric acid will slowly decrease, thusly lowering the acid levels enough to require topping up.

When you top up a battery, you do NOT use acid, you use distilled water as the acid does not evaporate off, only the water. That's why the first fill is with H2SO4 & the subsequent fills are with distilled H2O.

Smitty · Post by **Smitty** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:19 pm

mike-s wrote:Ok, when you first fill a dry battery, the electrolyte (acid) is at a specific "gravity" which is affected by the level of acidity and the state of charge etc (ill leave r_d to answer any specifics, but hopefully you get the drift).

When you cycle a battery it produces hydrogen & oxygen as a byproduct of the charging process. Cycle a battery sufficiently, and the quantity of water in the sulphuric acid will slowly decrease, thusly lowering the acid levels enough to require topping up.

When you top up a battery, you do NOT use acid, you use distilled water as the acid does not evaporate off, only the water. That's why the first fill is with H2SO4 & the subsequent fills are with distilled H2O.

...feck Mike
didn't realise it was so complicated

mike-s · Post by **mike-s** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:28 pm

the funny thing is... i thought a lot of this was common knowledge

Neka79 · Post by **Neka79** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:41 pm

mike-s wrote:the funny thing is... i thought a lot of this was common knowledge

cos ur a fauking nerd!!