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Motorcycle battery chargers. |
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If you have a motorcycle that was manufactured within the last 40 years, chances are you have a 12v motorcycle battery.
A motorcycle battery charger is essential for the proper set-up of a motorcycle battery, but a good motorcycle battery charger or battery tender is also key to keeping your battery maintained.
Battery maintenance is frequently overlooked on today's motorcycles. Battery chargers are not being used as often as they should and this is the leading cause of premature battery failure.
The modern AGM and gel batteries operate considerably better and last longer if they are maintained above their 50% discharge rate. The same has always applied to the lead-acid battery as a highly discharged state promotes sulfation and deterioration of the plates.
Just as the motorcycle battery has evolved, so have motorcycle battery chargers. The days of the only choice being a straight rate battery charger are over. Motorcycle battery chargers available today can provide a steady 'trickle' of low voltage to keep the battery maintained while not in use.
Caution should be used with the conventional 'trickle charger' as they do not regulate the charging rate. Even though the charging voltage is relatively low, these chargers are not to be left on for great periods of time or they will 'cook' any 12v motorcycle battery.
Chargers that have an automatic shut-off feature that sense when the battery is at full charge are now available. This motorcycle battery charger is called the battery tender and is the best choice for battery maintenance whether used during the riding season or while your motorcycle is kept in storage. The shut-off feature prevents overcharging of the battery and delivers more precise maintenance over a great period of time.
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