ATTACHING A BATTERY CHARGER

[mgreenfield]

On my scoot the battery is inaccessable without removing a lot of plastic.

However, the starter solenoid is right under the trunk box.

A large red wire connected to the solenoid runs directly to the positive post on my battery. I connect the red clip from my charger to this solenoid post, and find a convenient frame bolt to which I connect the black clip from my charger.

NOTE: If you do this, you'll want to check with a voltmeter to be sure you have positive battery voltage at the red wire connected to the solenoid.

[scooterollie]

mgreenfield;
Good idea! On my 150 Fiji, with the battery under the floor, I installed a 12V power port, with weather seal cap, in the spark plug access panel located below the front seat. On my Bali, with the battery under the seat, I hooked up the lead that came with my Black-n-Decker 1&2 amp float charger/tender. Just lift the seat and have instant access to charging the battery. The B&D charger also came with a 12V power port lead that I can plug into the battery lead if I need 12V power.

[professorguitar]

since you are on the subject of batteries. is a charger going to be a nessessary item?
i am learning that everything isa battery drain. how will ineed to use it. is the a forum discussing going about alarm removal? i read it can help battery life? you have had more exsperience than me so guide me through some myths and truths...

[Jacine]

Most alarms remove 1 amp hour a week, some do it over several days. Pretty much everybody disconnects the alarm or puts in an on/off switch.

[scooterollie]

professorguitar;
Jacine describes the situation pretty simply. Since most of the scoots come with low quality Chinese batteries of barely sufficient capacity, even the slightest drain can exhaust the battery. I don't know the actual electronics of the alarm/remote start system, but apparently the system causes a very slight drain even when not armed. Another problem is improper use of the system stemming from very poor or non-existant instructions, resulting in the system not being fully turned off, thus draining the battery faster. I don't know how much current the alarm draws while it is activated or how long you can leave the scoot parked with the alarm on and not discharge a battery too deeply to be able to start the scoot.

If you have read other threads, you are aware that many folks recommend replacing the O.E.M. battery with one of greater capacity and better design. My favorite is the design called "AGM", or "Absorbed Glass Mat" technology. You can do a search on this forum or do a search on the internet and find lots of material on "AGM" battery design. Here is a site where I purchased a battery for my 150: www.ebatteriestogo.com/Motorcycle-Batteries.htm
Using the model # your battery, you can search the charts for an "AGM" type battery of the same physical size (or one larger that will still fit in the space) with a higher Cold Crank Amp (CCA) rating as well as a higher Amp Hour (AH). Some folks like the "Gel" design battery but according to the write ups, I believe "AGM" batteries are better for our purpose.

Like Stan, I am going to stay with my O.E.M. battery until I have some evidence that it is failing, although, I sure don't want to be stuck somewhere with a dead battery and no kick starter - Honda clone 250 scoots don't have a kick starter. Batteries can give out real fast and as others have said, a charger will indicate they have a full charge, the battery will read 12V with a tester, but there will be no "depth" (amps) to the charge - kinda like trying to start your scoot with an 8-pack of "AA" batteries. Hooked up in series they will put out 12V but not enough amps!

[tankgunner]

The cheap chinese battery on my tank Racer seemed to give me problems from the start until I installed a float charger I bought at 'Wally World' for $18. Never had a problem since. Took me a minute to find my battery since the dealer neglected to tell me where it was located.

[scooterollie]

tankgunner;
Yeah, that's a good deal on a battery charger/maintainer for the price. If your scoot battery seems to be discharging on standing then you still may have a problem. Was the battery getting low from one day to the next, or over several days? The Chinese batteries sulfate the plates sometimes and will not maintain a full charge even when the charger says the battery is charged. Do you still have your alarm connected?

[mgreenfield]

tankgunner, et al, can the $18 float charger be used on more than one battery at a time?? That is, can I line up my various 12V batteries, hook them up in parallel, then let the float charger take care of all of them at once. I have 2 scoot batteries and a riding lawnmower.

[scooterollie]

mgreenfield;
Well, the Black and Decker float charger has a switchable output of either 1 or 2 amps. If you are talking about long-term storage of batteries all small and in good shape/charge, I guess it will work but maybe someone with better knowledge can give input.

[cathouse]

I looked for an hour before I found my battery under the floor mat on my Fuji, I was beginning to believe it had a invisible battery. My neighbor bought a scoot battery today from Auto Zone .12 v. 7 amp. $39.00

[yellowdog260]

how do i go about installing the float charger mentioned from walmart? my battery on my 250 seems to drain every 3 days or so. also, does anyone have any specs on where my alarm may be located? i have a hitong lct 250, same as a Linhai 260 touring 250. many thanks for the help.

["Big Guy"]

The float charger from Wal*Mart comes with a quick disconnect wire. You simply attach the red and black wires to your battery and route it under the seat.


-Rich

[pukame2]

My float charger is under my seat at all times. I have it connected to my battery and retractable Curtis SP400.



I pull out the cord and retract it when finished. Its very convenient.

Keep on riding.

["Big Guy"]

The Wal*Mart float charger comes with a hard wired quick disconnect wire.


-Rich

[kink]

Sadly I live in an apartment building and there are no electrical plugs in my underground parking. I'm thinking of adding solar panels to my top case so it at least gets a little charge while parked out front at my work every day...

[pukame2]

IDEAS VIDEO

This video shows improvements that can be done to one's scoot. I've used a lot of the mods shown, on my Tank.

The last video has a solar battery charger, and for some, it may help especially if there's no available AC outlet .

Good riding.

[sonnybadbutt]

Sept 10, 2006 15:58:19 GMT -5 mgreenfield said:

tankgunner, et al, can the $18 float charger be used on more than one battery at a time?? That is, can I line up my various 12V batteries, hook them up in parallel, then let the float charger take care of all of them at once. I have 2 scoot batteries and a riding lawnmower.

This charger can.
www.pacificbattery.com/batteryminder.html

[cat0020]

I added a SAE pigtail to the battery, drilled a small hole to run the pigtail through the top of battery cover, it could be used for bettery tender or as a electric outlet to be connected to teh cigarette lighter, or used as conector for heated clothing in the winter.

[swakk]

now i run again my cfmoto (still no charger included) but on the other i added an ups using the battery of the scooter
put it in a sealed box under the floor
for the charge just have to switch on a contactor and connect the wire (i use a little access on the side)
just a few mod for the contact to avoid it draining the battery when not used
so i have a charger and a 230v output
i even can monitor it by computer but i have better to do, like driving