If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
At what point is a vehicle battery charging or discharging? 12.6v ?
I have been thinking about installing a battery monitor on my
motorcycle to tell me when I'm draining the battery. I will have several accessories on he auxillary lights, heated clothing, etc. With the monitor I can tell when I've got too much stuff turned on. The one I like uses a single LED to indicate status. It's green when the voltage is 12v or above, amber when 11.5-11.9, and red when below 11.5. You can read it he http://tinyurl.com/2vpth Now my understanding has always been that when a vehicle's charging system is below 12.6 volts, it is discharging the battery. If this were true it would make this device not very useful, I could be on a trip riding down the road at 12.3 volts, discharging the battery and never know it. So is it 12.6v or does it vary with different types of batteries or something? (Gel, lead acid, glass mat) I've emailed the battery monitor manufacturer, too, but wanted to get some expert opinions here. Thanks a lot, -Ryan |
Ads |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
wrote:
> > I have been thinking about installing a battery monitor on my > motorcycle to tell me when I'm draining the battery. I will have > several accessories on he auxillary lights, heated clothing, etc. > With the monitor I can tell when I've got too much stuff turned on. > > The one I like uses a single LED to indicate status. It's green when > the voltage is 12v or above, amber when 11.5-11.9, and red when below > 11.5. You can read it he http://tinyurl.com/2vpth > > Now my understanding has always been that when a vehicle's charging > system is below 12.6 volts, it is discharging the battery. If this > were true it would make this device not very useful, I could be on a > trip riding down the road at 12.3 volts, discharging the battery and > never know it. > > So is it 12.6v or does it vary with different types of batteries or > something? (Gel, lead acid, glass mat) I've emailed the battery monitor > manufacturer, too, but wanted to get some expert opinions here. > Thanks a lot, > -Ryan 12.6 volts is for 6 cells of a lead-acid battery. (PbO2-Pb-PbSO4 reaction) I don't know what your battery is made of. The Fly is right: install an ammeter. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"None" > wrote in message ... > wrote: >> >> I have been thinking about installing a battery monitor on my >> motorcycle to tell me when I'm draining the battery. I will have >> several accessories on he auxillary lights, heated clothing, etc. >> With the monitor I can tell when I've got too much stuff turned on. >> >> The one I like uses a single LED to indicate status. It's green when >> the voltage is 12v or above, amber when 11.5-11.9, and red when below >> 11.5. You can read it he http://tinyurl.com/2vpth >> >> Now my understanding has always been that when a vehicle's charging >> system is below 12.6 volts, it is discharging the battery. If this >> were true it would make this device not very useful, I could be on a >> trip riding down the road at 12.3 volts, discharging the battery and >> never know it. >> >> So is it 12.6v or does it vary with different types of batteries or >> something? (Gel, lead acid, glass mat) I've emailed the battery monitor >> manufacturer, too, but wanted to get some expert opinions here. >> Thanks a lot, >> -Ryan > > 12.6 volts is for 6 cells of a lead-acid battery. > (PbO2-Pb-PbSO4 reaction) > I don't know what your battery is made of. > The Fly is right: install an ammeter. You are both wrong, a voltmeter is easier to install and will give a better idea of what's going on. Below 12.6 volts is discharging and over 13 volts is charging. I'd say the device the OP was talking about is completely worthless. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
There are amp meters that you can get, that read remotely with a shunt resistor, two small leads from there to the amp meter. If you don't need it all the time, you can get one that you just hold against the wire. Check J-C Whitney's catalog. Voltage, by itself, tells you very little. 13.8V could be perfectly normal, or you could have a completely open battery.. An open-circuit battery won't start or charge, but your voltage regulator will hold your system voltage near this point, even with out a battery in the system (Though on some motorcycles this varies, they do unusual things sometimes) If current into the battery is positive, then you're charging. If current out of the battery is positive, then you're discharging. If the current is near zero, then you've charged the battery. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
> wrote in message oups.com... > I have been thinking about installing a battery monitor on my > motorcycle to tell me when I'm draining the battery. I will have > several accessories on he auxillary lights, heated clothing, etc. > With the monitor I can tell when I've got too much stuff turned on. > > The one I like uses a single LED to indicate status. It's green when > the voltage is 12v or above, amber when 11.5-11.9, and red when below > 11.5. You can read it he http://tinyurl.com/2vpth > > Now my understanding has always been that when a vehicle's charging > system is below 12.6 volts, it is discharging the battery. If this > were true it would make this device not very useful, I could be on a > trip riding down the road at 12.3 volts, discharging the battery and > never know it. > > So is it 12.6v or does it vary with different types of batteries or > something? (Gel, lead acid, glass mat) I've emailed the battery monitor > manufacturer, too, but wanted to get some expert opinions here. > Thanks a lot, > -Ryan > Easier way to do it. Look up the specs on your bike and see how many watts the alternator puts out. Then add up all the stuff using power and see what you get. I can tell you from experience with older bikes you WILL be discharging the battery with all the extras on at the same time. Now if you have one of the newer 'Wings or a Beemer you might be OK, they have higher output charging systems. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Hi Ryan,
If the charging system is not working and there is no load, the voltage is a relative value to the State-of-Charge of the battery. Notwithstanding the internal self-discharge of a lead-acid battery, charging simply occurs when the voltage is increased to a point that current is flowing into the battery and discharging is at a point where current is flowing out of a battery. Since most charging systems normally operate at a higher voltage than the battery, the vehicle's electrical load is powered by the charging system. Any "left over" power will be used to recharge the battery. When the charging system's voltage is near or drops below that of the battery, the electrical load shared between the battery and the charging system. That is the reason why stop-and-go driving with a heavy electrical load, might not recharge a starting battery. When the charging system is not working, the electrical load is placed on the battery until the battery can not handle it. Please see Section 9 of the Car (including Motorcycles) and Deep Cycle Battery FAQ on www.batteryfaq.org for more information on charging. For troubleshooting battery and charging system problems, both an ammeter and voltmeter are useful, if you know how to correctly interpret the measurements.. Kindest regards and Happy New Year, BiLL......... On 27 Dec 2004 20:05:12 -0800, wrote: >I have been thinking about installing a battery monitor on my >motorcycle to tell me when I'm draining the battery. I will have >several accessories on he auxillary lights, heated clothing, etc. >With the monitor I can tell when I've got too much stuff turned on. > >The one I like uses a single LED to indicate status. It's green when >the voltage is 12v or above, amber when 11.5-11.9, and red when below >11.5. You can read it he http://tinyurl.com/2vpth > >Now my understanding has always been that when a vehicle's charging >system is below 12.6 volts, it is discharging the battery. If this >were true it would make this device not very useful, I could be on a >trip riding down the road at 12.3 volts, discharging the battery and >never know it. > >So is it 12.6v or does it vary with different types of batteries or >something? (Gel, lead acid, glass mat) I've emailed the battery monitor >manufacturer, too, but wanted to get some expert opinions here. >Thanks a lot, >-Ryan |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Add a silicon diode in series with the monitor to reduce the voltage by about .7 volts. It will then indicate green when the voltage is 12.7 volts or higher. wrote: > > I have been thinking about installing a battery monitor on my > motorcycle to tell me when I'm draining the battery. I will have > several accessories on he auxillary lights, heated clothing, etc. > With the monitor I can tell when I've got too much stuff turned on. > > The one I like uses a single LED to indicate status. It's green when > the voltage is 12v or above, amber when 11.5-11.9, and red when below > 11.5. You can read it he http://tinyurl.com/2vpth > > Now my understanding has always been that when a vehicle's charging > system is below 12.6 volts, it is discharging the battery. If this > were true it would make this device not very useful, I could be on a > trip riding down the road at 12.3 volts, discharging the battery and > never know it. > > So is it 12.6v or does it vary with different types of batteries or > something? (Gel, lead acid, glass mat) I've emailed the battery monitor > manufacturer, too, but wanted to get some expert opinions here. > Thanks a lot, > -Ryan -- Mike Walsh West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Mike Walsh wrote: > Add a silicon diode in series with the monitor to reduce the voltage by about .7 volts. It will then indicate green when the voltage is 12.7 volts or higher. I was thinking of putting a resistor inline, but a diode is probably a better idea. The other idea is to make my own. I've found a schematic (see small voltage alert at http://tinyurl.com/2tvnj). This way I could set the point at which the indicator comes on. And it would probably be a lot cheaper. -Ryan |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Dave VanHorn wrote: > There are amp meters that you can get, that read remotely with a shunt > resistor, two small leads from there to the amp meter. If you don't need it > all the time, you can get one that you just hold against the wire. Check > J-C Whitney's catalog. > > Voltage, by itself, tells you very little. 13.8V could be perfectly normal, > or you could have a completely open battery.. An open-circuit battery won't > start or charge, but your voltage regulator will hold your system voltage > near this point, even with out a battery in the system (Though on some > motorcycles this varies, they do unusual things sometimes) > > If current into the battery is positive, then you're charging. > If current out of the battery is positive, then you're discharging. > If the current is near zero, then you've charged the battery. Or you could have a completely open battery.. or the charging system has gone out, but your current drain on the battery is low enough that it's not visible on the ammeter.. Auto manufacturers have gotten away from ammeters and gone to voltmeters.. in addition to many other reasons, voltmeters are much easier to wire in. You can wire a voltmeter pretty much anywhere in the harness to read voltage.. where do you wire an ammeter to monitor current into and out of the battery? Regards, Jim |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Where to get Official Speed Limit Info | [email protected] | Driving | 40 | January 3rd 05 07:10 AM |
Battery Charging | tech27 | BMW | 65 | December 1st 04 02:08 AM |
New *FREE* Corvette Discussion Forum | JLA ENTERPRISES TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATION | Corvette | 12 | November 30th 04 06:36 PM |
battery question | Jim Beaver | General | 14 | November 6th 04 10:54 PM |
Why Won't a Frozen Battery Start a Vehicle. | Denny B | General | 1 | January 30th 04 02:48 AM |