2002 1150 ADV Battery current draw

[pomm001]

I would like to run a few test on my bike as suspect it may be drawing a little too much current when standing

The bike is standard it does not have an alarm system, the battery is new ( today Varta ) and charges @ 14.4 volts straight after start up

What i need to know is what would you expect the current draw through a meter between the battery terminal and the battery lead at rest ?

The reason I ask is the last two batteries have met a premature death through sulphating up, i want to be sure there is no excessive drain through the the bike.

I have an optimate

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

Without an alarm would have thought there would be no current draw when it's not running/ignition off. Have you checked the voltage as you increase the revs? Shouldn't go above 14.4v - if it does it could be 'boiling' the battery electrolyte which would cause premature failure.

 

[warmshed]

I believe there will be a very small draw to keep the clock running. Cant measure it on my bike as it has an alarm fitted. The optimate should balance the drain and prevent voltdrop and the sulphation. Gell batteries are prone to sulphation if they are left in a low voltage state. Self discharge will lower the voltage if left even without a current draw. Have you left it a long time without the optimate? It is not unususal to get as much as 30% voltage drop over three months if left. Strangely an older battery has a slightly lower self discharge than a new one due to the chemical deposits on the plates.