GSA battery - 20 amp-hour?

[Deleted account 200502001]

I have zero knowledge of electrickery, so can anyone give me some info about the battery on my 2009 GSA please? I hope to be able to use my Ctek msx 5.0 charger on my battery, but I've been informed that..

Battery manufacturers recommend a maximum size charger of 25% of the battery amp-hour, so with the Ctek msx 5.0 the battery should be at least 20amp-hour,

So is my battery at least 20amp-hour?

 

[North]

I used a Deltran Battery tender. I don't see there being a problem using yours.

http://batterytender.com/battery-tenderr-junior-high-efficiency.html

 

[Bendy toy]

Lead acids don't like a charge rate of more than 10% of AH capacity. So 5A is too much for even a 20AH battery.
My Odyssey is I believe 16AH and only just squeezes into place.


Sent from a widget that can't spell.

 

[oblertone]

A swift look ...

... on Motorworks site would indicate that none of the available batteries for the 1200 are more than 19ah capacity.

 

[cammy5477]

I use an 18 ah odyssey battery and charge it with the ctek msx 0.8. As long as the current flowing into the battery from the charger is higher than the current flowing out the battery will charge. I'm sure your charger charges at either 0.8 or 5 you want to charge a bike on the 0.8 setting and a car on the 5 setting. Remember it's a trickle charger if you charge the bike on the 5 setting that's not good for the battery. Your ctek unit will most likely be automatic in selecting either 0.8 or 5 but you will need to read the instructions and make sure that it's not something you need to select.
They are fantastic units though I plug my bike in every time it's parked up

 

[cammy5477]

Just had a quick look and this charger is fully automatic. It senses the heat build up in charging the battery and adjusts the amount of current to suite going to the battery. So small batteries that are drawing to much current when charging equals more heat so charger gives it less charge current and larger batteries not drawing enough then charger will ramp it up to a set heat point or a max of 5A charge current whatever it reaches first.

 

[cammy5477]

Just so your clear the ctek unit will auto range between 0.8 and 5A so your charger is absolutely fine for your battery and any other battery you buy unless it's a Mac truck.

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Thanks cammy5477

Mt Ctek msx 5.0 has the following settings..

Car/motorbike/snowflake/recondition.

Mines a year old, but the new model has an AGM setting instead of the snowflake. Their website states..

Wide charging range on all lead-acid battery types from 1.2Ah up to110Ah with additional maintenance capability to 160Ah

Im guessing I need to use the 'Motorbike' setting. But what is the 'Snowflake' setting for? Perhaps charging in cold conditions?

 

[cammy5477]

Thanks cammy5477

Mt Ctek msx 5.0 has the following settings..

Car/motorbike/snowflake/recondition.

Mines a year old, but the new model has an AGM setting instead of the snowflake. Their website states..

Wide charging range on all lead-acid battery types from 1.2Ah up to110Ah with additional maintenance capability to 160Ah

Im guessing I need to use the 'Motorbike' setting. But what is the 'Snowflake' setting for? Perhaps charging in cold conditions?

My battery is AGM type and my 0.8 version is designed for and charges it no problem. Set it to bike then when you put it away for the winter set it to snowflake. If you look for it there will be info on the ctek site telling you exactly what each setting does. I initially bought mine because my battery was flat and on first use it took about a day to come off the first stage which removes plaques off the charge plates before it starts to charge. It then went through 5-6 more stages before saying another day later it was finished at which point my 09 gsa roared into life. I have since changed the battery to a 625 odyssey for more AH (only reason) and I always keep it on trickle just so it's always optimum

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Great, thanks

I assume you leave your battery connected to your bike? Or do you remove it?

Ive had my caravan leisure battery connected to my Ctek in the garage since last August. They really are great chargers.

 

[cammy5477]

I bought the cigarette outlet add on for my ctek charger was about £7 if I remember correctly and I have a touratech dash plate with power outlet which I've connected straight of the battery so no canbus mucking about so all I do is plug my ctek straight into that whenever I park the bike up and just let it do its thing I don't even need to take my seat off or anything just plug straight into dash socket. Simples

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

That sounds a neat setup you've got

Mines not quite as neat, I've fitted a Ctek comfort connector to my battery, but unless I leave it dangling its tucked under the seat...

 

[cammy5477]

This is my setup bud

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Looks great, and very convenient Thanks for the help.

 

[cammy5477]

Looks great, and very convenient Thanks for the help.

No probs any time

 

[Roymondo]

How does it "sense the heat build-up" ? Does it have a temperature probe on the battery casing? AFAICS it only senses ambient temperature and modifies output accordingly (with no reference to the battery itself warming up).