Battery conditioner

stewart710, Aug 11, 9:45pm
I've had no luck with battery conditioners on my motorbike. They last for a couple of months then when i want to start the bike the battery is flat.
Should the conditioner just stay on 24/7 or should I turn it off for a week and then on again for a week. Your thoughts please
bigfatmat1, Aug 11, 10:33pm
Maybe the battery is charged but has low capacity output due to sulphation. Common misconception.
s_nz, Aug 11, 10:46pm
Recondition mode should only be used rarely (not more than once or twice a year).

Smart chargers (I have a ctek) have will have a float mode, which allows them to remain connected long term (essentially they will kick in when the battery voltage drops below a certain level, and top the battery back up, then turn off to avoid overcharging.
apollo11, Aug 11, 10:50pm
I had the same issue. Brand new sealed bike battery, brand new SCA trickle charger, battery stuffed in a couple of months. Interestingly the charger works fine on car batteries. Buggered if I know what's going on.
budgel, Aug 11, 11:35pm
Try leaving it on charge with the red wire to the bike disconnected.
This should tell you whether the bike is running it down, or if the battery is kaput.
peanuts37, Aug 12, 12:34am
I got one of these a while ago brilliant charger and repair function works. Just buy genuine Foxsur and not unbranded knock offs. Have a look on YouTube for reviews.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880436386.html?spm=a2g0s.12269583.0.0.18966c94ShxO19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zSlP27b2uY
tony9, Aug 16, 4:48am
An automotive trickle charger will become a full blown charger on a bike battery.

On the side of the SLA bike battery will be a max charge voltage, likely in the low 14.xxV. After a few days of the trickle charge you will find the voltage going north of 16V on the bike battery. This will boil all the liquid out via the gas relief valve.

Get one of these. https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/autohaus-battery-charger-ahbc-3.8i-intelligent-smart-6v-12v-3.8amp/R1803208.html#start=1

Great price and as many brains as the expensive ctek ones. I have used two of the bigger ones for years, they go well.
franc123, Aug 16, 5:03am
In the past I've just used an old Arlec 8A charger hooked into a 24hr timer, and just commanded it on for a few hours (or however long it needs) a day. Doing a battery test every few days for say two weeks will soon establish if it's being under or overcharged.
apollo11, Aug 16, 5:11am
Thanks Tony. I actually bought one of these thinking that the SCA was faulty. Bought a new sealed cell for the bike, but the new charger doesn't recognise it. Keeps blinking between 6 and 12 v. Works well on larger batteries.
tony9, Aug 16, 5:20am
Then either the battery or the charger is stuffed. Those chargers are rated down to 1.7AH, I assume your battery is bigger than that. I have used mine on small SLA batteries from UPS's, smallest was 1.9AH and it was OK.

I would be inclined to take the charger back to the Warehouse and get a replacement, see if that works.
apollo11, Aug 16, 5:28am
The batteries are Motobatt MBTX9U. No sign of Amperage figures on the case. They have to turn over a big V-Twin so they must have some beef to them. I've reverted to chucking the standard 'non-intelligent' charger on once a month.
tony9, Aug 16, 5:34am
It is 10AH. https://www.batterymart.com/pdfs/MBTX9U.pdf

That charger should be good with it, I would definitely return the charger.
apollo11, Dec 7, 1:05am
Cheers, receipt is gone. Might buy another one as I have multiple vehicles I can use it on.