[John J]

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When I connect the battery I get a small spark as the negative leadgoes on. I would guess that the bike's clock and maybe some other stuff must be drawing a small current all the time but wondered whether this small spark is normal?

 

[Pryotex]

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It is "Normal" for a small spark if you have a radio with memory and a clock. However I would still hook up a meter in series and check the amp draw to verify it is next to nothing. And when you say "hook it up", It wasn't to replace due to being dead ????

 

[John J]

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Thanks Pryotex. I was replacing the battery after it went dead but I had left the ignition on for a few days and hope that was the only cause of it dying. Until then, the battery had always been fine but I will get a meter to check it.

 

[Parman]

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It's common for it to spit a little when hooking up a battery. Your clock and some other items start drawing as soon as you hook the leads up.

 

[John J]

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I put a meter across it and it was drawing 0.01 amps with the ignition off so all well and good. I now think the spark when connecting the neg lead is that for the first couple of seconds the radio pulls a current to set itself.
I'm checking the battery while off the bike over a couple of days as I still think it a little strange that it ran down to absolutely nothing in 3 to 4 days with the ignition switch left on the number one position. Thanks for the advice it was a big help.

 

[jimsjinx]

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Nope, totally normal. The battery is BARELY enough to start our 1500's. Glad we don't have points, or else it woulda welded them closed! jimsjinx

 

[Rudy]

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John J wrote:

I put a meter across it and it was drawing 0.01 amps with the ignition off so all well and good.

Not so. The max is 0.005 amps. Your meter may not have the resolution to show you that when using the amps scale. You could be pulling as much as 0.019 amps and still see 0.01 on the meter.

 

[John J]

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You are right Rudy but isn't anything under 0.02 amps ok? For example, a typical interior light bulb for a car would show something like 1.7amps being drawn

 

[Rudy]

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John J wrote:

You are right Rudy but isn't anything under 0.02 amps ok? For example, a typical interior light bulb for a car would show something like 1.7amps being drawn

As long as it is under .005 amps it is. That is the Honda max drain specification.

More drain current simply means less time until battery discharge.
If you are happy with the amount of time your battery stays above 12 volts when sitting uncharged, then it is fine.

Some guys get upset when they can't start the bike after 3 weeks sitting.