My new 1500 AGM battery I think is junk

1822 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by GLester, Jul 3, 2013

DriverRider

Discussion Starter · Jun 29, 2013

I was in the auto repair business for many years and know my way around electrical systems. I am always late to the party on new things and thought an AGM might be greatest thing since sliced bread, although I disagree about battery tenders needed to be constantly hooked up. Do new cars come with AGM and do you hook those up also?

12.6V is a fully charged battery, after charging and within 48 hrs mine reads 12.42 on my Fluke certified calibration meter within the last 18 mos. Meter error is out of the question as one of my cheapie meters gives the same result.

Charging system voltage is 14.2V. Key off draw is 1mA well under the 5mA Honda allows, yet 2 days later my battery is at 12.4V(edit from 14.4) :bananas:after a long ride.

My battery load tester is 70A and after a 15 second draw voltage drops to 8.8V.

Hopefully the Company I bought this Yuasa battery from will warranty it for a no charge replacement.

Any and all thoughts welcome.

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Silicon Sam

· #2 · Jun 29, 2013

I have a Battery Tender and I can't remember the last time I had it hooked to my bike battery. I use it mostly for slow charging the multitude of UPS batteries I have laying around. I ride my bike to keep the battery charged. And sometimes it sits for 2-3 weeks.

My AGM is a Yuasa also. Came with the bike 1 1/2 years ago, don't know how old it is.

DriverRider

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 29, 2013

Yeah, I think I got a lousy one.

To the people who do not know the tests, it can be very disconcerting that their new ride will not run right with a new battery. No excuse

73coupe

· #4 · Jun 29, 2013

Having bought new batteries and had them be bad from the start
both auto and bike can be frustrating
I switched to Interstate batteries several years ago current bike battery is 3 years old it has survived a bad reg/rec last year after a long ride will show 12.9-13.2 The bike is kick only so not much to drain it other than the under tank LEDs if I leave them on over night and only a 1.3 volt drop at that.

First thing to buy when I pick up my 1200 will be a battery, current one holds a charge and is 6 months old but a wal-mart battery, wouldn't trust it to last much longer.

Ansimp

· #5 · Jun 29, 2013

Is the charger working correctly and if so it sounds like your are the unlucky owner of a faulty AGM.

dj norm

· #6 · Jun 29, 2013

Silicon Sam said:
I have a Battery Tender and I can't remember the last time I had it hooked to my bike battery. I use it mostly for slow charging the multitude of UPS batteries I have laying around. I ride my bike to keep the battery charged. And sometimes it sits for 2-3 weeks.

My AGM is a Yuasa also. Came with the bike 1 1/2 years ago, don't know how old it is.

+1
cut paste on you comments

redwing52

· #7 · Jun 29, 2013

Yup, that kind of amperage at that voltage is very low. I think they should warranty it. SHOULD...maybe might have to fight. :lash:

glhonda

· #8 · Jun 29, 2013

12.6 is a fully charged battery? Since when?
Instead of sucking your battery down with a 70 amp draw, load it down to 12v and see what the amperage is.
Are you having problems with your battery/charging system, or are you just looking for some?

DriverRider

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 29, 2013

If the bike didn't start at the first touch of the button I would never suspect a bad battery. I left the key on in the accessory for an hour or so with radio off, only the dash light on. The starter turned over slow after that.

Normal starter draw is 110A. I just went back out and load tested again after battery was charged last night. Voltage dropped to 8 after ten second load and battery does not have enough power to start bike. Back on charger.

Jury is in battery is out.

I do not have a variable load tester.

redwing52

· #10 · Jun 30, 2013

Driverrider is right. With only 70 amps of load the battery voltage should be much higher. Maybe 12 volts even. I use a different procedure to test batteries but I have a variable load tester. His test is valid. The battery is very weak.

DriverRider

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 30, 2013

AGM is a slightly different animal, here are the instructions included from Yuasa.

See less See more

DriverRider

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 3, 2013

The truck just dropped off my replacement battery which was shipped out Monday.

Right out of the box voltage was 13 and after the 10 second 70A draw test voltage only dropped to 12.4, recovered right away to 12.9 and was climbing.

All is well.

AZgl1800

· #13 · Jul 3, 2013

:claps:

Ansimp

· #14 · Jul 3, 2013

+1...

GLester

· #15 · Jul 3, 2013

I guess I have been lucky with my AGM batteries, replaced the one on my 05 which was original last Nov, when it seemed to crank a little slower, bought the same Yusa from Cyclemax, and although it cranks a little faster, I was checking the old battery this last weekend that I still had, and it still was showing 12.5 volts after sitting for 6 or 7 months. Not bad for a 8 year old battery. I wouldn't trust it to use on a bike, but for testing stuff in my garage, it works just fine.

Gene:waving:

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