Surge Protector for Battery Tendor

[Jim F.]

Could a power surge through my battery charger (Battery Tendor) harm the electronics on the bike? I have not had a problem, just wondering if others have considered this possibility, and as a result, connect through a surge protector.

[Berts]

Don't know about the bike (seems ok) but both of my tenders are toast. The BMW "Gel" tender was replaced under warranty. The Deltran BT+ was sent to them (warranty) for replacement or repair. These are the only things that died, for now.

I've picked up a couple of those small cube surge protectors, that have to be better than nothing.

[Global_Rider]

Could a power surge through my battery charger (Battery Tendor) harm the electronics on the bike?

 

No.

 

Your battery is a pretty good filter. Your average battery tender runs about 1 amp. Even if you doubled or tripled the input voltage (if it could take it), the output current wouldn't be enough to drive the battery voltage up any significant amount.

 

You have a better chance of winning a lottery.

 

As for battery tenders failing, are they short circuit protected? If not, probably why they are failing. They are easily shorted when using the alligator clips.

[johnt650]

I had a couple of very close lightning strikes a week ago or so and lost a couple of small devices. Today I took the RT out for the first time in two weeks and noticed that the battery tender light was on red. Well the bike started OK, but after the second stop would not restart. I pulled the battery in a parking lot and checked the cells for water, nothing showing. After adding bottled water the bike started immediately; now the question is what caused the problem, the microcircuits in the battery tender due to lightning, or a problem with the battery. Of course now I have the additional problem of having the battery cells run so dry. The fact that the tender was showing red may indicate that the battery was cooked down by overcharging. Maybe a surge protector would have helped.

[rdsmith3]

I had a battery tender fail after a lightning storm. I suspect that was culprit. The bike was fine.

 

Now, I plug the battery tender into a surge protector, and I have not had a problem.

 

BTW, Deltran was very good about giving me a new battery tender for a very discounted price, even though mine was out of warranty and there was nothing defective about the battery tender.

[RockLives]

That line is protected by an 15amp fuse. the fuse would pop way before damage was assesed.

[rdsmith3]

That line is protected by an 15amp fuse. the fuse would pop way before damage was assesed.

 

Damage to the bike or the battery tender?

 

It is very possible for a battery tender to be damaged. The fuse has nothing to do with it. Here is a useful link on how a surge protector works.

How a Surge Protector Works

 

I encourage everyone to use a surge protector with their battery tender, to prevent damage to the charger.

 

I realize that the OP was asking about damage to the bike. I have no idea if that is possible, but if lightning is 1 million volts can't it do whatever it wants?

[RockLives]

You are right. if lightning strikes it will be cooked. I was responding to a surge from the Battery tender. These surges are usually spikes from the electric supplier. In the case of a spike/ supplier surge, the circuit is protected by the 15 amp fuse in the Motorcyles fuse block. In any case a surge protector is good insurance from the power supply to the users device.

[Blue Beemer Dude]

If the bike is connected to a tender, surely you turned off the ignition? So, even if you had a bit of a surge coming through the aux plug and into the battery, it shouldn't get any further since the key is off!

 

Or am I stating the obvious and thereby missing the obscure?

 

Michael

[Slartidbartfast]

Why are you even using a battery tender? Is there something wrong with your bike's charging system? I occasionally travel for up to a month for work. The GS is just parked as normal and cranks right up upon my return as if I rode it yesterday. Same with my car. If I lived somewhere where I could not ride for several months of the year, I would disconnect the battery and give it a top-up charge once every few weeks.

 

A voltage spike induced by lightning can be of several thousand volts and does not propagate in the same way that an overall increase in mains voltage or regulated DC voltage would do. The results of such a spike can be very unpredictable.

 

My sister-in-law's car was narrowly missed by lightning while driving on an interstate in Texas last week. The car stopped dead with a fried computer, which Nissan claims has not happened before. The replacement part is never stocked in the US.

[rdsmith3]

Why are you even using a battery tender?

 

For me, no good reason, really. I have ABS and I have heard (from dealer, not from Ophra Hazard ) that the battery should be well charged if you have ABS. I suppose it is really just a habit. I ride into the garage, put it up on the center stand, and plug in the battery tender. My next ride may be in a week, or it may be in an hour.

 

Accessing the battery is my major gripe with this bike.

[RockLives]

If the bike is connected to a tender, surely you turned off the ignition? So, even if you had a bit of a surge coming through the aux plug and into the battery, it shouldn't get any further since the key is off!

 

Or am I stating the obvious and thereby missing the obscure?

Nope incorect. You can charge your battery through any aux/lighter plug, with the ignition off. Indeed that is the proper way. However if you try and use a charger, or jumper and it has more than 15 amps going out of it, the fuse will pop and ignition has no influence at all.

 

Michael

Nope incorect. You can charge your battery through any aux/lighter plug, with the ignition off. Indeed that is the proper way. However if you try and use a charger, or jumper and it has more than 15 amps going out of it, the fuse will pop and ignition has no influence at all.

[Blue Beemer Dude]

Nope incorect.

 

Is it just me, or does one tend to dismiss the relevance of the post when you don't even spell "incorrect" correctly?

 

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. You turn off the ignition when you plug in a battery tender. Therefore, if there was a surge through the open circuit used for charging, it would not go through any other circuits, and would not damage the bike. I speak of course, of simple power fluctuations, not a lightening strike.

 

My bad for not being clearer, I guess.

 

Michael

[RockLives]

Nope incorect.

 

Is it just me, or does one tend to dismiss the relevance of the post when you don't even spell "incorrect" correctly?

 

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. You turn off the ignition when you plug in a battery tender. Therefore, if there was a surge through the open circuit used for charging, it would not go through any other circuits, and would not damage the bike. I speak of course, of simple power fluctuations, not a lightening strike.

 

My bad for not being clearer, I guess.

 

Michael

Well my spelling of incorrect could be a mistake or speed error..However my answer is correct..its simple any amount of amperage over 15 amps will cause the fuse to fault..so a surge regardless of source ie: jumping a dead battery through a lighter type plug, charging a battery via a charger that exceeds 15 amps, will cause the fuse to fault. Oh isnt this how you spell lightning? Guess we all need a spell checker

[Blue Beemer Dude]

Oh isnt this how you spell lightning? Guess we all need a spell checker

 

touché!

[Jim F.]

I use a battery tender because it has been my experience that batteries on my motorcycles, and riding lawnmowers, have expired earlier than I expected them to expire. I am hoping the tender will add some longevity to their lives.

 

I appreciate the thought everyone put into their comments. Based on these comments, I would conclude that the electronics on the bike are probably safe from harm, and that if I were to add a surge protector it would be to protect the battery tender.

 

Thank you.