Battery charging question

[benjilafouine]

I have a question: how long do you have to ride to recharge your battery while riding on a 2-stroke?

I am asking because we are having a disastrous summer here and I am barely using my ski. Probably used it 5-6 hours so far tops. Since I took it out beginning of May, we have had rain almost every two days and the sunny ones are not that warm as I had to ride with my jacket on no later than 10 days ago. Our weather is completely screwed up here in northeastern Canada (Quebec province). We even had to put the heat on at the end of June! And I am not even telling about the floods we had in Montreal and Quebec in May (like 5000 houses flooded).

About 10 days ago I felt my battery was getting a bit weaker when cranking with ski cold. Fortunately we had three days of sun and I was able to ride for more than 30 minutes twice. I have the feeling that a 10-minute ride is not sufficient to keep the battery fully charged so today, just to be on the safe side, I connected a 1 amp. slow charger that I intend to leave all night plugged (Sea-Doo is on the trailer). This battery is one year old btw.

Benji.

 

[mikidymac]

It can take quite a few hours at least. These are pretty weak charging systems and do their best just to keep the battery topped up.

They are nothing like a car's alternator. I would just get a smart charger like the battery tenders.

 

[benjilafouine]

That explains it then.

Since I moved I seem to have lost my smart charger... Guess I will find it when I am finished organizing my stuff! I still have a whole 12x12 sq. feet shed to go through... So I am using a 1 amp one that I know never hurt my ski before.

Benji.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

I agree with the noid' 10 minutes won't do the trick. the 1 amp is a good answer to the problem, should do the trick.

AGM? or acid battery...

 

[Triorieel]

If I remember right, the stator is 160watts at 6000rpm's. If you play a safe margin and say it's charging 120watts at 6000rpm....this would be 10 amps per hour. It would take about 2 hrs at a constant 6000rpm's to charge. Thats a lot of distance and a lot of fuel.

That is also ignoring how batteries dislike being repetitively discharged and/or drained to begin with.

Edit: I know what you mean about the weather...I've had to chance it almost everytime I have gone out...and most of the time I have gotten drenched and even hailed on the one time(had to use my sunglasses under the dark skies because the hail hurt). and I live on the water... weird weather this year.

 

[benjilafouine]

I bought a standard Yuasa battery last year (the original model that fits on this ski).

As for the weather, if I was to ride today, I would need a coat. It is even tempting to turn the heat on inside the house today...

Benji.

 

[mikidymac]

You need one of these Benji, they are great on cool days.

 

[benjilafouine]

I have an Under Armour waterproof coat that I usually wear on my ATV and that I wear in May in my first Sea-Doo rides. I have the feeling that the month of August will be cold this year as the 14-day forecast doesn't show real hot temperature except for a few days. Basically it all boils down to this: if the Earth doesn't accumulate lots of heat in June and July over here, August will be much colder than usual.

I also have wet suit boots.

I went for a small ride yesterday (weather was sort of OK) and I could felt the battery being much more powerful than before charging.

Benji.