Battery Replacement

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Permalink Reply by John Nichols on October 11, 2009 at 9:29pm

Hello Martyn,
I got a new battery for my Qpod Sport a few months ago. I got the code number from the side of the old one and went round the local motor parts places. I could not get the same make of battery but that didn't matter as long as the numbers matched.
I found the cheapest one at a local motorbike dealer for £30 including filling and charging.
At the same time I got an Optimate trickle charger which keeps it topped up when it is sitting in the garage for weeks at a time, so it is always ready to start.

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Permalink Reply by Jordan on October 12, 2009 at 3:54pm

Hi,

I have a trickle charger as well. It is from Maplin and cost £9.99. It is connected to my cigarette sockets which are a direct connection to the battery in a funtech 50.

Jordan

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Permalink Reply by Alex on October 14, 2009 at 7:13pm

Hi
Any Motorcycle shop will sell you a new battery, probably off the shelf.

You can get cheaper, but my advice - buy a Yuassa.

Yuassa Batteries last for ages, Anything up to 5 or 6 Years. Get a cheep Battery they can last as little as 2 years.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Gerrard on October 14, 2009 at 10:14pm

I would go with Alex's suggestion. I used to have battery problems and replaced mine with a Yuassa and its been great ever since. As you may recall just before the rally I was off the road for a few weeks due to bearing problems and since the wheel came off on the way back from the rally I have been off the road until two days ago, as I hadn't fixed the mudguard. When I strated the pod after both off these long 'rests' the battery was fine and turned the engine loads of times without flagging until it decided it wanted to fire up. With the old battery it would have died long before this.
I think I paid £35 for mine (through a motorcycle dealer friend) but I think the shelf price was about £45.

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Permalink Reply by Martyn Holder on October 14, 2009 at 11:04pm

Thanks for the advice folks - I will be getting a Yuassa Battery as soon as possible.
Particularly interested in maintaining a trickle charge.
Not being electrically minded if I plugged a solar panel direcly into the the 12v plug I have fitted to an electrical source on th pod would this automatically charge the battery>
regards
Martyn

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Permalink Reply by Alex on October 15, 2009 at 6:18pm

Hi

You want something similar to:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=115194

It has the Built in Blocking diode you are talking about.

Whilst on the subject of batteries>

Never charge your Pod battery with a Car or fast Charger. You will destroy it !
You need a Motorcycle Charger - something like an Optimate, sold by many Motorcycle dealers.

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Permalink Reply by Jordan on October 15, 2009 at 7:39pm

Hi,

This is the solar panel I have. It does not supply as much power as the one alex suggested but is more manageable. If fits nicely between the windscreen and the raised bit of the dashboard.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358

It has a built in diode. Diodes only allow current through in one direction, hence stopping current from the battery "charging" the solar panel.

I bought a 12v motorcycle battery charger from Wilkinsons. They have some good stuff, not as you would expect, and it is very reasonably priced as well. I paid £9.99 for the charger. It is in no way the most sophisticated charger but it does the job.

Jordan

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Permalink Reply by Alex on October 15, 2009 at 9:50pm

Jordan

That was the charger i was looking for......

both will do an equally good job.

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Permalink Reply by Alex on October 16, 2009 at 5:14pm

Tis fine. I have an Optimate, but thans for the offer :)

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