User Manual

15
battery and are not interchangeable. Even if the battery
sensor is original equipment (OE) it must be changed
when replacing the battery because it may not match
the new battery. This is true even if the replacement battery
is the same brand as the OE battery. Sensor plugs that are
installed into one of the battery’s cells come in many different
lengths and diameters. A sensor plug that’s too long can
cause electrical system problems. If the plug is too short, the
warning light will fl ash when the electrolyte level is not low.
Yuasa’s sensor batteries are not interchangeable as they have
different vent locations, sensor wire lengths and diameters.
When replacing a battery always replace the sensor.
The correct sensor and battery can be determined by using the
Yuasa Battery Specifi cations & Applications guide.
Activating a Battery
Yuasa batteries come from the factory in one of two ways:
Factory Activated (FA) where the battery is fi lled with
electrolyte, sealed and charged at the factory. These batteries
must be used within a period of time and cannot be stored
indefi nitely. The other type of battery is shipped dry and
can be either a Conventional or AGM type of battery. These
batteries are sometimes referred to as Bottle Supplied (BS)
because they are shipped with the electrolyte stored in a
plastic container. The battery is fi lled with electrolyte from
the container when it’s ready to be activated. These types of
factory sealed, dry batteries have an indefi nite shelf life as long
as they remain sealed (fi ller caps and red sealing cap in place
on a Conventional battery and foil sealing strip in place on an
AGM battery). Once it’s unsealed, a battery should be activated,
charged and installed. The plates of an unsealed battery will
begin to oxidize making it more diffi cult to charge later.
Choosing a Battery Charger
A battery charger brings a new battery, or a battery that has
been discharged, to full capacity. Battery chargers send direct
current (DC) into the battery fl owing in the opposite direction
of current when the battery discharges. In addition, charging
a battery reverses the destructive chemical process that
takes place as the battery is discharged. The lead plates and
electrolyte, which transform into lead sulfate and water during
discharge are changed back to lead antimony (Conventional
battery), or lead calcium (AGM battery). The charging process
reverts the lead sulfate and water to its original state.
Types of Battery Chargers. There are three types of battery
chargers that are commonly used for powersports-sized
batteries.
1. Trickle or Taper Chargers. The least effective are the
“trickle” and automatic taper types of battery chargers. Both
are similar in that their charging voltage is fi xed. The taper
charger reduces charging current while the trickle charger
keeps both voltage and current constant. These types of
chargers are slow in charging even moderately discharged
batteries and are not safe to leave connected to a battery
for long periods of time as they can over charge the battery
possibly causing damage.
2. Constant Current Charger. By contrast, a professional-
quality Constant Current Battery Charger makes charging
simple. It maintains a constant supply of current to the
battery at all levels of charging. As the battery’s internal
voltage increases with the amount of charge, the charger
automatically increases the charging voltage to maintain
the current output.
Smart Battery Charger. The best chargers combine both
types of designs. The strong charging characteristics of a
constant-current charger are used to initially charge the
battery; then the charger automatically switches to a constant
voltage mode to fl oat-charge or maintain the battery. This type
of charger is also known as a Smart Battery Charger because
they use a micro-chip (computer) in their circuits to determine
when to switch from charging mode to maintenance, or “fl oat”
modes of charging.
Smart chargers monitor the battery’s state-of-charge and will
automatically start charging when the battery falls below a
specifi c voltage. This smart technology is also used to keep
batteries from being over-charged, causing excessive water
loss in Conventional batteries. Yuasa Smart chargers can be
left on an AGM battery indefi nitely, but cannot be left
for extended periods of time on a Conventional battery
without checking water levels. In addition, these chargers
are capable of reaching
12.8 or more volts required to activate
AGM batteries. Some smart chargers have diagnostic features
that indicate if a battery is worn out and needs replacing. In
addition to these features, many smart chargers will not spark
when connected to a battery and will indicate that they are
connected backwards (reverse polarity).
The current output of a battery charger, used to provide
a maintenance charge for powersports-sized batteries,
should not exceed
3 amps. Automotive or high-rate types
of battery chargers should not be used as they can overcharge
and damage small batteries. Always match Conventional or
AGM batteries to the correct battery charger. The wrong type
of charger, or a charger that outputs too much amperage, can
cause poor performance or even permanent damage. Do not
use a high-amperage charger to reduce charging time as
it will void the battery warranty.
Current Output. To fi nd the recommended charger current
output in amps for a specifi c battery, divide the battery amp
hour rating by
10. For example a 14 AH battery should be
charged at
1.4 amps (14 AH ÷ 10 = 1.4 amp current). Select a
battery charger that comes closest to the value of that fi gure.
Yuasa AGM batteries have the amp hours printed on the front
of the battery case. If unsure about a battery’s rating, refer