Trickle Chargers

Topics

Trickle Chargers

Train
4 years ago

Gents, I've been using trickle charger on the bike for years. A few months back a close mate of mine who is a firey said he went to a house fire which burnt down, started with the trickle charger on a guys harley. Then last night I heard of a another fire where the bloke nearly lost his kids, started from a trickle charger hooked up to a go kart at 2 in the morning.
I'm sure its a very rare thing, but gets me a touch nervous

Wideglider
4 years ago

If I'm not riding for a while I just use mine for a couple of hours every few days - but only when I'm actually in the garage.

Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

I was in the RFS NSW the fire trucks are always plugged into battery tenders, & I've always kept my Harleys plugged into a battery tender since about 2008, & never had a problem.

fatbat
4 years ago

I’ve been using trickle chargers for 16 years and they’re on at all time except when I’m riding. I’ve only used the harley one and another reputable brand one I can’t remember. No problems for me. I never use cheap, rubbish electrical things like the cheap Christmas lights as the quality is never good which increases risk of fire

tussuck
4 years ago

Quoting Train on 18 Jun 2020 06:06 AM
Gents, I've been using trickle charger on the bike for years. A few months back a close mate of mine who is a firey said he went to a house fire which burnt down, started with the trickle charger on a guys harley. Then last night I heard of a another fire where the bloke nearly lost his kids, started from a trickle charger hooked up to a go kart at 2 in the morning.
I'm sure its a very rare thing, but gets me a touch nervous

If your worried then sit the charger in an old oven pan etc. So if it goes up then nothing gets torched.

Wideglider
4 years ago

Quoting Wideglider on 18 Jun 2020 06:15 AMedited: 18 Jun 2020 06:15 AM
If I'm not riding for a while I just use mine for a couple of hours every few days - but only when I'm actually in the garage.

I stand by my last comment above.
There's no need to have these chargers on 24/7!
Have it on occasionally in the day when you're there & just turn the bloody thing off when your not in the garage!
If you are going away a few weeks then disconnect the battery and recharge it upon your return - simples.

JFE
4 years ago

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 18 Jun 2020 06:22 AM
I was in the RFS NSW the fire trucks are always plugged into battery tenders, & I've always kept my Harleys plugged into a battery tender since about 2008, & never had a problem.

Mine have always been connected since 2007 and I’ve never had a problem.
It’s not really fair to quote these bad fire events without the context of what sort of chargers etc involved. My last trickle charger was great but I noticed over time it would get pretty hot. I traded up for a HD one and haven’t had an issue. It, like some others, apparently have built in protections which is fine by me.
If I still lived in Nth Qld then it would be so much of an issue but in the colder climes, a trickle charger is very helpful in my view.

Train
4 years ago

Quoting Wideglider on 18 Jun 2020 06:15 AMedited: 18 Jun 2020 06:15 AM
If I'm not riding for a while I just use mine for a couple of hours every few days - but only when I'm actually in the garage.

Think that's what i'll be doing from now on

Ratbob
4 years ago

Been using them for years, shit happens, 211 motorcyclist deaths in 2019, you gunna stop riding?

Wideglider
4 years ago

Quoting Ratbob on 18 Jun 2020 09:47 AM
Been using them for years, shit happens, 211 motorcyclist deaths in 2019, you gunna stop riding?

Hardly a relative analogy RB.
Agree it a rare occurrence, but the OP has just given you a couple of real-life examples from fire brigade!
Why not realise it's simply about reducing an unnecessary risk?
Cheaper & cheaper components used in some of these chargers, assembled cheaply (in the very country we love to hate at the moment) and with questionable 'quality control' - this even applies to the well known brands.
Over many years in my game, I have had to repair or replace numerous battery chargers or burnt out components (I meaning a smoldering burnt mess).
Point is; it is totally unnecessary for the health and longevity of the battery by charging your battery at night (whilst unattended). If you are determined to do this because it gives you a warm/fuzzy feeling - good luck to ya.

steelo
4 years ago

I’ve gotta charge it at night wg! I get bored watching it during the day with so much to do!

bloodog
4 years ago

Golf clubs every were charge there buggies using the same Trickle Chargers some clubs have 60 buggies all charging every day, all day at the same time, that proves they are safe to me.

Krash Kinkade
4 years ago

I've always used C-tech & have there lead set wired to the battery & plug it in .
I'm thinking how many live wire Riders in here?

Airhead
4 years ago

I have a Harley branded one and have had it for five or six years, only use it when I am around. I just need to charge the battery not keep charging it. The idea of putting it in a pot is a good idea though. A mate had a always live direct from the battery accessory plug on his Ultra, connected his warm as toast electrified winter gloves up one night in readiness to go early the next morning, forgetting it was always on. Placed his helmet on top of the gloves that were resting on his two up standard seat. Woke up at 0100 smelling acrid smoke, a lot of it, he could not see into the garage when he got there for all the smoke, luckily only burnt a helmet shaped hole in his seat. Not a trickle charger done me wrong story but similar, watch what you leave live.

Ranga
4 years ago

I've been using CTek chargers on my bikes for years. I plug them in and leave them unless I'm riding them.
I just bought a BMW K1300R which had a tail for a different charger fitted.
I was in battery world after a new battery for the BM and was speaking with them about chargers and when we found a charger that fitted the tail the bloke strongly advised against buying it.
He said it was suitable for a remote control car and that was all, so Battery Chargers ain't Battery Chargers.
Perhaps using an inappropriate or undersized charger is the problem.

dicko
4 years ago

I have 3 of them, and they are the harley battery keepers,, one for ride on mower , one for Roadking, one for the boat.
They are on permanently and I have never had a problem.

Benno
4 years ago

Quoting dicko on 25 Jun 2020 09:41 PM
I have 3 of them, and they are the harley battery keepers,, one for ride on mower , one for Roadking, one for the boat.
They are on permanently and I have never had a problem.

Same here, one on the bike and one on the ride on mower, I wish my bike battery would last as long as the mower, it's fkn 7 years and from supercheap.

WideglidingNZ
4 years ago

I've never had a problem with my little $80nz Harley charger and it's always on it when not in use

liberator
4 years ago

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 18 Jun 2020 06:22 AM
I was in the RFS NSW the fire trucks are always plugged into battery tenders, & I've always kept my Harleys plugged into a battery tender since about 2008, & never had a problem.

Quoting JFE on 18 Jun 2020 08:12 AM
Mine have always been connected since 2007 and I’ve never had a problem.
It’s not really fair to quote these bad fire events without the context of what sort of chargers etc involved. My last trickle charger was great but I noticed over time it would get pretty hot. I traded up for a HD one and haven’t had an issue. It, like some others, apparently have built in protections which is fine by me.
If I still lived in Nth Qld then it would be so much of an issue but in the colder climes, a trickle charger is very helpful in my view.

When the trickle charger starts running warm then your battery is fucked,

Topics

Trickle Chargers

Trickle Chargers

Train

Wideglider

Krash Kinkade

fatbat

tussuck

Wideglider

JFE

Train

Ratbob

Wideglider

steelo

bloodog

Krash Kinkade

Airhead

Ranga

dicko

Benno

WideglidingNZ

liberator