Battery Drain

Discussion in 'Maintenance' started by mikegml, Aug 4, 2014.

  1. mikegml

    mikegml Active Member

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    My RR7 lasts about a week, a week and half max before the battery is as flat as f***. Two weeks and it's definitely flat. I'm assuming this is the Datatool S4 Green alarm? It's not the battery, I suspected it might have been the old battery (Yuasa) but the brand new Yuasa is just the same.

    Anyone else have this problem with the Datatool 4?

    My previous bike was a R1 which had a Datatool 3 and that lasted 3/4 weeks or even longer before it went flat
     
  2. scooby

    scooby Elite Member

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    either that or your battery is goosed.keep it on an optimate.
     
  3. mikegml

    mikegml Active Member

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    Both batteries? both good Yuasa's? pretty unlikely I'd say. Any good battery should last 2/3 weeks or thereabouts, shouldn't need an optimate for that long.
     
  4. bradt

    bradt Elite Member

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    same problem even without alarm.
     
  5. sps170373

    sps170373 Moderator
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    I can leave my bike for 4 weeks and never had a problem starting after even with the old oem battery, sounds like the datatool alarm might be the culprit, have heard loads of times from people with datatool alarms finding their bikes with flat batteries if they haven't put on charge, otherwise it's a short somewhere else
     
  6. mikegml

    mikegml Active Member

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    Battery is on charge now, I'll put it on and monitor the voltage 'without alarm'.

    I should mention I also have a couple of 'mini usb' leads (like below) connected direct to the battery to power my sat nav and sat/nav/phone. I'm assuming these consume 'f*** all' power as I've had them connected to other bikes without any battery problem whatever. One is a Garmin USB power lead which I had connected literally for a few years on my last two bikes, no problem at all.

    But if someone knows better re' these power leads let me know.

    nuvicigadapt.jpg
     
  7. scooby

    scooby Elite Member

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    yes very unlikely,but if your alarm is draing the battery,then it will be goosed eventually,hence leavingit on an optimate
     
  8. mikegml

    mikegml Active Member

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    The battery is almost new, only been ran down a few times, surely I'd have to repeatedly be doing this over a much longer period for that to happen.

    It's usually on optimate over winter when it's standing for a very long period.
     
  9. scooby

    scooby Elite Member

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    right i'll try again.

    it looks very likely your alarm is draining battery flat when the bike is stood for a while,if this carries on,it will in time knacker the battery,so to avoid this happening you have 2 options.

    take the alarm off
    or
    leave the bike on the optimate
     
  10. mikegml

    mikegml Active Member

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    Cheers mate, I'll try again.

    Yes I know that the alarm is draining the battery (not 100% confirmed yet). Yes I know that if the battery is repeatedly drained and flattened this will f*** up the battery. However as the battery as only been drained 4/5 times we have not reached that stage yet. I repeat we have not reached that stage yet.

    If I have to take the alarm off then I'll do it as I'm not a big alarm fan. I had the D'tool 3 removed from my previous R1. If I can't leave my bike for a week without plugging the optimate in then the alarm will def' be gone as it would be more trouble than it's worth, but I'd prefer to keep it if poss.

    I was hoping a few Datatool 4 owners were going to confirm that 'yes or no' it was a pain in the ass.

    I'll see how I go with the alarm disconnected and take it from there.
     
    #10 mikegml, Aug 5, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2014
  11. Kentblade

    Kentblade God Like

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    Not sure if its a direct comparison, but my 10 plate had a S4 alarm, but it was an ABS, and that thing was very marginal, even after being left during the working day, and it was used daily and the charging system was working correctly and get around 60 miles a day use, it would only just catch, there was no way it wanted to start after a cold winter night without being on an Optimate. So 12 months a year it was left on the Optimate, but if you attempted 3 or 4 quick starts and shut offs, it was on its knees.

    Now the ABS has a bigger cap battery than the standard model with the always working brake system. But I cannot say if it was the power requirements of all the ABS shi*e or the alarm.

    My 14 plate is a non ABS, and the starting difference is day and night, so not a lot of help, but take from that what you can.
     
    #11 Kentblade, Aug 6, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2014
  12. Slick

    Slick Elite Member

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    my 09 ABS has a tracker, not used for 2 weeks and as usual kicks into life after the 3 turn.
    Never optimated but I do run a lipo battery now.
     
  13. RRoss

    RRoss Active Member

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    I have a 2012 ABS with the datatool s4 fitted and always on. Have left the bike sitting for 2 weeks before and started no bother. Always put it on an optimate for longer periods.
     
  14. mikegml

    mikegml Active Member

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    Thanks.

    Not sure why anything with 'ABS' would be subject to any battery drain? It's not active while it's sitting in the garage is it? Surely when the bike is running the battery is getting more than enough charge? Am I missing something here?

    I'm thinking that maybe the 'alarm battery' is maybe knackered and this is creating an extra drain on the main battery?
     
  15. Slick

    Slick Elite Member

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    ABSs with early generation ECUs have a 'flaw' that kept the ABS motors active if you performed a 3 point turn or similar before switching off. This would drain the battery in less than an hour!! Been a victim a few times:mad: but I now fitted a new ABS ECU so all is good!
     
  16. mikegml

    mikegml Active Member

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    Bit of an update.

    After recharging my batteries (the old Yuasa which I suspected was a bit duff but isn't, and the new Yuasa) and refitting the old one, I checked the amps being consumed by the alarm (Datatool 4S Green) which was 0.25ma (I don't think I was reading it wrong) which I think is about right. This was last Saturday.

    I then connected the two connectors for the sat-nav and my old little Sony Xperia phone which used to be used to navigate with but isn't anymore tho' I keep the connection there should I want to, and was v' surprised to find they consume well over an amp! So with these connected I'm not surprised it's being drained after about a week.

    I was puzzled because I've had the Garmin connector connected to other bikes (ZX9 and a R1) permanently without any problems? I've now connected the sat-nav and phone connectors so they are 'switched'. I just open the seat cowel and the switch is right there so it's no hassle to switch on and off.

    It'll be this weekend before I ride her again so that'll be just right to check whether 'just the alarm' is enough to drain the battery after a week.
     
    #16 mikegml, Aug 13, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2014

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