Rotax Battery

Daniel White · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject: Rotax Battery

So I was reading a thread on the ekarting site and a fellow said that once a Rotax battery loses much or all of its charge (over a long period of no use) that the battery can just die. Because of this he charges his every couple of days.

What do you guys do?
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Tonykart EVRR / Adkins Yamaha

Jeff Sikes · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject:

Daniel,

If you will disconnect it from the kart after each race it should be fine. When you put it to bed at the end of the season, charge the battery and put it inside and you will be fine. When you charge it only use a 2 amp charge or less, anything more and you will shorten the life.

Jeff
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http://www.simonsikes.com

Ihor Bilyy · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:59 pm Post subject:

Some people keep charging battery between session and disconnect battery when it is not used. I had 1 battery and charged it once before the race weekend and it was on a kart until Thursday before the next race. Now, because I have 2. I always charge two on Thursday before the race weekend, but replace battery if Sunday is also a race day. I do not touch them until next charging time. There was never more than 2 months between racing for us and it was never a problem of discharging.
Our last race was in Ocala on 11/22. I started Michael's engine last Saturday with battery still on from that race. Both are Yuasa and at least 2.5 y.o.

clarence · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

use a Battery Tender. They are fantastic.
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Mr. Sideways

Darrin Tebbe · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject:

Daniel White · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

Thanks fellas. At the beginning of last season, I bought a $20 trickle charger from Wal Mart, and haven't had any issues whatsoever. Have I just been lucky? Is my battery living on borrowed time?

What is a battery tender?
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Tonykart EVRR / Adkins Yamaha

Ihor Bilyy · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:20 am Post subject:

I bought mine in AutoZone

Michael Jackson · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:20 am Post subject:

Best of them all

http://www.valueteckenterprises.com/page8.html

Darrin Tebbe · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

For small batteries all you really need is the Jr.:

http://www.batterytender.com/default.php?cPath=11_3

This place has them for about $30 shipped:
http://www.pacificbattery.com/batterytender0123.html

A trickle charger is better than nothing as long as you have a very low current one. You still run the risk of overcharging, however. The Battery Tender has circuitry that monitors charge state and turns off the charging when the battery is "topped off" then maintains the charge automatically.

DT
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Darrin Tebbe

Seeley · Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 263 Score: 2948

I bought my Jr from Marietta Motorsports, for almost $30 I think, possibly less, but certainly worth $30 regardless.