Last Updated on January 4, 2023 by Leepu Da Maxim
The number of amps per hour can vary between 2 and 36 amps depending on the performance capacity. In this case, the battery can be 12 volts or only 6 volts. On the other hand, the number of cold start amps can start at thirty and go up to 540 amps.
Key Takeaways
- How many Amp a motorcycle battery can provide mostly depends on the size and type of the battery
- The most common type of motorcycle battery has a capacity of around 12 volts and a storage capacity of 3 – 9 Ah (amp-hours)
- A 12 volts motorcycle battery can offer a current supply of up to 1.5 to 3.0 amps for 3 to 9 hours
- You should keep in mind that a fully charged battery can deliver a higher current than a battery that is not fully charged
Battery Maximum Discharge Current
| Battery Ah Rating | 7-minute maximum discharge current | 30-minute maximum discharge current |
| 5 Ah 7 Ah 8 Ah 9 Ah 10 Ah 12 Ah 14 Ah 15 Ah 18 Ah 22 Ah 35 Ah | 15 Amps 21 Amps 24 Amps 27 Amps 31 Amps 36 Amps 42 Amps 44 Amps 57 Amps 66 Amps 105 Amps | 10 Amps 14 Amps 16 Amps 18 Amps 21 Amps 24 Amps 31 Amps 32 Amps 40 Amps 46 Amps 84 Amps |
What Amps Does A Motorcycle Battery Charge?
These days, a lot of users need to charge a motorcycle battery. However, it is not possible to use any type of battery charger here. The wrong amount of amps could create a problem for your motorcycle battery. Also, the battery may receive more amps than it can handle or needs.
If you do not want to cause major damage to the battery charger and your battery, you should follow the correct procedure. That is why here we can find a general rule regarding the number of amps per hour. To begin with, you can check the amount of ampere-per-hour rating of your motorcycle battery.
You should not charge your motorcycle battery to more than one-tenth of an amp-hour. So, a 2 amp charge over 10 hours will be more than enough for a 20 amp battery. When you attempt to use more than 2 amps to charge this battery, then damage will begin to appear on the unit.
Here, we can mention some of the main problems that usually happen in a battery. Of course, this happens as long as your motorcycle battery does not have overcharge protection. These problems are:
1. Excessive electrolyte temperature
2. General battery overheating
3. The plates can be permanently deformed
4. In worse cases, the battery explodes
5. Excess hydrogen and a spark is more than enough for an explosion
Of course, it is not very convenient to use a battery charger to charge the battery of a different vehicle. Many users often use a car battery charger for a motorcycle. If you do this then you could easily cause some damage to your motorcycle. There are even those who choose to use a truck battery charger for the same task.
Here, you can only expect a simple and quick overcharge of your motorcycle battery. However, some users decide to save some money to avoid buying an additional battery charger.
If you do not want to spend money on a new battery for your motorcycle, we recommend purchasing the correct battery charger. As we have mentioned, any battery charger will not be useful.
If you can only use a car charger, there are some tactics you can apply to avoid problems. Here you can insert a standard test light. You can also insert a standard test light built with a tail light bulb. Either of these two options was more than enough to perform the following steps.
You will need to insert this light inline between your battery and the positive side of the charger. A brake bulb, turn signal, or test lamp typically consumes 2.25 amps. If you do not know the amperage of the lamp, you can use an ammeter for this purpose. This way, you can decrease the amperage load that goes directly to your motorcycle battery.
If your motorcycle battery is 20 amps and you use a 6 amp charger you should have two bulbs in parallel. This will allow you to direct a charge of approximately 2 amps into your motorcycle battery. Of course, you are much better off than cooking your motorcycle battery directly and then buying a new one.
How Many Cold Start Amps Does A Bike Need?
Of course, in all cases, you don’t need the same amount of cold start amps for any bike. So, someone needs to check the owner’s manual to see the specifications of each battery. That way, you’ll know how much cold start amps your bike needs.
This can help have a perfect battery charger for your vehicle. In turn, a motorcycle needs a certain amount of cold start amps that the battery should be able to provide. That’s why there are batteries specially designed for motorcycles and others for cars.
So, you will be able to avoid too much power in a motorcycle battery. That is why it is highly recommended to check the amperage needed before buying a new battery. Many users buy the wrong battery and then notice the amount of damage and failure that occurs to the vehicle’s electrical system.
What Is The Difference Between A Conventional, Gel, AGM, And Lithium Battery?
Of course, there are some basic differences between each of these types of batteries. In particular, different motorcycles need different types of batteries for better performance. Also, there are different levels of technology that have been incorporated throughout different batteries.
Conventional Batteries: These types of batteries are old-school and are designed as part of lead-acid batteries. This type of battery is also known as a flooded cell battery and has been around for over a century. So, the energy is created by a chemical reaction that occurs inside.
To do this, a series of lead plates are inserted and soaked using an acid solution. This acidic solution is better known as an electrolyte. Although they require some maintenance, the truth is that it is one of the most reliable and cheapest batteries.
However, the safety level is low due to the corrosive acid inside. Compared to new batteries, the functionality of this type of battery is intermediate.
Gel battery: In this case, it is a battery with a similar performance to conventional batteries. The difference here is that no liquid acid is applied inside the battery for the chemical reaction. Instead, a form of electrolyte gel is incorporated here to provide better results. Furthermore, this battery is not usually used as a starter battery.
On the other hand, they are usually used in solar or marine energy storage applications. So here the result is formidable when a deep cycle battery is required. Besides, many people confuse this type of battery with AGM batteries. While there are some exceptions, in most cases, it is confusion between the two batteries.
AGM batteries: A higher level of technology has been incorporated into this type of battery. In particular, these are absorbed glass mat batteries. The reaction that this battery produces is the same as that of lead-acid batteries. Of course here the functionality is somewhat different when we analyze the interior of this unit.
Here, it is possible to control the electrolyte using fiberglass mats. In conventional batteries, this is not possible as the electrolyte flows freely through a flooded cell.
Therefore this type of battery is one of the most modern and offers excellent results in a large number of vehicles. They are also safe to use, offer excellent durability, and are resistant to any weather conditions.
Lithium batteries: The functionality of this type of battery is very different from lead-acid batteries. Although the name is a lithium battery, it is lithium-iron-phosphate. In this case, no acid or lead is used in any part of the battery. So the lithium cells are dry and there is no liquid inside.
That’s why the generation of energy is done differently. In colder climates and the functionality of these batteries could be a problem. Besides, the fact that they are one of the most expensive options, the truth is that we can also mention some advantages.
Here, the performance is one of the highest while the battery has very lightweight. So it is an excellent option for people who want to decrease the weight of their motorcycle.
Can I Use A Slow Charger With A Lithium-Iron Battery?
In particular, this is not a recommended technique for charging a lithium battery. Of course, many users choose to use a slow charger for this purpose, although it is not recommended. It is necessary to mention that calibration for the same voltage requirements is not possible when using chargers for lead-acid batteries.
For lithium-ion batteries, 13-14 volts are required. Thus lead acid requires 12.8 volts for charging. In particular, here it is possible to obtain a slower and lower battery charge by using smart chargers. Also, a conventional battery charger may cause some damage through overcharging.
Here, a fire or simply the cancellation of the battery due to some damage can occur. Besides, lithium batteries have very low self-discharge rates so they rarely need to be recharged. However, if you want to apply a recharge you must have a lithium battery charger specific to the battery you have.
References:
https://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tech-tip-for-recharging-your-motorcycle-battery-right-way/
https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/maintenance/battery
Hi, I’m Leepu Da Maxim, a dedicated car enthusiast with over 10 years of experience in this field, and I’m thrilled to share my passion and expertise with fellow car enthusiasts like you. My journey began in my hometown West Jordan, Utah, where my fascination with the mechanics and design of cars sparked at a young age. Over the years, this passion has evolved into a commitment to providing accurate, insightful, and engaging information about all things automotive through CarsAmazing.
