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Post by Gavin on Aug 27, 2005 14:33:55 GMT
I have just removed the battery to recharge it, and I thought whilst I had got the battery off, I would add the battery information here. The battery fitted to my Baotian scooter is a 12v 4AH (which just means 12 volt, 4 amp hours), and the battery type is YT5L-BS. This is the number that you should use if searching for a new battery. Just for reference, the battery is available on the following link, for £17.50 inc. vat, not sure about the postage though, (looks like it might be £5.75). There is no picture, or measurements, of the battery, so if anyone is after a new one, it might be best to check the details before ordering. www.ane-shop.co.uk/prod/catalog/index.php?cPath=104_106Added 28th AugustJust one thing about battery charging, check your battery charger instructions very carefully. On the box of my charger, it says suitable for 12v and 6v car and motorcycle batteries, and there are indicator lights on the charger to show that the current is dropping when the battery is being charged, (from 6 amp, down to 1 amp). On the small instruction leaflet, (which luckily I still had, but I had not read, relying on the instructions on the box), it says that the smallest 12v battery that should be charged is 20 amp hours, and the one on the scooter is only 4 amp hours, so even though it says suitable for cars and motorcycles, this charger is not suitable for this battery. I have just checked the electrolyte level in the battery after charging, and it had evaporated, so I am trying some distilled water to see if I can recover it, but it will probably mean a new battery.I have just had a look in the Argos Extra book, and they do a 12v 0.5 amp trickle charger for £9.99, which according to the battery, should be OK for 5 - 10 hours charging.
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Post by stevieh on Aug 27, 2005 17:22:13 GMT
Thats a good price, as I was quoted £30-35! from my local dealer.
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Post by Gavin on Aug 27, 2005 18:40:29 GMT
Thats a good price, as I was quoted £30-35! from my local dealer. I could remember someone mentioning one at that price, but could not remember who, so I included it in this new thread hoping you would find it I don't know if the one advertised is the same 'quality' Chinese one as the original though, but there is a Varta one on the following link for £29.99, again not sure about p&p, but they are near where to I live, if I ever need one. www.countybattery.co.uk/cgi-bin//cbs-product-detail.cgi?record=498
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Post by Gavin on Aug 28, 2005 8:46:07 GMT
I have just added an amendment about battery chargers to the original post at the top, (amendment in red).
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Post by stevieh on Aug 28, 2005 17:34:58 GMT
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Post by Gavin on Aug 29, 2005 14:55:15 GMT
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Post by stevieh on Sept 7, 2005 3:11:11 GMT
Is it possible to knacker a brand new battery by putting too much top up fluid in? I got my battery and had to put the electrolyte in myself, but there didnt seem enough, so I used battery top up fluid, and I thought that I was using quite a lot. The battery lost its charge very quickly and I have had it on a good trickle chager for about 12 hours now, and it still shows the battery as having the lowest charge. By the way I bought the battery from A and E listed above, paid extra for a next day recorded delivery, and it took nearly a week.
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Post by Gavin on Sept 8, 2005 7:51:22 GMT
Is it possible to knacker a brand new battery by putting too much top up fluid in? I got my battery and had to put the electrolyte in myself, but there didnt seem enough, so I used battery top up fluid, and I thought that I was using quite a lot. The battery lost its charge very quickly and I have had it on a good trickle chager for about 12 hours now, and it still shows the battery as having the lowest charge. By the way I bought the battery from A and E listed above, paid extra for a next day recorded delivery, and it took nearly a week. I don't know if it would knacker a new battery Stevie, but there should have been no need to add top up fluid to the electrolyte supplied. The electrolyte normally just covers the battery plates, and if you have added top up fluid (presumably distilled water), you will have altered the balance between the acid and water, i.e. diluted the acid. Also, if the level is too high, you run the risk of spillage from the battery, with acid floating about in the chamber. If the trickle charger is 1/2 amp, then 12 hours charging a flat battery should give a 6 amp hour charge, which is more than the 5 amp hour rating of the battery, but I would not have thought this excessive enough to do any damage. Is the electrolyte still in the battery? Do you have a voltmeter to check the voltage, I think the voltages are something like 12.8v = fully charged, and 12v is fully discharged. My knackered battery shows 11.2v, (not replaced it yet), which does hardly anything when connected, but I can still use the scooter with the kick start, which is what I am doing at the moment. The following link is to a page about battery testing, but it is mostly about big car batteries, where you can check and adjust the specific gravity of the electrolyte, there are a lot more sites about batteries on the web, but I could not find any relating to small batteries. Have you tried the battery on the scooter yet, and if so, how is it performing? www.type2.com/library/electrip/batfaq.htm
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Post by stevieh on Sept 8, 2005 11:37:51 GMT
Thanks Gavin, very useful. Im trickle charging it at the mo, not looking too good though. I have this thing about screwing up batteries.
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Post by stevieh on Sept 8, 2005 12:58:12 GMT
My charger is now showing that (after 42 hours) my battery is now fully charged (yippee?) Im hopeing that now it is fully charged I have un- diluted the acid. anyone agree? (if you know what I mean)
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Post by Gavin on Sept 8, 2005 13:24:54 GMT
My charger is now showing that (after 42 hours) my battery is now fully charged (yippee?) Im hopeing that now it is fully charged I have un- diluted the acid. anyone agree? (if you know what I mean) Sounds like you have got away with it It used to be quite common, just to top up batteries with distilled water years ago, so there must be some tolerance in the acid/water mixture. If you are using the scooter for short runs, (like I do), then it might be better to use the kick start sometimes, and save battery power. When/if I get a new battery, I intend to use the kick start when setting off from home, and the electric start if I pull up somewhere, and have to start again.
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Post by Ginger Phil on Sept 8, 2005 13:26:19 GMT
I used to be able to start my Taishan after about 3 kicks of the kickstart but with the Blaster I've yet to manage it.
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Post by Gavin on Sept 8, 2005 13:32:52 GMT
I used to be able to start my Taishan after about 3 kicks of the kickstart but with the Blaster I've yet to manage it. The Baotian starts from cold with 2 or 3 kicks, but seems to need 3 or 4 after running. I had originally fitted the kick start rather low at first, (about 3 o clock), and have now adjusted it so it has a longer travel, (about 2 o clock), which seemed to improve starting.
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Post by jezzab1973 on Sept 8, 2005 15:25:32 GMT
I used to be able to start my Taishan after about 3 kicks of the kickstart but with the Blaster I've yet to manage it. i've got a taishan sport and i'm having trouble with the electric start and the kick start won't wokr either do you need it on the stand to kick start it HELP
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Post by BillyGreen1973 on Sept 8, 2005 16:51:39 GMT
It doesn't need to be on the stand, so long as the side stand is up. When te side stand is down it cuts off fuel to the engine preventing starting, it's a safety thing!
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Post by stevieh on Sept 8, 2005 17:54:24 GMT
My retro baotian will only kick over on the centre stand. I imagine it is a safety devise to stop kicking it over and the bike roaring off with the rider runing along side
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Post by Ginger Phil on Sept 11, 2005 12:12:41 GMT
How are you getting on now Stevie? It's like a soap opera sometimes on here.
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Post by stevieh on Sept 11, 2005 17:55:29 GMT
It has so far held its charge, and have used it fri and sat mornings for work, but havent even been outside the house today. Stay tuned for the next enthralling episode! confused?....you will be
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