HOME CHARGING BATTERY Using a Battery Charger Charge the battery if any of the following conditions exist: Safety Precautions Never charge a battery without first reviewing the instructions for the charger being used. In addition to the manufacturer's instructions, follow these general safety precautions: • Vehicle lights appear dim. • Electric starter sounds weak. • Always wear eye, face and hand protection. • Battery has not been used for an extended period of time. • Always charge batteries in a well-ventilated area. • Turn the charger off before connecting the leads to the battery to avoid dangerous sparks.
Explosive hydrogen gas, which escapes during charging, could cause death or serious injury. Charge battery in a well-ventilated area. Keep open flames, electrical sparks and smoking materials away from battery at all times. KEEP BATTERIES AWAY FROM CHILDREN. (00065a) • Never try to charge a visibly damaged or frozen battery. • Connect the charger leads to the battery; red positive (+) lead to the positive (+) terminal and black negative (-) lead to the negative (-) terminal. If the battery is still in the vehicle, connect the negative lead to the chassis ground. Be sure that the ignition and all electrical accessories are turned off.
If battery releases an excessive amount of gas during charging, decrease the charging rate. Overheating can result in plate distortion, internal shorting, drying out or damage. (00413b) • Make sure that the charger leads to the battery are not separated, frayed or loose. • If the battery gets hotter than 43 °C (110 °F) during char- ging, discontinue charger and allow the battery to cool. 1. Perform a voltmeter test to determine the state of charge. See the electrical diagnostic manual. If battery needs to be charged, proceed to the next step. • Always turn the charger off before removing charger leads from the battery to avoid dangerous sparks.
NOTE The figures listed in the table assume that the battery is char- The use of constant current chargers to charge sealed main- tenance-free batteries is not recommended. Any overcharge will cause dry-out and premature battery failure. If a constant current charger is the only type available, do not exceed the charge times listed above and do not continue charging the battery if it gets hot. When charging, never exceed 15 volts for more than 30 minutes. NOTE Unplug or turn OFF battery charger before connecting charger cables to battery. Connecting cables with charger ON can cause a spark and battery explosion, which could result in death or serious injury. (00066a) 1-22 2009 VRSC Service:
Maintenance ging at room temperature. If warmer than room temperature, use a slightly shorter charging time. If colder, use a slightly longer charging time. Ta ble 1-9. Battery C harging Rates/Times (Approxima te) BATTERY AMP HOUR STATE OF CHARGER 3 AMP 6 AMP CHARGER 10 AMP CHARGER 20 AMP CHARGER CHARGER VOLTAGE % OF CHARGE 12 12.7 100% N/A N/A N/A N/A 12.6 75% 1 hour 50 minutes 55 minutes 30 minutes 15 minutes 12.3 50% 3 hours 20 minutes 1 hour 50 minutes 1 hour 5 minutes 30 minutes 12.0 25% 5 hours 15 minutes 2 hours 40 minutes 1 hour 55 minutes 45 minutes 11.8 0% 7 hours 3 hours 30 minutes 2 hours 5 minutes 1 hour 5 minutes