tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post2107637321118344162..comments2024-03-22T18:01:20.065-05:00Comments on Geezer with a Grudge: My Motorcycles: 1982 Yamaha XTZ550 VisionT.W. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-83017532019667901962015-10-31T09:14:18.096-05:002015-10-31T09:14:18.096-05:00I think Morini is making a safe assumption.
Thir...I think Morini is making a safe assumption. <br /><br />Thirty years ago, I had an engineering reference book that listed a huge collection of engineering "standards." One of the lists was of the usable and storage lifetime of the batteries available at the time. Lead-acid batteries were described as having a 2-year wet storage and usable lifetime. Looking at the "warranties" battery manufacturers provided, it was pretty obvious that their expectation was two years and warranty costs from batteries with longer-than-two year claims were simply added into the cost of the battery. Even today, failures in the first two years are commonly totally covered under warranty and anything beyond that is prorated according to the purchase price. If you get 10 years out of a lead-acid battery, it was good luck. If you don't, you shouldn't be surprised. <br /><br />For several years, GM over-charged (14.5-16VDC) their side-terminal batteries to force premature battery failures and sell more of the batteries only they could supply. Even when other vendors could supply the batteries GM kept over-charging and frying alternators and regulators when their fail-by-design batteries died. I was servicing electronic equipment installed on trucks in the early 70's and I had to install a high-current regulator on our equipment when it was installed on GM trucks to protect our gear from that nutty design. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5950664143576637249.post-66348034497678994372015-10-27T14:43:33.196-05:002015-10-27T14:43:33.196-05:00The regulator used on Morinis won't attempt to...The regulator used on Morinis won't attempt to charge a battery with less than about 10 volt accross its terminals, making the assumption that it has a bad cell. As a result I've never seen burned out charging coils. It has however led many an auto-electrician astray, as has the CDIgnition run directly from a separate winding. I once had to say "I'm an electronics engineer. I outrank you!"<br /><br />I finally replaced the battery on my 77 Sport after a decade of serviceAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14656863275325115557noreply@blogger.com