How much voltage to start the Spyder

[JCSMOKE]

Ok so I have a 2011 RTS and when I was talking to Lamont at Spyder fest he was curious when I told him that at 11.7V I could not start the bike but at 12.7V it started right up. The fact is that I can start the bike at 11.9V but not at 11.7V. So the question is: Has anybody kept track of the voltage needed to start your bike? And does anybody have an idea of how I can make my bike start at lower voltage? yes I have lights on the bike and I do turn off about half of them when I start up. The other half are hard wired and connected to the turn signals and such.

Thanks
Mike

 

[pro10is]

It's not just the voltage in play here, it's the available amount of current which does the real work. Battery voltage indicates the state of charge of a battery or how much current it has left to deliver (Power equals voltage times current). Here is a chart showing the state of charge of a battery using the no load voltage:

So you can see at 11.7 volts your battery was only about 25% charged and could not deliver enough current to turn the starter motor.

 

[Chupaca]

Don't know..!!

great chart above..but there is the amps that have allot to due with it. You can have full charge across the surface and hit the button and wipe it out. :dontknow:

 

[pro10is]

great chart above..but there is the amps that have allot to due with it. You can have full charge across the surface and hit the button and wipe it out. :dontknow:

Amps = Current (see my post above).

When I explain voltage and current I use the following analogy: Think of a water hose, voltage is the water pressure, and amperage (current) is the volume of water moving through the hose. If you had a garden hose with 100 psi of water pressure (voltage) and as much volume of water the hose could handle (current) and you sprayed someone with it they would only get wet. If you had the same water pressure but had a fire hose with as much volume of water as it could hold, you'd knock someone off their feet. That's an analogy of the importance of how voltage and current work together to create power.

 

[boborgera]

At 11.7/ 11.9 if that's whats your battery is showing with a volt meter? that battery can't start a engine.
12.7 is border line, 12.9 + is where you want to be, Either your lights are drawing the battery down or the battery has seen better days. Or your meter isn't reading right.....

 

[ARCTIC]

Either your battery or your charging system is fawked

 

[Sny]

Time for a new one

http://goo.gl/k2XXQ

 

[JCSMOKE]

Time for a new one

http://goo.gl/k2XXQ

seems to be the thought.

 

[JCSMOKE]

Thanks everyone, I was thinking about growing my hair out and bringing a supply of rubber balloons to help increase the current, a battery would probably be less tricky. So the new question, should I get a car battery and strap it to the back seat? or better yet, what battery provides the best charge with the most amps?

 

[Sny]

what battery provides the best charge with the most amps?

That one I linked is the best one I've seen. docdoru found and uses it I believe.

It's almost half the size , 1/4th the weight and almost 50% more CCA. Plus it won't lose charge over the winter (doesn't need a battery tender.)

And it can't explode Not that this is a big concern...

 

[docdoru]

That one I linked is the best one I've seen. docdoru found and uses it I believe.

It's almost half the size , 1/4th the weight and almost 50% more CCA. Plus it won't lose charge over the winter (doesn't need a battery tender.)

And it can't explode Not that this is a big concern...

Not anymore, replace-it @ SpyderFest with Lamonster help...2 years and gone. :sour:

 

[JCSMOKE]

Not anymore, replace-it @ SpyderFest with Lamonster help...2 years and gone. :sour:

Your suggestion docdoru?