Motorcycle battery charger – choose the optimal one

There are always partners who ask why my battery is good, but the charger can’t charge. Is the motorcycle battery charger malfunctioning? Proper use and maintenance of a motorcycle battery charger can not only increase the reliability and service life of the charger itself, but also extend the battery life.

But how do you choose the most suitable charger among the many brands and types? This article will analyze the key points of purchasing motorcycle battery chargers in detail and compare the differences with lead-acid battery chargers.

1. Common motorcycle battery charger failures

Check if the indicator light is working properly When using the motorcycle battery charger to charge, pay attention to check whether the indicator light is working properly. If the charging time is not displayed, the motorcycle battery charger is most likely damaged.

• Improper operation

Some users do not know that the battery needs to be matched with the charger and often prefer to mix chargers for convenience. After long-term use, not only will the motorcycle battery charger be damaged, but it will also cause the battery to overcharge, thus reducing the life span.

• Damage is caused by vibration

Many users have the habit of carrying a charger in case they need it. However, in this way, the internal components are very easy to fall off and are damaged due to vibration, which affects the use of motorcycle battery chargers.

• Uneven heat dissipation

During the charging process of electric motorcycles, the temperature itself is too high. If it is charged in a high temperature environment, it will burn out the charger due to overcharging, and even charge the battery, causing great damage to the battery.

The charger is damaged Some users’ chargers have malfunctioned during use, causing battery parameters to drift, or have lost charging capabilities. Although the indicator light will turn on, it is no longer working properly. This is where the motorcycle battery charger needs to be replaced.

2. Can motorcycle battery chargers be universal

In fact, motorcycle battery chargers cannot be used in theory, just like mobile phone chargers, mainly depending on whether the voltage and current are consistent.

Generally, the charger of the same brand is likely to be universal, but it is still necessary to check whether the voltage and current match when using. Many users think that as long as they can be plugged in, the light can be turned on, and it can be charged, which means that it can be universal, but in fact, it is easy to charge the battery.

At present, some Tycorun motorcycle battery chargers are designed with new protection functions, such as constant current charging and constant voltage charging. However, it should also be noted that lead-acid batteries and lithium battery charger cannot be used universally.

This is because lead-acid battery chargers are generally set to two-stage or three-stage charging mode, and the voltage level of lithium batteries and lead-acid batteries does not match.

In addition, there are many kinds of lithium batteries, and battery performance and battery protection board parameters may be different. Therefore, lithium batteries do not have a universal battery charger like lead-acid batteries.

Generally speaking, lithium batteries are equipped with special chargers when they leave the factory, and in order to protect lithium batteries, it is best to use the corresponding special chargers for lithium batteries.

3. The difference between lithium battery and lead-acid battery charger

• Charging principle

Lead-acid batteries use constant current charging, while lithium batteries use constant current and constant voltage charging. Therefore, the chargers of the two should not be mixed, otherwise the battery may be damaged.

• Charging efficiency

Generally speaking, lithium battery chargers have higher charging efficiency than lead-acid battery chargers. Because lithium batteries have less internal resistance, they can withstand larger charging currents, thus achieving fast charging. The internal resistance of lead-acid batteries is large, and excessive charging current may cause the battery to heat up or even be damaged.

• Safety performance

Due to the chemical properties of lithium batteries, they are prone to safety accidents under high temperature, overcharge and other conditions. Therefore, lithium battery chargers are usually equipped with a variety of safety protection functions, such as lithium ion battery overcharge protection, overtemperature protection, etc., to ensure the safety of the charging process.

The safety performance of lead-acid batteries is relatively high, but it is still necessary to pay attention to avoid overcharging and high temperatures. Overall, lithium battery chargers are superior to lead-acid in terms of charging efficiency, safety performance, and lifespan, but the price is relatively high. Therefore, you should weigh your choice according to your needs and budget.

4. How to properly use a motorcycle battery charger

Extending the battery life and ensuring the safety of the charging process is crucial. Here are a few key points about how to use a battery charger:

• Preparation before charging

Before using the motorcycle battery charger, first make sure that the electric motorcycle power lock is turned off. Then, plug in the charger’s DC outlet plug first, and then plug in the AC plug.

• Charging time and methods

Generally, the charging time is about 8 hours, and it needs to be determined according to the discharge of the battery during the actual charging process.

When the charging indicator turns green, it means that the battery is almost full. When charging, choose a smart charging pile with safety features such as automatic power-off and intelligent control.

• Steps to stop charging

When stopping charging, first power off and unplug the AC plug of the charger, and then unplug the DC output plug of the charger, which is the battery interface. Note that the order should not be messed up.

• Use environment and maintenance

The motorcycle battery charger should be placed in a dry and ventilated environment, and pay attention to humidity. A certain amount of heat will be generated during work, so it is strictly forbidden to place flammable materials such as plastic or foam at the bottom or around it.

If you smell an odor or the charger case charging temperature is too high while charging, you must stop charging immediately. It is also strictly forbidden to let the charger be flooded or rained.

• Selection and use

Most charger parameters are different for different models, so you should choose a charger that matches the battery, and do not mix chargers at will. Try to be the original factory, the charger produced by the regular manufacturer. And the positive and negative poles are the same, and the socket is the same charger.

• Avoid strong bumps and vibrations

The charger is not resistant to strong vibrations, so try not to put the charger directly in the trunk or basket. If you need to carry it with the car every day, try to use bubble wrap to absorb the shock to prevent damage due to vibration.

5. Precautions for purchasing electric motorcycle chargers

Compatibility When shopping for a motorcycle battery charger, first make sure it’s compatible with your electric motorcycle battery. Different brands and models of e-motorcycle batteries may have different voltage and current requirements. 

So the charger must be matched to prevent battery damage or performance degradation. For example, the current battery has 48V 12Ah, 48V 20Ah, 60V 20Ah, 72V 20Ah, 72V 30Ah and other models, and you need to ensure that the charger model and battery model are the same when buying a charger.

Click on the picture for product details of 72v 30ah lithium battery

• Charging efficiency

Charging efficiency is an important indicator to evaluate the performance of the charger. In general, the higher the charging efficiency, the shorter the charging time, and at the same time, it can also reduce the waste of energy. Therefore, when purchasing a charger, you should try to choose a product with high charging efficiency.

• Safety performance

The safety performance of motorcycle battery chargers is crucial. Poor quality chargers can cause the battery to overheat or even cause a fire. Therefore, when purchasing a charger, you should choose a product with safety functions such as overcharge, overcurrent, and short-circuit protection.

At present, mainstream chargers are made of insulating materials in terms of wires, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of fires in a timely manner.

• Quality certification

Quality certification is an important basis for measuring the quality of motorcycle battery chargers. When purchasing chargers, you should try to choose products that have passed UL, CE and other authoritative certifications to ensure that their quality and safety performance meet international standards.

6. How to choose the right motorcycle battery charger – step by step

Determine the battery voltage When choosing a charger, the input voltage must be 220 volts, but the charger’s output voltage must be matched to your battery.

• Determine the battery capacity

If the capacities do not match, there will be overcharging or undercharging, which can reduce battery life and even create danger. So be sure to pay attention to choosing the corresponding battery capacity.

• Determine the charger connector shape

There are 4 types of interfaces on the market, T-shaped prefixes, three vertical prefixes, horizontal prefixes, and round heads, which must be matched with the electric motorcycle interface when choosing.

• Quality assurance

Choosing a charger that meets the standards can effectively ensure that the battery is in a safe state after it is fully charged. When charging, it generally has to go through three processes: constant current, constant voltage, and trickle.

• Choose a smart charger

Non-smart chargers, when charging, are generally charged with high current, and after more than ten hours, the battery begins to heat up, and it is possible that the bulging bag will be scrapped. The smart charger can effectively ensure that the battery is in a safe state when fully charged.

7. Conclusion

With the growing prosperity of the electric motorcycle market, the choice of charger has also become particularly important. After all, a suitable charger not only guarantees the long battery life, but also improves the performance of the electric motorcycle.

When purchasing a motorcycle battery charger, compatibility, charging efficiency, safety performance and quality certification are the aspects that need to be paid attention to.

At the same time, understanding the difference between lithium battery chargers and lead-acid battery chargers can also help us make a more informed choice.