Second battery in 3 months, looking for battery drain

[dirtsucker]

Hi All, I'm a brand new member of the forum and hope I can find some help and advice. I have an '07 S4RS, and I'm on my second battery this year. My old battery was the stock one, lasted 7 years! This spring I got a replacement, it was branded Discovery, made in Taiwan I think. After 6 weeks of not much use the bike wouldn't start. Got a replacement, it was branded Outdo. Same thing happened. After charging it back up all is good so far. I get 13.5 volts at the battery while at 3000 rpm. While the bike is off, I get an amp draw of .43 milli amps. Is this enough to drain the battery in, say, 10 days? Do you think I have two dodgy batteries in a row? How much power does the average monster draw while not running? Should I stick to a name brand Yuasa? The other batteries have the same specs. The battery store didn't want to take the first one back, they will be less interested in the second one. Any help is much appreciated.

[thorn14]

Did you try charging the second battery up prior to returning?

I'd doubt it is two batteries in a row.

[DarkMonster620]

You should have something closer to 14V

[dirtsucker]

Thanks for the replies, when I bought the second battery I did charge it for a day before using it. The first one, I just put in and went riding, they said it was charged and ready to go.

[Howie]

.43 is a little high.  How much?  Year and model would help.  Never heard of Outdo batteries.  Well, sorta did.  Brand X from China, just no experience with them.  One reason why I bought a Yuasa is they are shipped dry so they are fresh the day you activate them.  Batteries, when activated at the factory start their life at that point, plus, after that, your battrey at the mercy of whomever has possesion of it until it is purchased.  Also, did the battery you purchased have a sufficient amp hour rating and cold cranking amps for your bike?

Technically I have to disagree with Darkmonster620 since the spec is 13.5-14.5 volts, but only technically.  At 13.5 I would want to test further.  Go here for a trouble shooting guide and save me a bunch of typing   http://www.electrosport.com/technical-resources/diagnosis-center/fault-finding-guide

[jduke]

POST OF THE DAY!! Thanks for the fault finding guide.

[DarkMonster620]

I was saying 14V as a median . . .

[oldndumb]

Not an electrician, however two items come to mind. The first being that the ground connection integrity should be verified before doing anything else. The second being that MC charge system troubleshooting advice is readily available on the interweb, but they generally require a good battery for a systems check. A battery load test is preferred for battery condition.

[Howie]

Not an electrician, however two items come to mind. The first being that the ground connection integrity should be verified before doing anything else. The second being that MC charge system troubleshooting advice is readily available on the interweb, but they generally require a good battery for a systems check. A battery load test is preferred for battery condition.

Very good for a not an electrician

[oldndumb]

Very good for a not an electrician

Thank you. I guess something actually sank in after many years of sparks, smoke, and blown fuses. Now if I could just understand some of it.