Motorcycle battery is one of the most important motorcycle spare parts. All motorcycles are certainly equipped with a battery in order to operate.
Although without a battery, a motorcycle can still work in other ways, but riding a motorcycle without a battery has many effects that can damage your motorcycle.
The working principle of the motor battery is that when the battery releases current, a chemical reaction occurs in the battery. When the battery is in the process of charging, the battery will actively restore the current, which this process will occur continuously.
One of the most common problems encountered in motorcycle batteries is a battery that cannot charge. Generally, this can happen due to several reasons such as a dead battery, an alternator having problems, a faulty regulator and others.
A battery that cannot be filled, of course, over time will be fatal for the motorcycle. This can also cause other motor components not to last long and are damaged quickly.
Therefore, you should know what causes the motorcycle battery to not charge and how to fix it. So that damage can be quickly repaired and can also minimize other problem.
1. Dead Battery
The first reason that most often occurs is a dead battery. Of course, if the battery dies, it will not be able to charge properly.
This is due to the age of the old battery. Or also because the battery has never been used so that the components in the battery cannot function properly.
There are several ways you can use to detect that the battery is still working or not:
- Look at the physical surface of the battery. Dead batteries usually have a bulging physical appearance due to the heat from the electrolyte fluid in the battery.
- Using a voltmeter. You can measure the voltage contained in the battery. For this method, you have to do this check after the battery is finished charging. Then plug the battery into the motor and turn the motor contacts to the ON position so that current flows. After that measure using a voltmeter. Generally, a normal battery has a voltage of 12.4 volts. If the measurement results show below this value, it can be concluded that the battery lacks voltage.
- Checking via motor indicator. You can check the battery by installing it in the motor and looking at the turn signal or horn indicator. If the turn signal flashes loudly or the horn sounds softly, it can be concluded that the battery is weak.
How to fix this? Of course you have to refill the electrolyte fluid in the battery if the type of motorcycle battery is a wet battery.
However, if the battery is dry then you have to replace the battery with a new one.
2. Problematic Alternator
The alternator is one of the most important parts of the charging system. The reason is that this alternator is able to convert motion or mechanical energy into electrical energy which will later charge the motor battery.
A problematic alternator will certainly not be able to charge the battery, so that later the battery will use its own power when it is in use. This will cause the battery to run out quickly and cause the battery to be damaged quickly.
To fix this, you need to check it first. If the alternator is still possible to be repaired, then you can take it to a motorcycle service repair shop.
However, if the problem with the alternator is severe enough, then a new replacement is the right solution.
Therefore, if you experience an abnormality with your motorcycle battery or alternator, quickly make repairs so that the problems that arise do not become big. This of course will minimize your expenses later.
3. Broken Rectifier Regulator
The third cause of a motorcycle battery that does not charge is a damaged rectifier regulator. rectifier regulator is a useful component for converting AC current into DC current where this DC current will be forwarded to the battery for storage.
If the rectifier regulator is damaged, the current cannot be changed and the battery automatically cannot be charged. This rectifier regulator also functions as a current stabilizer when it is distributed to all electrical components on the motorcycle.
Therefore, a damaged rectifier regulator can be the cause of the motor’s electricity to die. There are several signs that you can pay attention to if the rectifier regulator is damaged:
- Motorcycle is hard to start
- Motorcycle often crashes
- The light from the motorcycle headlights is not bright
If you see any of the signs above, it’s likely that your rectifier regulator is damaged. This damaged rectifier regulator can be caused by several things, such as frequent driving at high speeds, or also rectifier regulator that is overheating so that there is damage in it.
How to deal with a damaged rectifier regulator, then you need to replace it. Because the rectifier regulator is one of the components of the electrical system that plays a very important role, it’s best if you replace it with a new one when it breaks.
4. Loose Battery Hook Cable
In the electrical system, the cable is a component to connect one component to another. So it can be said that this cable also plays an important role in the process of charging the motorcycle battery.
If the hook cable is loose automatically the battery will not be able to charge. To solve this, you need to check the cable hook that connects to the battery. Tighten the hook bolt properly and correctly.
Those are the various causes of the motorcycle battery not charging and how to overcome it. We recommend that you pay attention to your motorcycle battery before use or at least check it every two weeks so that your motorcycle can last a long time. Don’t forget to do regular maintenance of your motorbike.