Electricity is essential for both discontinued and current motorcycles. The condition of the battery, which is found in most motorcycles except for a few battery-less vehicles, is critical to the motorcycle. Measuring battery voltage is an important guideline to determine if the battery is good or bad, but it is a hassle to put a tester to the battery terminals every time. There is an item that eliminates this hassle and allows you to check the battery condition anytime from your smartphone.
Some models may have trouble getting a tester to the battery terminals.
The BattCheck, which connects to the battery and sends voltage data to a smartphone, is easier to install than existing voltmeters that branch off from the vehicle's harness, which is energized when the ignition is turned on. 6, 12, and 24V batteries are supported, so it can be installed on any motorcycle or car. If the battery lead is a connector type instead of a terminal nut, the wiring on the BattCheck side needs to be modified.
In the days when open batteries were the STD, which required periodic rehydration because the electrolyte (the water component in the electrolyte) gradually decreased with repeated charging and discharging, checking the battery was an essential part of periodic maintenance. However, with the rise of sealed batteries, and the use of gel-type electrolyte, which can be freely used vertically and horizontally, batteries are now often installed in areas that cannot be easily touched.
However, the open type does not mean that battery replacement is no longer necessary, even if the open type is a gel type. Voltage must also be checked. In particular, current motorcycles are more dependent on electricity than older motorcycles with carburetor specifications, such as fuel pumps and ECUs, so it is important not to assume that they are always in good shape and can be used indefinitely.
The basic battery check is to check the voltage. A fully charged battery should have a voltage of around 12.8V, and when the engine is started and the battery begins to charge, the voltage is usually in the 14V range. However, due to the maintenance-free nature of the battery, which does not require electrolyte replenishment, and the increased freedom of mounting, many motorcycles have batteries mounted in locations that cannot be easily touched. This is a big difference from the open-type era, when batteries had to be mounted vertically to prevent electrolyte spillage and were often installed under the seat or inside the side cover for easy rehydration.
If you can't check the voltage using a circuit tester just by removing the seat, it will be difficult to monitor the condition of the battery, which is slowly declining. This is because it is a hassle to remove this and that component when you just want to measure the voltage. As a result, it is not uncommon to find that the starter motor is unable to start when the driver notices that the starter motor seems to have lost some of its power.
- Point 1: In contrast to the open type, which requires periodic rehydration, the increasing maintenance-free design allows for greater flexibility in battery mounting positions.
- Point 2: Battery mounting positions are no longer limited, making it difficult to measure voltage by placing a tester over the battery terminals in an increasing number of models.
Kijima's BattCheck, which informs the user of battery voltage and power generation status while the engine is starting.
The BattCheck itself is very compact and can be installed in a small space around the battery. It has an LED indicator that blinks when it is in standby mode and lights up when it is connected to a smartphone.
The direct connection to the battery terminal allows the condition of the battery to be checked without starting the engine. Using the battery check function, the battery capacity at the time of measurement can be determined graphically. Even if the battery is at 100% with the ignition on, if the capacity drops dramatically when the headlights or brake lights are turned on, it can be determined that the battery itself is beginning to weaken.
A well-known accessory for checking battery condition is a retrofit voltmeter that can be connected to the circuit energized by ignition on to check voltage while driving.
A major update to this voltmeter is the BattCheck from motorcycle accessory manufacturer Kijima. The main feature of this product is that the battery voltage measured by its small body, about the size of a plastic bottle cap, can be sent to your smartphone connected via Bluetooth for monitoring.
If the existing voltmeter is directly connected to the battery, it must be connected to an accessory power source that is energized by the ignition on, because it always displays voltage and consumes battery power. In other words, the voltage in the ignition-off state is not known.
In contrast, BattCheck is directly connected to the battery terminal and constantly measures voltage, so if the dedicated application is started within the Bluetooth connection range, voltage can be measured even when the engine is stopped. Although there is concern about discharge when directly connected to the battery, the standby current is approximately 2.0 mA and 10.5 mA even when connected to a smartphone, so there is no need to worry about raising the battery even if the vehicle is not ridden for a long period of time.
The BattCheck itself can be installed in a small space near the battery terminal, making it ideal for owners of older motorcycles and discontinued vehicles who do not want their accessories to stand out.
- Point 1 - The BattCheck sold by Kijima displays voltage via Bluetooth connection between the unit and a smartphone connected to the battery terminal.
The status of the alternator and regulator can also be determined in real time.
The voltage meter allows us to check the battery voltage in real time. Since the voltage is up to 13.5 V at idle, we can determine that the rising voltage from the alternator is sufficient. If the battery charge is good, the regulator cuts the voltage.
There is no problem with the battery voltage also increasing because the alternator's power generation increases in proportion to the increase in engine speed. However, if it rises too high, the battery will be overcharged, leading to problems. The biggest cause of overcharging is damage to the regulated rectifier, and in the case of a 12V battery, if the terminal voltage exceeds 15V, a warning sound and vibration will be generated from the phone. It also alerts the user with a warning sound and vibration when the voltage drops below 11V. This function is enabled while the Bluetooth connection is active, so the system can detect abnormalities even when driving on the map screen.
The voltage transition during the Bluetooth connection is also automatically recorded. Since the cell starter generally consumes the most power, it is easy to see how the voltage drops momentarily at startup and then recharges at a higher voltage while driving to compensate for the drop.
Another feature of Batcheck is that, in contrast to a voltmeter that only displays battery voltage, the dedicated application allows the user to select various measurement modes and recording functions.
The check function, which can diagnose the battery condition, displays the current condition with the fully charged state as 100%. It is thought that the battery suddenly deteriorates in a short period of time, but in reality, the battery deteriorates gradually like a gradual slope downhill. The check function allows you to know this.
The voltage meter function, which allows real-time display of battery voltage and power generation status not only during maintenance but also while driving through a display that combines a sensory-friendly pointer-type meter and a numerical display, is Batcheck's greatest attraction. If the battery is continuously charged with a trickle charger or similar device when stored at home, battery condition should not be a problem before driving. If the Batcheck is set in the phone holder, it will display the voltage at elevated engine speeds while driving, so if the motorcycle is gradually getting worse as it begins to travel, a malfunction of the alternator or regulated rectifier is suspected.
Another problem with the regulated rectifier is overcharging due to poor control of the charging voltage. This, too, is indicated by the BattCheck voltage so that appropriate measures can be taken before damage is done to the battery.
The BattCheck, which constantly measures battery voltage both with the engine stopped and while driving, and displays it on your smartphone whenever necessary, is a highly practical accessory that is effective for both current vehicles that have no concerns about their electrical systems and older or discontinued vehicles that require constant attention.
- Point 1・If the smartphone is attached to the holder and driven, the alternator and regulated rectifier functions can be checked in addition to battery voltage.
