How do I tell if my battery is 6 or 12 volts?

[DiabloGrande]

I just bought a used bike with a dead battery that needs to be recharged. After getting the bike, I went out and bought a one-amp trickle charger that can be switched to either 6 or 12 volts. The motorcycle manual says to use 12 volts, but I'm not sure if that's correct since the battery is not the same one that originally came with the bike. Is it safe to assume 12 is the right number since that's what the manual says?

By the way, the battery brand is Bikemaster and the model number is BBL41-A2. I already Googled it every way I could think of and I still haven't been able to find out which voltage it is.

Thanks.

[Relsek]

I just bought a used bike with a dead battery that needs to be recharged. After getting the bike, I went out and bought a one-amp trickle charger that can be switched to either 6 or 12 volts. The motorcycle manual says to use 12 volts, but I'm not sure if that's correct since the battery is not the same one that originally came with the bike. Is it safe to assume 12 is the right number since that's what the manual says?

By the way, the battery brand is Bikemaster and the model number is BBL41-A2. I already Googled it every way I could think of and I still haven't been able to find out which voltage it is.

Thanks.

It's 12 volts unless someone changed a lot more than just the battery, and there would be no reason to change to 6 from 12.



oh, and a voltmeter is the best way to tell.

[DiabloGrande]

Thanks. I figured that was probably the case so I already went ahead and set it to charge on the 12 setting. Just got impatient.

[gsJack]

Count the cells, each cell has same approx 2 volts. 12 volt battery will have 6 caps where water is put in and 6 volt battery will have only 3. Or check battery voltage with a multi meter.

[DiabloGrande]

Thanks, Jack. It does have six cells.

Looks like I'll be investing in a multimeter soon. How much do those run?

[Relsek]

Thanks, Jack. It does have six cells.

Looks like I'll be investing in a multimeter soon. How much do those run?

You can get cheap ones for about $10.00, nice ones around $150.00

[Ham Hock]

Go to:

http://order.harborfreight.com

and search for "multimeter."

I have expensive and cheap ones, the cheap ones are good for throwing in your tool box and taking abuse. Even the cheapest could tell a 12 from a 6 volt battery.

harborfrieight often has a cheap multimeter on sale for $1.50 although I don't see it listed now.

[bikeguy joe]

Sear/Wal-Mart/Lowes has multimeters of all prices, get one with a digital readout.

Use only DISTILLED WATER in your battery.

[Aro]

if the battery is dead though, won't it read 0 on the ohmeter?

[Relsek]

if the battery is dead though, won't it read 0 on the ohmeter?

Only if it is totally dried up and has absolutely no power. A battery that will at least click a starter will still show a voltage near where it should be, under load it will drop dramatically if is has no charge.