Installing a pig-tail to charge the Viffer more conveniently - possible electrical problems?

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by irishrOy, Dec 9, 2017.

  1. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    Heyho guys!

    I got yet another question, sorry :D
    I'm not only thinking about installing a pigtail (since I've already done it), but I'm wondering if there could be problems if I plug the charger in and charge the battery while it is still installed and wired to the Viffer.

    Normally it shouldn't be any different than being charged from the R/R and the bike itself, should it?

    (I just know that the Viffer sometimes is plagued by electical gemlins, so I want to be sure).

    Who of you has a pigtail installed and charged his VFR with it? What are your opinion on a pigtail on the Viffer?
    Good or bad?

    Thanks in advance and have a good one! :)
     
  2. bigbadbass

    bigbadbass New Member

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    no issues here, tender leads with Yuasa AGM battery...... though I don't leave it on tender constant , but convenient when needed, saves a tail section and seat pull to access the battery. As I own multiple bikes, the VFR will sit from time to time....needing an occasional session on the tender.
    Simple, easy access.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2017
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  3. Getn off

    Getn off New Member

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    I though every single person that owns a bike has a Battery Tender pigtail on each bike.
    Very safe, and actually will help the longevity of the battery. It will keep the battery in a full charge state at all times. It uses very low (to no) current once it detects that the batt is near full charge. I have been using these on all of my bikes, riding mowers, and classic cars for more than 30 years.
    The standard pigtail in my '14 vfr is routed up behind the seat in the front side of the rear cowl. A bit tight to reach, but works well. When the rear seat is on, I have it snake just under the right side of the rear seat bottom where I can reach under and pull it out from under the seat to use.
    Troy
     
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  4. slovcan

    slovcan New Member

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    Me three. Plugs on both bikes and plug them each in regularly to the maintainer.
     
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  5. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Take their advice and not mine. We do different riding. I have charged my battery only a very few times when it has gone dead. Usually because I have left my GPS turned on and left the bike for a few days. Otherwise I have had no need for a tender because I ride often enough. I have just put in my third battery in 210,000 km so I can't complain about battery life.
     
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  6. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    Thanks for all the answers, guys! :D
    I'll just use the pigtail as on my last bike, then!
     
  7. JimFife777

    JimFife777 New Member

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    ^^^This
    I have a pigtail out the side of the bike for the tender. If you use the supplied pigtail there shouldn't be any problems. Plus, you shouldn't need a charger ;-)
     
  8. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    Sadly however here in Germany it's a bit hard to get your hands on a "Battery Tender" :D

    But I'm using a Saito Battery Pro-charger Compact which is doing more or less the same thing, charging, desulfation and a charge/discharge-cycle for longer times^^
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2017
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  9. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    I have a power port that plugs into the pigtail when I'm riding.

    Was able to take it apart and plug it into the 7way round on a parked pickup truck when I was stranded in the mountains with a dead battery. Was able to steal a charge and get started back up.
     
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  10. Getn off

    Getn off New Member

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    Yes, those are handy. I have one (a batt tender part number) that plugs into the batt tender pigtail and has a usb port on the other end. Perfect for charging phones, gps or whatever.
    Troy
     
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  11. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    what do you mean with that?
    These things where you can kinda charge/have 5 USB-stocks into one USB-connection?
    Sorry asking these questions, maybe I'm not experienced enough/kinda dumb or don't know the typical american-plug, but: How does a 7way-plug go into a power-port and how does that go through the pigtail into the battery and help you load your battery to start the bike? :D

    So you got a pigtail installed and you got another "USB to pigtail adapter" or "plug" that you can plug into the pigtail and load anything that has a USB-port?
    That sounds pretty neat, man!
     
  12. slovcan

    slovcan New Member

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    OK, here is a picture of the 7-way plug - receptacle, really, that is mounted in the truck bumper. Normally you insert the plug from the trailer into it to control lights and brakes on the trailer.

    7-way-vehicle-end-trailer-connector.jpg

    The other picture is of the USB port that plugs into the battery tender/maintainer/charger pigtail. If you cut the USB port off the end you have + & - wires that you can connect to the + & - contacts of the trailer wiring receptacle on the truck to get some charge back into your bike's battery.

    battery_tender_usb_charger.jpg
     
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  13. Getn off

    Getn off New Member

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    This is mine. Only $10.
    Troy
     

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  14. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    now that is really creative and awesome! I like that, man!

    Gesendet von meinem Apollo Lite mit Tapatalk
     
  15. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    Do you have any experience as to how much power charging a mobile phone takes off the battery?
    How fast are your devices charged via the battery-tender-USB adapter if I may ask? :D
     
  16. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    I don't know this for sure but I suspect that the devices would charge at about the same rate as it would if you were to plug them into the wall. Personally, I would not leave them plugged into a motorcycle battery for any length of time, charging while the bike was not being run. Our batteries are not that big and the charging of anything will drain the charge and leave you with a dead battery over night. Especially if the device was a notebook or laptop. Even to leave your GPS in the "on" position takes its toll on the battery's stored power.

    Take advantage of the battery while it is in use. When I am on a trip, I have a leg pouch I wear that has wring inside so I can plug in my Sena Helmet Communications, my cell phone and all my heated gear plugged in while I ride. This has just one pigtail to the battery f the bike so I don't have wires all over the place. Normally for riding, I just rely on the device's batteries but I know that on long trips, the Sena especially will die in about 8 hours of riding and listening to the tunes. The cell phone is good for only about 16 hors of playback before its charge can be relied upon,
     
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  17. Getn off

    Getn off New Member

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    Randy is spot on. Seems to charge at about the same rate as 110...which doesn't help u over there! Haha
    I use it only while running. My other bikes have a hard wired system like Randy. I am not planning a bunch of mods on this bike so I elected to just use this pigtail adapter.
    My biggest reason for it is Waze. When using waze, nav, and tunes on my iphone it discharges about 20% per hour! When plugged in it stays at 100%.
    Troy
     
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  18. Economist

    Economist New Member

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    I have the same battery tender usb socket mentioned earlier. It charges my iphone about as quickly as a wall charger. With the engine running, It puts out enough juice to keep the iphone battery at 100% no matter how many apps I have open. All you have to do is run a charging cable up to handlebars and you can keep your phone charged while it is in your phone mount.
     
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  19. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    Okydoke, will keep in mind not to charge any stuff while the m'cycle isn't running, gotcha :D
    Thanks for all the answers, guys, learned more than I thought I would! :)
     
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