Overcharging a battery

[Hooaah]

OK I'm dumb, but what happens when you "overcharge" a battery? I have an 06 Uly, bought new, with the OEM battery. I've used a battery tender regularly. The last couple times I've used the tender, I've waited till the light turns green ( supposedly 100%) charged, yet the bike would barely turn over and the after market voltmeter I have was all in the red. Both times I put it on a standard 2 amp charger for half an hour or so and it started right up. Last weekend I pulled the battery and put it on the 2 amp setting. I honestly forgot about it and left it on for almost 24 hours. I put the battery in today and it started right up and ran without issues. Later on while putting the charger away I read a part where it advised normal charging for a bike battery is 4-6 hours and be careful not to overcharge it.

So again, what does that really mean and what happens when a battery is overcharged. Bottom line i prob need a new battery anyhow - just curious what it all means

Thanks

 

[jimijeans]

Welcome to the Forum ! Now yes I think at the years old that the Battery is now is a good time. The Batteries are small only 200cca/Cold Cranking Amps. Sometimes you can get 4/years out of the Battery but it's a Risk. Never Jump Start the Bikes Engine with a diesel too much juice OR CCAs.
Never use a Auto/ NON Diesel/ unless it's not even Running. Still Too much juice CCamps. A Good Battery Tender is much more of an Investment for keeping the Battery up to Par!Put on the Tender Pigtail Connector & tuck the Pigtail in safe somewhere and just hook it up once a week. Especially if you don't get to Ride that week. It is not good to Charge the Battery all the Time with a Battery Charger just every couple of days OR once a week when Stored Or not Ridden.
Remember Short trips all the time can not let the Battery get enough of a Charge as well. Might want to Get a Digital Multi Meter for Future Use (Save Directions) and check the Charging System at the Battery every 1'000miles. Keep the terminals Snug & Clean. Save the Small Cable Spacers where the Cable attaches to the Battery in case the New Battery you buy does not have them.
Take the Battery if in Doubt, out of the Bike and have it load Tested at an Auto Parts Store. Even if you buy a New Battery just Keep it(old one)for the Next 1'000/miles. I figure it all means you are Due for at least a new Battery. Since I am not at the Bike to really diagnous it I can only guess.Good Luck!*Jimi

 

[anrkizm95]

what does that really mean and what happens when a battery is overcharged.

depends on how over charged and how many times its done.the results can range from no problem to battery being killed.worst case battery is way over charged starts to over heat explodes spews acid all over everything.

 

[user_deleted]

2 amps for 24 hours would not destroy the battery but considering that you say your battery is close to 6 years old i would imagine it got a tad warm during that period and probably cooked off some of the sulfate that had grown on the lead plates. if it is still working as you say then it should be fine. battery tenders can be fooled. by that i mean i've had probably 15 of them thru the years and have sold hundreds. flashing red light is disconnect or revesed polarity or battery short, green is fully charged, green blinking means has obtained 80% of charge. i've had many tenders thru the years that will show fully charged green and yet the battery is close to "dead" or still won't start the vehicle. it is always a sign of a battery on the way to the scrap heap as has been my experience. seems that an older battery that will accept a charge but won't come up to full voltage due to age can fool tenders into thinking they're fully charged. has been my experience.

 

[netty2424]

Some of the Tenders will autoshut off and only tend at a trickle as the battery loses charge. What brand/model do you have?

 

[07Bolt]

electroysis happens when u overcharge; all the cells r fully charged then want to keep charging if not unplugged from charger

12v battery can handle 12v "of charge" anything over and the voltage exceeds the case capacity