Battery is an integral component in modern motorcycles. Without a functional battery, the bike will not even start in most cases. That’s why, it is essential to maintain a battery for its smooth functioning.
A constant question that plagues in minds with regards to the motorcycle battery is how does the battery recharge?
Will a motorcycle battery recharge itself? Battery gets recharged in the motorcycle by deriving power from the engine. The alternator in conjunction with regulator supplies DC to the battery.
The battery recharge depends on the power requirements of the accessories in the bike and the alternator output derived from the engine.
If the alternator output is more than the power requirements of the motorcycle, the battery gets recharged.
If the alternator output is less than the power requirements of the motorcycle, the battery gets drained.
Before we deep dive into the specifics of battery recharging in the motorcycle, let us first understand the role of a battery and its function in a motorcycle.
What Does a Battery Do in a Motorcycle?
Simply put, the battery in a motorcycle supplies current to power up all the electric accessories. This also includes providing current to the ignition system, i.e., to start a motorcycle you need battery power.
Now, the powering up of all the electric accessories in a motorcycle is not entirely reliant on the battery though. There is an alternator (also called stator) which generates AC current derived from the engine running.
However, the AC (alternating current) generated by the alternator is not usable since the electric accessories require DC (direct current). That’s where a regulator (also called rectifier) comes in to convert the AC into DC.
The AC generated in the alternator is converted into DC by the regulator. This converted DC is supplied to the electric accessories that require current and the excess is stored in the battery.
The electric accessories in a motorcycle that require current for tehri functioning are:
- Ignition
- Headlight
- High beam and low beam
- Fuel injection and fuel pump
- Turn signal indicators
- Brake light
- Horn
One key thing to note here is that the magnitude of alternator output is directly proportional to the rpm of the engine. So, the alternator output continuously fluctuates depending on the engine rpm.
Now, if the alternator output is less than the current required for all the electric accessories functioning, the battery provides the deficit charge. On the other hand, if the alternator produces excess current than required for the accessories, the excess charge is stored in the battery. That’s when the battery gets recharged.
Does the Battery get Recharged in a Motorcycle?
Now comes the main point, will the battery gets recharged in a motorcycle? The battery does get recharged in a motorcycle since alternator generates current derived from the rotary motion of the crankshaft in the engine. When the alternator output is excess than required by the accessories in the motorcycle, the excess charge is stored in the battery, thus, recharging it.
So, in essence the battery is recharged in a motorcycle.
However, the battery is drained as well in the motorcycle. It all depends in the power requirements of the accessories in the bike and the alternator output derived from the engine.
If the alternator output is more than the power requirements of the motorcycle, the battery gets recharged.
If the alternator output is less than the power requirements of the motorcycle, the battery gets drained.
So, there you have it, the battery gets recharged as long as the power requirements of the motorcycle is lower than the power generated in the alternator. The battery does indeed get recharged in a motorcycle by itself.
The Charging System – Alternator, Regulator and Battery
The battery along with the alternator and the regulator/rectifier forms the charging system in a motorcycle. To understand their roles clearly, here is a summarised description of the functioning of each of these components.
Alternator
The alternator in a motorcycle converts the mechanical energy – which is derived from the crankshaft through the engine – into electrical energy in the form of alternating current.
The AC current generated by the alternator will be proportional to the RPM of the engine. At higher RPMs, the rotor will rotate faster. Thus, the faster rotating magnetic flux will generate more electrical power.
Similarly, at lower RPMs, the rotor and hence, the magnetic flux rotation will be slower. The electrical power generated will consequently be lower as well.
Regulator
The regulator combined with rectifier converts the alternating current (AC) generated in the alternator into direct current (DC).
Since the current produced by the alternator is AC and has varying voltages, the current cannot be passed on directly.
This is where the regulator comes in. The main functions of the regulator are – to convert the AC current coming from the alternator into DC (Direct Current), and to regulate the voltage of the alternator output.
Battery
The battery acts as the power source in a motorcycle. It provides current to the ignition system as well as supplies current to the accessories in the bike above the alternator output whenever required.
Since alternator output has varying current outputs, battery acts as the moderator. When there is excess current coming from the alternator through the regulator, the battery stores the excess charge.
Similarly, when there isn’t sufficient current generated by the alternator, battery provides the deficit required to the accessories.
Reasons for a Dead Battery in a Motorcycle
The reason why you are looking for whether the motorcycle battery can recharge itself in the bike is most likely because your battery is dead. Let us look at the various reasons for why a battery is dead in a motorcycle.
Reasons for a dead battery in your motorcycle are –
- Poor Voltage Regulator: The Regulator basically converts the AC current output from the alternator into DC current that goes to the battery. If the Regulator is poor and is not performing up to the mark, the AC to DC current conversion is not proper – the battery will be impacted resulting in its death.
- Corrosion of battery terminals: Corroded battery terminals can be very problematic as the current will not flow easily. Add to it, there might be leakage problems as well in the battery that you need to worry upon.
- Bad ground connection: The ground connection between the frame and the battery should be neat as an improper or poor ground connection will result in battery overcharging. The battery will not able to pass on the excess charge from the alternator to the ground and will eventually malfunction due to overcharging.
- Short in the electric circuit: A short in the electrical connections might lead to severe problems in the working of different electrical components and might also fuse out the battery leading to your battery being dead.
- Heat and vibration: Excess heat and vibration will always have its negative impact on almost all the components. Battery is no exception. The lifespan of a battery is severely shortened when exposed to too much of heat or vibration in the motorcycle.
Tips for Battery Maintenance
Battery maintenance is an essential thing every rider needs to do specially since the modern motorcycle relies heavily on battery for optima performance. Even to start the motorcycle, battery is essential.
Even during the motorcycle servicing, battery needs to be checked whether it is in a perfect condition or not. With that in mind, here are some of the tips for your motorcycle battery maintenance.
- Clean the outer layer and terminals of the battery regularly: Keep the top layer clean and wipe off the grime as frequently as possible. The frequency can coincide with the servicing frequency of your motorcycle.
- Check electrolyte levels if the battery is not maintenance free: Nowadays, maintenance free batteries are getting more popular with no intervention required the user to check the electrolyte levels. However, if your motorcycle battery is not maintenance free, you need to check the levels periodically.
- Tighten the battery caps: Check the battery caps for their tightness so that there is no possibility of any leakages. If the caps are loose, tighten it to secure the battery from any leakages.
