USB Chargers

[t-man403]

Don't leave them plugged in!!! 



My Battery is dead and is not wanting to charge over 11V
Sucks as there's only a couple months left of ride time.....

[Jess from VA]

I was wondering where the USB Chargers played football.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

I switched over to one similar as this. And have it switched thru a power block.

I was wondering where the USB Chargers played football.   

They moved to LA last year. 

[t-man403]

I switched over to one similar as this. And have it switched thru a power block.

Ran my 12V outlet direct even though I have a power block.......may have to reconsider

[Bighead]

I really dont think that the one small LED telling you it is hot drained your battery. Unless it hasnt been run or started in months. Unless the battery was on its way out or weak to begin with.

[t-man403]

I really dont think that the one small LED telling you it is hot drained your battery. Unless it hasnt been run or started in months. Unless the battery was on its way out or weak to begin with.

I totally agree with your thoughts, which is the reason I left it plugged in.
Funny thing is, the battery tender I'm using to recharge, has volt/amps readout. I know they don't put out much being a trickle charger but the volt reading did not change till I unplugged the USB from the 12 Volt socket!

The bike has sat for a week and a half not plugged into the tender which it usually is. If the battery is on it's way out, I'd have to question the usefulness of a tender.  ???

I'm happy that as of this morning the voltage is at 13.6V.

[RWhitehouse]

Some cheapo USB outlets can have a fairly hefty "vampire" draw even when nothing is plugged in. Like 5-10mA, which ultimately isn't a lot, but added up over weeks, can run a battery down, especially a motorcycle battery that may not be in great shape to start with. A 12ah motorcycle battery would only need 50 days to be drained by a 10mA draw (and likely be too low to start anything well before that point)

Most newer cars turn off the accessory plugs automatically for this reason- either when the doors are locked by the remote, or within 10 or 15 minutes of the key being turned off otherwise.

I got a handlebar mount USB outlet that has a switch on the bottom, it plugs into the battery tender lead. I was going to wire one to the running lights so it would be keyed power, but then realized I'd probably want to charge headphones or something during gas or lunch breaks, so got one with it's own switch direct to the battery so I could use it with the bike off as well. When the switch is off there is zero parasitic drain and it has a little light as most do to remind me to turn it off when I'm done.

Looks similar to this one except mine has a push-button and a LED instead of a rocker switch. The first one went kaput after getting rained on, with the cover open, with it switched on. The second one I've been more careful with, it's been rained on several times. As long as you close the cover over the usb slots it's fine.
 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-3-1A-12V-Motorcycle-Handlebar-Dual-USB-Charger-Outlet-Socket-w-Switch/202360718508?

[WintrSol]

Even quality USB adapter outlets can have a large enough 'vampire' load, as they use switching power supplies, which run all the time; how big that load is depends on how many USB sockets, and the total current rating. Our stock batteries are only 12AH, which means at only 100mA load, one will be dead from full charge in less than 5 days; more like 4 days to not start your bike, since, at only 20% charge, it may not light the headlamp. I always unplug my adapter from the outlet, and put it in the tank bag, before I step away from the bike.

[indybobm]

Also remember what the adapter does. Converts 12volts to 5 volts.  There is some active circuitry that is never off.

[WintrSol]

Out of curiosity, I measured my generic USB power adapter, labeled Enercel and 2.5A continuous output; it idles at ~10mA. The service manual says the battery should be recharged if it goes below 12.3V, or ~60% left, so that 10mA load would have it there, from full charge, in about 20 days, with no other loads present. So, you could leave it connected overnight, maybe even charge your cell, assuming your battery is healthy, without harm, but a few weeks is out of the question.

[srteach]

Out of curiosity, I measured my generic USB power adapter, labeled Enercel and 2.5A continuous output; it idles at ~10mA. The service manual says the battery should be recharged if it goes below 12.3V, or ~60% left, so that 10mA load would have it there, from full charge, in about 20 days, with no other loads present. So, you could leave it connected overnight, maybe even charge your cell, assuming your battery is healthy, without harm, but a few weeks is out of the question.

The 10mA above is without any device attached. When plugged into a device, the current draw is the draw it uses to charge the device. Most devices charge at 1.2 to 2.4 Amp per hour. That means plugged for a few hours and the battery is non starting for our bikes.

[WintrSol]

Out of curiosity, I measured my generic USB power adapter, labeled Enercel and 2.5A continuous output; it idles at ~10mA. The service manual says the battery should be recharged if it goes below 12.3V, or ~60% left, so that 10mA load would have it there, from full charge, in about 20 days, with no other loads present. So, you could leave it connected overnight, maybe even charge your cell, assuming your battery is healthy, without harm, but a few weeks is out of the question.

The 10mA above is without any device attached. When plugged into a device, the current draw is the draw it uses to charge the device. Most devices charge at 1.2 to 2.4 Amp per hour. That means plugged for a few hours and the battery is non starting for our bikes.

Very true, but the OP was about just leaving the adapter plugged in, not charging or powering anything.

[cookiedough]

this got me thinking as well not about usb chargers, but my scooter has a digital readout of the clock that is ALWAYS ON even when not running and key is out of ignition.  I wonder how much current is draining my battery on this clock digital readout that is stupid to have it showing forever if battery is connected not running.

What purpose does it serve to have the clock readout on all the time if battery is connected which 99.99% of us leave battery connected thru the summer months at least?

[Jess from VA]

this got me thinking as well not about usb chargers, but my scooter has a digital readout of the clock that is ALWAYS ON even when not running and key is out of ignition.  I wonder how much current is draining my battery on this clock digital readout that is stupid to have it showing forever if battery is connected not running.

What purpose does it serve to have the clock readout on all the time if battery is connected which 99.99% of us leave battery connected thru the summer months at least?

It's for those that don't own a watch.

[Gryphon Rider]

Out of curiosity, I measured my generic USB power adapter, labeled Enercel and 2.5A continuous output; it idles at ~10mA. The service manual says the battery should be recharged if it goes below 12.3V, or ~60% left, so that 10mA load would have it there, from full charge, in about 20 days, with no other loads present. So, you could leave it connected overnight, maybe even charge your cell, assuming your battery is healthy, without harm, but a few weeks is out of the question.

The 10mA above is without any device attached. When plugged into a device, the current draw is the draw it uses to charge the device. Most devices charge at 1.2 to 2.4 Amp per hour. That means plugged for a few hours and the battery is non starting for our bikes.

Whatever current it is putting out at 5V, it is drawing less than half of that at 12V.  When charging a device (cell phone, Bluetooth communicator, etc.) it will start at full current, but the current will diminish as the device reaches full charge.  I can run two Cardo Scala Rider G9 units all day, and charge them overnight using a dual USB outlet connected to my motorcycle battery, and still start the bike in the morning without a problem.

[MarkT]

I installed this Road Proof 12v and USB multi socket on Jade recently, manually switched on with the switch on the tank gusset.  With it's light, it's obvious it's on.  Mounted it on the windshield bracket so it's sheltered from weather.  The 12v sockets don't supply a lot of power so I use a more robust socket fused at 25a under the seat for things like a compressor or inverter.  They also make another model with 3 USB sockets but it doesn't have the light.  Got it at Auto Zone.

[WintrSol]

this got me thinking as well not about usb chargers, but my scooter has a digital readout of the clock that is ALWAYS ON even when not running and key is out of ignition.  I wonder how much current is draining my battery on this clock digital readout that is stupid to have it showing forever if battery is connected not running.

What purpose does it serve to have the clock readout on all the time if battery is connected which 99.99% of us leave battery connected thru the summer months at least?

Is the readout lighted, or LED? If it has an LCD display, without a backlight, it likely runs on a fraction of a milliAmp. I have analog clocks on my bikes, that run on a battery the size of a hearing aid; the batteries last more than a year, probably as long as the batteries would last in the drawer. An LCD clock very possibly draws little more than the analog ones.