07-02-2018, 12:11 PM
(07-02-2018, 08:55 AM)JMathis_imp Wrote:(07-01-2018, 01:34 AM)SportsterDoc_imp Wrote: Applying light load to a battery with lower voltage may help in cold weather, when capacity is reduced; as it will add some heat to the battery.
Do not expect it to help in warmer weather.
New guy here. I've seen this happen, especially with my lithium-ion battery. When the battery is exposed to near freezing and below temperatures, its internal electrical resistance goes up. This means the ability of the battery to provide cranking amperage will be reduced until it is somehow heated up. A subtle way to do this is by inducing a smaller demand on the battery by turning on lights. A less subtle way is to "stab" a few times at the starter button until you can get the motor to fully turn over and start.
Lithium-ion batteries are smaller, lighter, but need pampering when cold.
Bumping the starter is hard on the solenoid contacts.
A solenoid will have a long life when contacts do not need to interrupt load.
Direct current does not like to be interrupted.
When the engine fires, the starter motor is no longer under load.
So, for cold lithium-ion batteries, best to turn on lights, briefly. For the CB, just turn on key for a few seconds, before starting.