BB-SBM12 Battery Bug Starting Battery Monitor Support
This page provides support for the BB-SBM12 family of products:
BB-SBM12
BB-SBM12PS
Quick Links
- Download manuals and literature
- Common Questions
Downloads
Manuals
Product manual by language:
EN, DE, NL
Literature
BB Series brochure by language:
EN
BB-SBM12 Minibrochure by language:
EN
Installation FAQs
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Can the wires of the BB-SBM12 be extended to mount the display remote from the batteries?
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Yes. It is possible to extend the leads of the BB-SBM12 and BB-SBM12-PS without affecting the accuracy of the measurements. The wires of the BB-DCM products should not be lengthened.
Category: BBSBM12 - Installation -
What is the purpose of the flashing bar on the 'fan display?'
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The flashing bar indicates the most recent cranking performance. The solid bars of the fan indicate the overall cranking health of the battery.
Category: BBSBM12 - Installation -
What does the 'half full' battery icon mean?
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The BB has determined that the battery charge level is low and the battery should be charged.
Category: BBSBM12 - Installation
Interpreting the Display and Alarms
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My Battery Bug PS was showing a cranking health consistently around 50% and suddenly it is around 10% and it does not increase even after a long ride, or charging between rides.
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The Battery Bug SBM series measures the effort that the battery must exert to crank the engine (lowest instantaneous voltage during cranking) at every start and converts this minimum cranking voltage value to a percentage (0 to 100) that represents cranking health. The displayed cranking health number is the lowest cranking health value that has been measured since the Battery Bug has been installed. If on a particular day (cold weather after long period of rest for example) the cranking health happens to be particularly low (the lowest so far,) this low value is the value that is used to represent cranking health on the screen, and it will remain so until some time in the future where a lower value is experienced. If your cranking health appears to drop suddenly and it wasn't the result of a significant change in temperature since the last start, then it is recommended to disconnect and reconnect one Battery Bug connection to the battery to reset the monitor. If after a few starts in normal conditions the cranking health is again very low, then battery replacement is recommended. Also note that using a charger or driving long distances (charging with the alternator or rectifier) will not itself have any impact on cranking health. Only by cranking the engine will the monitor capture the cranking health of the battery (and only a lower value will be displayed, a higher cranking health result will not change the displayed lower health from an earlier start.)
Category: BBSBM12PS, BBSBM12PS - Use -
My battery is new - so why does my Battery Bug PS on my motorcycle indicate cranking health well below 100%?
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The Battery Bug SBM series measures the effort that the battery must exert to crank the engine (lowest instantaneous voltage during cranking.) A big healthy battery cranking a small engine will not need to exert much effort to turn the engine - high cranking health. But a small battery cranking a big engine needs to exert a relatively higher effort to successfully crank - low cranking health. Motorcycles (especially high performance bikes) are designed to minimize weight (relatively small batteries), yet they have relatively large displacement and high compression engines. Therefore a typical motorcycle battery must exert more effort to start the motorcycle engine than a typical car battery must work to start a car engine. Because of this, it is normal that even new motorcycle batteries to show a cranking health considerably below 100%. But when the battery has decayed to a low cranking health value - the battery is nearing the point where it can't crank the engine - it is time to replace the battery.
Category: BBSBM12PS, BBSBM12PS - Use -
Why is the cranking performance much lower on the first start of the day than other starts?
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Cause: The BB measures cranking performance at every start and cold engines are more difficult to start (lower cranking performance) than warm engines (higher cranking performance.) The lowest cranking performance is used to determine cranking health.
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The BB beeps for 30 seconds every time the engine is turned off.
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Cause: The BB has recorded a very poor cranking health in a recent start and has determined that the battery is near its end of life.
Solution: Please refer to symptom 5. Reset the BB by removing one BB lead from the battery and re-attaching it. If the BB again indicates to replace the battery, replace the battery now to avoid an unexpected failure.
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Why does the BB indicate to replace the battery, but the engine still starts?
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Cause: The BB has recorded a very poor cranking health in a recent start and has determined that the battery is near its end of life. The BB is designed to indicate a weak battery before it fails to start the engine. Under normal conditions the battery will have sufficient life remaining to continue starting the engine a period of time.
Solution: Confirm the replace battery indication by resetting the BB and starting the engine again. Reset the BB by removing one BB lead from the battery and re-attaching it. If the BB again indicates to replace the battery, replace the battery now to avoid an unexpected failure.
Cause: The BB has recorded a very poor cranking performance because the battery was extremely cold. A 'temperature icon' will be indicated on the display if the BB believes the cranking health may be the result of extremely cold battery temperature.
Solution: If cold temperatures are common you should consider replacing the battery at this time. If cold temperatures are unusual, continue to use the battery and reset the BB by removing one BB lead from the battery and re-attaching it. -
The engine doesn't turn over, but the BB indicates Cranking Health above 20%.
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Cause: The battery has been discharged to the point where it can't crank the engine. The Battery Bug is designed to distinguish between a battery that is merely discharged, and one that is near the end of its useful life. If the Cranking Health is high, but the engine fails to crank, the Battery Bug has determined that the battery is healthy, but discharged.
Solution: Charge the battery and start the engine.Cause: There is a defect in the starting system, such as a defective starter motor or related wiring.
Solution: Have the starting system checked by a qualified technician. -
The BB is beeping a few times every two minutes. What does this mean?
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Cause: The BB has determined that the battery is in a low state of charge. If the battery voltage is below 12.1V continuously for more than 20 seconds, the BB will turn on the 'low battery icon' and beep every two minutes.
Solution: Charge the battery to avoid permanent battery damage.
Troubleshooting
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Why is the cranking performance much lower on the first start of the day than other starts?
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Cause: The BB measures cranking performance at every start and cold engines are more difficult to start (lower cranking performance) than warm engines (higher cranking performance.) The lowest cranking performance is used to determine cranking health.
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The BB beeps for 30 seconds every time the engine is turned off.
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Cause: The BB has recorded a very poor cranking health in a recent start and has determined that the battery is near its end of life.
Solution: Please refer to symptom 5. Reset the BB by removing one BB lead from the battery and re-attaching it. If the BB again indicates to replace the battery, replace the battery now to avoid an unexpected failure.
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Why does the BB indicate to replace the battery, but the engine still starts?
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Cause: The BB has recorded a very poor cranking health in a recent start and has determined that the battery is near its end of life. The BB is designed to indicate a weak battery before it fails to start the engine. Under normal conditions the battery will have sufficient life remaining to continue starting the engine a period of time.
Solution: Confirm the replace battery indication by resetting the BB and starting the engine again. Reset the BB by removing one BB lead from the battery and re-attaching it. If the BB again indicates to replace the battery, replace the battery now to avoid an unexpected failure.
Cause: The BB has recorded a very poor cranking performance because the battery was extremely cold. A 'temperature icon' will be indicated on the display if the BB believes the cranking health may be the result of extremely cold battery temperature.
Solution: If cold temperatures are common you should consider replacing the battery at this time. If cold temperatures are unusual, continue to use the battery and reset the BB by removing one BB lead from the battery and re-attaching it. -
The display has some indications but they do not make any sense.
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Cause: The microprocessor in the BB needs to be reset.
Solution: Reset the BB by removing one BB lead from the battery and re-attaching it.
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The engine doesn't turn over, but the BB indicates Cranking Health above 20%.
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Cause: The battery has been discharged to the point where it can't crank the engine. The Battery Bug is designed to distinguish between a battery that is merely discharged, and one that is near the end of its useful life. If the Cranking Health is high, but the engine fails to crank, the Battery Bug has determined that the battery is healthy, but discharged.
Solution: Charge the battery and start the engine.Cause: There is a defect in the starting system, such as a defective starter motor or related wiring.
Solution: Have the starting system checked by a qualified technician. -
The BB is beeping a few times every two minutes. What does this mean?
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Cause: The BB has determined that the battery is in a low state of charge. If the battery voltage is below 12.1V continuously for more than 20 seconds, the BB will turn on the 'low battery icon' and beep every two minutes.
Solution: Charge the battery to avoid permanent battery damage. -
The display is blank.
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Cause: The BB has been installed with the leads reversed.
Solution: Reverse the red and black leads of the BB to match the polarity of he battery.
Cause: The microprocessor in the BB needs to be reset.
Solution: Remove one BB lead from the battery, wait 5 seconds and re-attach it to the battery.
Cause: The battery is completely discharged.
Solution: Fully charge the battery. Remove and re-attach one BB lead to reset the Battery Bug microprocessor.
Cause: The Battery Bug has an internal failure.
Solution: Replace the Battery Bug.
Solutions
Starting Battery
Support