Another Optimate Question - sorry!

[del1150]

I've succumbed to the lure of ASA and adaptive ride height so now waiting to pick up a GSA on 1st March.

With an AGM battery on the R1300, is there any issue using the older Optimate 4 (not the newer "Quad") for charging/maintenance? Especially if via a direct battery lead rather than the DIN socket?

Thanks

 

[DJ123]

Does the charger manual suggest it's not able to support a newer AGM battery?

A direct battery lead should not cause any issues, when it comes to fitting a charger/battery tender.

 

[wessie]

No problem. I have that Optimate 4 and it is fine for any AGM battery. I use it on the bike and even to top up the car as I do lots of short trips.

AGM technology has not changed for decades.

 

[Anthony Byrne]

Be fine

 

[Smartbazza]

itll be fine. I had my battery replaced with the AGM and it's on a standard charger.

Barry

 

[del1150]

Thanks for the replies. I figured it would be OK but as so many people have had charging issues I thought best to check.

I’m assuming it would be foolish to use the DIN socket though ….

 

[wessie]

Thanks for the replies. I figured it would be OK but as so many people have had charging issues I thought best to check.

I’m assuming it would be foolish to use the DIN socket though ….

why over complicate matters?

going through the bike's electronics is adding layer of complexity that can go wrong. I used the accessory socket on my R1200RS but it seems in 9 years, BMW has complicated the protocols so things fall over more often.

a direct contact to the battery means there are no barriers to the transfer of electrons to the storage medium

 

[del1150]

I agree . The bike manual does say not to charge direct to the battery without first disconnecting it (to avoid risk of damaging the bike electronics ) but to me that’s just corporate backside covering

 

[wessie]

I agree . The bike manual does say not to charge direct to the battery without first disconnecting it (to avoid risk of damaging the bike electronics ) but to me that’s just corporate backside covering

your optimate 4 manual specifically states that the device can detect if it is in circuit on a vehicle. In this scenario, the Optimate will automatically turn off desulphate mode, where it sends high voltage pulses into a seemingly dead battery.

Some older or simpler chargers do not have this safeguard so the corporate lawyer is attempting to facilitate a get out of jail card.

The only time you need to charge a battery off the bike is if you neglect it and let it go into a deep discharged state and want the Optimate to whack it with full recovery mode.

 

[del1150]

I didn’t see why there would be a problem with an Optimate but thanks for your explanation re older chargers as that makes good sense