Battery charger advice please....

[stanley]

Possibly not the right section, but the "technical" section seems to be locked to new threads?
And maybe I've not got the knack of the search facility....

Anyhow,
I need to buy a battery charger, and I'm not sure what would be best for my needs.
I have a 1200RT and a 1100BCR. So one CANBUS and one normal.
I want to be able to "maintain" the batteries as well as charge them. Do I buy an Optimate? if so, which one?
Do I plug in via the BMW socket, or connect a couple of tails to the battery?
I'm thinking that tails to the battery might be best; no changing settings between the two bikes then.

Thanks in advance.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Do I buy an Optimate? if so, which one?

Yes. Whichever one you fancy.

I'm thinking that tails to the battery might be best.

Yes again. You get one battery lead with the optimate. A 2nd lead is cheap as chips.

 

[sidestand]

Optimate charging works for me.
I charge all my bikes that way (except for the 6v ones)
& 2 of them are canbus.

The battery lead also makes a good auxiliary accessory socket as well

 

[stanley]

Righto,

Optimate 4 ordered. New "SAE" model, with permanent connector and croc clips included. Ordered a second permanent connector too; so that'll cover both bikes, and leave both bikes with an additional 5 amp power socket.

Cheers

 

[Bendy toy]

I've had an Optimate for over 15 years. I wouldn't have anything else.

 

[ihandyman247]

Righto,

Optimate 4 ordered. New "SAE" model, with permanent connector and croc clips included. Ordered a second permanent connector too; so that'll cover both bikes, and leave both bikes with an additional 5 amp power socket.

Cheers

+1 , work best for me in both bikes

 

[steveh]

I've been using a halfords battery conditioner charger for the past 4 years and no issues as of yet.

Genuine question.....is this a bad idea, why the optimate when the halfords option was less then a tenner? Am I in danger of stuffing up the bike?

 

[Billywhizz]

I've been using a halfords battery conditioner charger for the past 4 years and no issues as of yet.

Genuine question.....is this a bad idea, why the optimate when the halfords option was less then a tenner? Am I in danger of stuffing up the bike?

Simple answer is no.

 

[ihandyman247]

I've been using a halfords battery conditioner charger for the past 4 years and no issues as of yet.

Genuine question.....is this a bad idea, why the optimate when the halfords option was less then a tenner? Am I in danger of stuffing up the bike?

well no there is not any danger but we all try to use more and more Genuine products that are design to give more accurate satisfaction
I am sure that the one from halfords is just as good but just never tried one before , I just use the more appropriate and recommended one by BMW

 

[thegasman]

A couple of points worth remembering:

Optimate 4 can be set up for canbus/socket vs clips charging. Make sure it's set correctly for the particular mode you're using. Manual explains and it's straightforward.

If you're charging via the power socket on the canbus setting, you need to connect and apply power before the canbus system shuts down - i.e. 30 seconds from turning off and removing ignition key. It's easy to turn off ignition but leave electrics active, connect charger, then turn key to zero and remove.

 

[littleredrooster]

If you're charging via the power socket on the canbus setting, you need to connect and apply power before the canbus system shuts down - i.e. 30 seconds from turning off and removing ignition key. It's easy to turn off ignition but leave electrics active, connect charger, then turn key to zero and remove.

In seven years of various flavours of 1200GS ownership, I've never had to do this. I randomly turn the the charger (Mascot) on when I remember and it always goes into its charge / switch off / charge cycle without fail.

I must be very lucky.

 

[seadog]

If you're charging via the power socket on the canbus setting, you need to connect and apply power before the canbus system shuts down - i.e. 30 seconds from turning off and removing ignition key. It's easy to turn off ignition but leave electrics active, connect charger, then turn key to zero and remove.

No you do NOT have to do this.

 

[stanley]

Glad I bought the permanent "tails".

No faffing with the canbus settings!

Will take me a whole 10 seconds to take the seat off to plug in though

 

[Bendy toy]

How long does the standard battery last when the bike is parked (alarm/immob, clock, unknown drain, etc)?

 

[seadog]

How long does the standard battery last when the bike is parked (alarm/immob, clock, unknown drain, etc)?

I regularly used to leave my 04 sitting for 6 weeks at a time, come home and she fired up no problems, I have since got myself an optimate, but don't use it all the time, just once every few months for a top up/ battery TLC.


Cheers


Mike

 

[vsimes]

Possibly not the right section, but the "technical" section seems to be locked to new threads?
And maybe I've not got the knack of the search facility....

Anyhow,
I need to buy a battery charger, and I'm not sure what would be best for my needs.
I have a 1200RT and a 1100BCR. So one CANBUS and one normal.
I want to be able to "maintain" the batteries as well as charge them. Do I buy an Optimate? if so, which one?
Do I plug in via the BMW socket, or connect a couple of tails to the battery?
I'm thinking that tails to the battery might be best; no changing settings between the two bikes then.

Thanks in advance.

For what it's worth chaps, I have used Optimates for years with no problems.
I always leave them permanently connected when bikes are parked in the garage.
I have the MK4 version on my 6 year old GS. Its programmed for the CAN-BUS setting and plugs into the 'Aux' socket under the seat.
after parking up I simply plug in and switch on....the rear light on the GS flashes once (I assume it means the CAN-BUS 'knows' the charger is there).
The charger works and I have never changed the original battery...yet....
Hope this is useful?

 

[Steptoe]

Special canbus electricity. Whatever next.