Battery/charger

[Hookster]

Time of Year

This time of year knocks the hell out of 12V systems I reckon so whatever helps keep you on top has to be a boon doesn't it? Optimate keeps everything in tip top condition, assuming the battery isn't shot to start with.

 

[Jon P]

Also does anyone know what should happen when you plug the BMW charger in? I have read on these pages that there should be an audible click or that the lights should flash...is this correct as mine seems to do neither?

Of course I can only speak from my own experience.............just plug into bike, does not matter if it'd within 15 minutes of turning off, no turning ignition on or off. Once I plug in and turn the power on all of the lights on the charger light for a brief moment and then progressively go through their sequence.

Surely, if something else is going on there is a problem somewhere

My understanding is that when you plug into the bike the charger sends a signal to turn on the socket on the bike. I can demonstrate this with the GPS.......with the ignition off the GPS goes off after a couple of minutes and I can test that there is no power at the socket. Then plug in the charger and the GPS comes on - so the charger is activating the socket........well, that is me experience but clearly not everyones?? and that's what doesn't make sense to me............if one does it then why not all?

 

[wilbjr21]

Page 132 of the handbook - reproduced (badly) here.


It really isn't too difficult. The older bikes software/contoller requires the key on/off malarky - the later models don't. Try it with your BMW charger (the one referred to the handbook) and if it starts to charge you don't need to turn the key on/off. If it doesn't see your dealer about a software update.

 

[Fredb51]

Have just put a meter across the terminals... voltage = 14.1

Should be ok then?

I'll leave it until Boxing Day until I have another go at waking the neigbours.

The Black Stuff beckons!!!!

Have a Good Christmas Y'all

I'd guess that your battery needs replacement. The GS's draw a huge load on starting and a marginal battery, even though showing full charge, won't have enough grunt to get the engine turning, especially in cold weather. I've been there, despite living in mild California.

 

[Gippo]

Checked the battery status first thing yesterday (Xmas Day...sad or what!)..
green light showing on the charger....11.8v across the battery teminals..

I guess either the ecu had closed down the socked or the charger had reached full charge at some point and done the same.(Presumably this can happen??)

Now switched over to the trusty Optimate....

 

[wilbjr21]

Checked the battery status first thing yesterday (Xmas Day...sad or what!)..
green light showing on the charger....11.8v across the battery teminals..

I guess either the ecu had closed down the socked or the charger had reached full charge at some point and done the same.(Presumably this can happen??)

Now switched over to the trusty Optimate....

It's not sad to be interested in your bike - no matter what day it is.

Which green light is showing - the 1/3, 2/3 or 3/3 charge? you say you are using the BMW charger model mentioned in my previous post (section from the handbook).

If the 3/3 charge green light is on then ECU has shut down the socket and is waiting for the charger to communicate and open the socket again after the battery voltage has fallen to the threshold value.

If your battery is sitting at 11.8V it's not healthy and it may not be holding a charge.

Did you get an instruction sheet with the charger? - if not I can scan and post. The reason I ask is the the BMW charger has de-sulphate possibilities -but not via the onboard socket.

 

[GSmonkey]

Now switched over to the trusty Optimate....

V.sensible

However, as you've deep discharged your battery its fairly shagged. Get it running then take it to the BMW garage and get a new one under warranty. Then keep it optimated if left for more than a few days.

'tis a bit sad fettling the bike on xmas day............good man

 

[EPP]

Accessory Socket

Just a quick question, there was a comment that optimate wont work through accessory socket is there a reason for that. I currently use mine through the accessory socket which powers my gps normally and all seems fine.

I have no power in my garage so have one of the Maplin £9.99 solar panels fixed to the roof which provides a trickle charge to keep the battery topped up when left for a few days/weeks which again goes through the accessory socket and seems to work ok.

 

[Fredb51]

Just a quick question, there was a comment that optimate wont work through accessory socket is there a reason for that. I currently use mine through the accessory socket which powers my gps normally and all seems fine.

I have no power in my garage so have one of the Maplin £9.99 solar panels fixed to the roof which provides a trickle charge to keep the battery topped up when left for a few days/weeks which again goes through the accessory socket and seems to work ok.

The theory is that the correct BMW charger sends a signal through the accessory socket to keep the circuit live, otherwise the fiendishly tricky CANBUS system switches everything off after a few minutes. With some bikes this works, other it doesn't. The Optimate doesn't generate this signal so in theory won't work through the accessory socket for more than a few minutes after turning the bike off. It may be that someone smart has modified your wiring so the accessory socket runs directly from the battery, hence your solar panel and Optimate work. It seems the super-clever CANBUS system which in part is supposed to help avoid flat batteries is probably responsible for more battery problems than one could possibly anticipate.

 

[Gippo]

It's not sad to be interested in your bike - no matter what day it is.

Which green light is showing - the 1/3, 2/3 or 3/3 charge? you say you are using the BMW charger model mentioned in my previous post (section from the handbook).

If the 3/3 charge green light is on then ECU has shut down the socket and is waiting for the charger to communicate and open the socket again after the battery voltage has fallen to the threshold value.

If your battery is sitting at 11.8V it's not healthy and it may not be holding a charge.

Did you get an instruction sheet with the charger? - if not I can scan and post. The reason I ask is the the BMW charger has de-sulphate possibilities -but not via the onboard socket.

The 3/3 green light was showing but while that was on green the voltage was 11.8....should the charger have kicked back in by then??


Yes I did get the instruction sheet with the charger thanks.. Presumably you are refering to where the charger is connected directly to the (disconnected) battery. I guess some additional leads would need to be made up for this? (Nothing was supplied with the charger).Is there an issue as to how long these can be etc? I guess a female socket on a couple of leads fitted with Crock clips would do the trick??

 

[Gippo]

All sorted now...

Battery was completely knackered...confirmed and replaced by dealer..no questions asked....

 

[deaninkl]

for those that say leaving the bike for 3 weeks or so is fine... I can only say bollocks.

For sure it should be. But discracefully the BMW can't manage that. I have a 07 bike with 8200KM on the clock. I live in KL where the temp. dosent go below 24 degrees C. Over Christmas I left the bike for 3 weeks and when I went to satrt I had no electronics at all.

It was a brand new battery When I got the new bike in May, I know that cos the day IO picked up my new bike they couln't start it cos the battery was flat, so in went a new one. I use the bike weekly but always on long runs, she normally fires first time, but if I miss a week you can tell the battery is struggling but still manages first time. 3 weeks was a week to far. Worse it wouldn't bump or jump as the CANBUS had shut shop also. Very worrying in Malaysia as there is only one main dealer for the whole country....

I'm getting a trickle charger as soon as I can find one.

 

[chasr]

for those that say leaving the bike for 3 weeks or so is fine... I can only say bollocks.

For sure it should be. But discracefully the BMW can't manage that. I have a 07 bike with 8200KM on the clock. I live in KL where the temp. dosent go below 24 degrees C. Over Christmas I left the bike for 3 weeks and when I went to satrt I had no electronics at all.

It was a brand new battery When I got the new bike in May, I know that cos the day IO picked up my new bike they couln't start it cos the battery was flat, so in went a new one. I use the bike weekly but always on long runs, she normally fires first time, but if I miss a week you can tell the battery is struggling but still manages first time. 3 weeks was a week to far. Worse it wouldn't bump or jump as the CANBUS had shut shop also. Very worrying in Malaysia as there is only one main dealer for the whole country....

I'm getting a trickle charger as soon as I can find one.

You have posted this elsewhere. Someone replied that any accessory which remains attached, such as an alarm, may draw current - this might be the cause of your flat battery. If you have an alarm, or anything else, connected can you post back and let us all know (& perhaps withdraw that 'disgraceful' remark)?

We know the battery in the 1200GS is a weak point - designed to 'just' cope in order to save weight. And the subject of batteries/chargers probably produce more posts than any other, especially at this time of year. However, flat batteries caused by owner error (not suggesting that this is the case with you) produce many posts which rather inflate the size of the problem.

I've owned 2 1200GSs, and the last time I had a flat battery on startup was with an F650.

 

[deaninkl]

Hi Chasr,

I have no electrical assessories added to my bike, thankfully very little in the way of extras are available in Malaysia so no bling temptation, only thing I've put on is crash bars.

The fact that on day one when I picked up the bike new it wouldn't start and had to have a new battery may point to a drain on the battery while not in use. I call BMW Malaysia today an they told me they had fitted a new battery and that no other problems were found. So it may simply have been a week battery to start with. My bike is used regulaly and always for long rides, so charging should have been sufficient and the battery has not had to deal with an English winter.

You are probably correct that many things get blown up on this forum as so many gripes are about the same things, but that is the purpose and weekness of forums and blogs. Apart from the battery issue my bike has been great, no real complaints, but starting a bike is pre-requisite for everything else and there does seem to be many people that have had to be ferried home or elsewhere because of a flat battery or electronic failure. I paid 60% more for my bike that the UK price, it has a BMW sign on the tank, I expect the battery to last more than 8 months. Still love the bike though. Maybe the word discraceful is a little strong, but frankly I expect to switch on a BMW and press a button and get it started every time I use it. Its not a toy, and although for many riding a bike is no longer a sole form of transport I expect reliability as I did in the 70's with my Honda G5, 400/4 and CX.

happy riding.

 

[chasr]

I paid 60% more for my bike than the UK price

Ouch

For that sort of money, you'd expect a BMW man to come & warm up the bike for 'sir' to ride.

As you said before, best get an Optimate. For what it's worth, the UK Dealers are fed up with the GS battery issue too.

atb

 

[DodgyGeeSer]

Just a quick note to say that I bought one of the car and bike chargers from ALDI/LIDL for around 12 euro (~8 quid sterling), and it has done a wonderful job on my GS12 battery..

Recharged it fully, and then kept it on trickle. Had to remove the battery, but it's only 2 minutes work. I know the old axiom, 'you get what you pay for', but I was sure the battery was a gonner and needed replacing, so for a small investment, it was worth every penny.

On another point, I was reading the bike's user manual, and it mentioned that if you're laying the bike up for a couple of weeks you should disconnect the battery, as clocks etc (eek) cause a drain.

 

[ratboy]

Hi

Just walked in the door having returned from North Oxford BMW having purchased a BMW charger for my 2008 GS. The sales rep still recommended the procedure of turning the ignition on before plugging in the charger and then leaving the ignition on for a minute after plugging in.

This is my third GS and undoubtebly the battary is a weak point. Even leaving mine permanently on charge I've had a least one replacement battery per bike.

ps As mentioned elsewhere the 2008 bikes are at the dealers. North Oxford have theirs hidden out the back but I as unable to have a peak.

 

[sani]

Hi guy's just a quick question
How long does the battery last from new as I have a 1150 gsa ?
And can I charge the Odyssey battery weth an optimaite charger?
Thanks.

 

[Hookster]

Optimate

Dunno if I have a problem or not. Optimate connected to the supplied lead in turn connected direct to the terminals on the battery. After several days of two green lights and normally after the alarm goes to sleep, the red fault light comes on. Disconnect and reconnect and all ok for another few days?? Will stick at it tho' cos bike not being ridden enough to keep a full charge otherwise.

 

[sani]

Hi guy's just a quick question
How long does the battery last from new as I have a 1150 gsa ?
And can I charge the Odyssey battery weth an optimaite charger?
Thanks.

Thanks for the advice guy's