Battery charging?

[Duraace]

Should I use the din socket? Or is it better to fit a fly lead direct to the battery?

Any good chargers? Ctek?

 

[Stevie4scoops]

Direct lead to the battery.

I have an additional Hella (same as the standard BMW) power socket connected directly to the battery so connect my charger/maintainer to this.

 

[leadfarmer]

Got a Ctek with the fly lead connected to the battery

 

[daviedevs]

optimate 4 with lead to battery

 

[littleade]

As above direct to the battery. If you want to use the existing aux socket you'll need a canbus friendly charger like the Optimate 4

 

[steadysteve]

Used an optimate on mine through the din socket and it kept showing 'reverse polarity'.
No issues after fitting a fly lead.

 

[Duraace]

Gone for the fly lead option and ordered a ctek from Amazon.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Always just plugged it into the din socket on the dash.
Is it too simple ?
Why the need to attached leads to the battery ?

 

[MrMcNamara]

optimate 4 with lead to battery

Wot he said - works for me

 

[telbenj]

Always just plugged it into the din socket on the dash.
Is it too simple ?
Why the need to attached leads to the battery ?

Same here simple isn't it
Terry

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Same here simple isn't it
Terry

I dont get it ?
You havnt got to do anything. Just lift the cover and push it in.........

 

[Prawnini]

Thats all I did on my previous bike, not needed it the new steed......yet!

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Mine is plugged in all the time. I use the BMW charger that constantly maintains and conditions the battery. Never had any issues and I like the simplicity.
No extra leads.

 

[BeemerBaz]

Always just plugged it into the din socket on the dash.
Is it too simple ?
Why the need to attached leads to the battery ?

Same goes

 

[wileeeeeey]

Is there a difference between plugging it into flap on the dash and plugging direct into the battery?

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Of course.
Plugging it into the din on the dash needs no additional leads fitted to the bike.
Unless for some reason you want to attached extra leads to your bike ?
Just lift the plug cover and push in the din.

 

[steadysteve]

Anybody know why the optimate would show reversed polarity?

That is the only reason I installed the fly lead. No idea why the optimate won`t play-- it has been okay on haif a,dozen other bikes when plugged into the din socket. Impossible for the din socket to be connected wrongly on the bike side of things because the plugs only go in one way.

 

[Rusty]

Optimate 4 ... seat off direct to battery can't go wrong.

 

[Nutty]

Is this for your brand new bike? If so, don't bother, unless it'll sit for 6 months.

I'm ashamed to say I haven't ridden mine since the end of October (holidays, socialising, hospital visits ), so it's been sat in a cold garage for nearly 3 months. It started first time last week when the dealer picked it up to get new tyres fitted.

Save your money for petrol and beer.

 

[fatnfast]

The genuine BMW charger not only has the advantage of plugging straight in, but it also switches off and on to keep the battery topped up. Downside is the cost, around £100 I think.
Most other chargers supply a constant trickle charge which will hide a dying battery quite well.

I wired in an addition din socket on mine prior to getting the BMW charger for Xmas. I used an Oxford Optimiser 900 which charges then switches off when it senses the battery is fully charged. It then switches on/off again as required. They display the charge current and battery voltage unlike optimate chargers. Additionally it doesn't carry out a pulse charge which BMW claim could damage the electronics (although I doubt it would and is just a way of selling you their charger).

They are around £32 I believe.

My bikes have trackers etc, so I prefer to use a trickle charger.