Battery Conditioner Advice

[developer]

What's the most suitable battery conditioner for looking after the gel battery during periods of storage please?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[TrevM]

I have been using the OptiMate 4 can-bus edition for years on various BMW Motorcycles. I have a 2017 GS now but my previous bike was a K1200GT 2008 and I replaced the original battery in 2015 after 55,000 miles which I thought was pretty good. Plugs straight into the auxiliary socket couldn’t be easier.

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

+1 on above, but I never leave it plugged in for too long, I usually plug it it for 24 hours every month, if the bike is not used, that normally keeps it in good condition, I have a canbus plug, but prefer to clip it on the battery directly, with the crocodile clips.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Do you actually mean a gel battery or are you referring to the stock agm? Very different charging requirements. If it's the agm then go get a ctek and wire it direct to the battery. Nothing to go wrong after that.

 

[Shytalk]

My first post - +1for the Optimate, when the bikes are in the garage they are always plugged in. I prefer to have them connected to the battery as this gives me a second charging point for my curling tongs when on tour.

 

[developer]

Do you actually mean a gel battery or are you referring to the stock agm? Very different charging requirements. If it's the agm then go get a ctek and wire it direct to the battery. Nothing to go wrong after that.

Gotta be honest - I don't know - it was the dealer that mentioned gel battery - the bike is a 2018MY GSA, so whatever they have as standard.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Will be agm then

 

[GSchaser]

I've used C-TEK and optimate for years on both bikes and cars, never had an issue and they are both conditioners

 

[developer]

Will be agm then

Thank you.

 

[snaponphil]

I like the original new style BMW charger, it works perfectly through the accessory socket if you don’t want the hassle or expense of wiring extra to the bike.

 

[tanneman]

Later on you will have to change the battery and if you decide to go for the Li-ion types (lighter and more compact) then C-Tek is the only battery charger that will charge that. Optimate won't. The Li-ion holds charge much better. Both makes of charger will give good service, I have had both types for a number of years. To me the C-Tek is the better one. The fly lead you get with it has a better weather seal than the Optimate one. It has a nice pouch for putting the charger and all it contents away with when not in use. Car manufacturers have these as accessories you can purchase albeit a suitably rebranded model. Sometimes at 3x the price than the original C-Tek model.

 

[Popell]

You might dismiss it but the Aldi/Lidl chargers when available are an absolute bargain.

3.8 amp output, bike setting etc, great to maintain an agm

 

[JJH]

I'm not a fan of these devices. I belive that they do more harm than good. I've never replaced abattery except on a r100/7. God knows how old that was. I use my bike most days. Longest left without use was 3 weeks but still started. JJH

 

[Popell]

Doesn’t matter how good your battery is, the fact remains if you have a drain due to alarm etc, and you want to store your bike (as per OP question) then you will flatten the battery.
Options are:-
a tender- connect and forget
Regular charging- just have to remember
Remove battery and store fully charged - bit inconvenient

 

[JJH]

Doesn’t matter how good your battery is, the fact remains if you have a drain due to alarm etc, and you want to store your bike (as per OP question) then you will flatten the battery.
Options are:-
a tender- connect and forget
Regular charging- just have to remember
Remove battery and store fully charged - bit inconvenient

Tender - fit and fry. As for removing battery - why remove just disconect the minus or if the + is easier but be carefull. My ride on lawn mower survives the 5 inactive months with 1 charge. That reminda me. Lawnmower is 15 years old replaced battery 3 years ago. JJH

 

[Mr Bean]

Longest left without use was 3 weeks but still started. JJH

I left my RT a few years ago from early Nov till mid Jan outside - no additional charging etc and it started fine. OK, it was a tad slow turning over but it was fine.

 

[tanneman]

Remove battery and store fully charged - bit inconvenient

The electronics nowadays have a memory that has to be maintained. Removing the battery will cause more harm than good.

 

[leadfarmer]

Been using a Ctek for several years on bikes and a lawn tractor, works very well, even resuscitated a battery a few years back that I thought was well beyond getting back

I’ve got a fly lead on each machine so I just rotate the Ctek a week at a time on each

 

[Mr Bean]

The electronics nowadays have a memory that has to be maintained. Removing the battery will cause more harm than good.

Apart from the clock, what else needs a constant supply?

 

[tanneman]

How do you keep the software locked in? The first thing you loose is TPS settings when you disconnect the battery. On the systems we use the address plug has a battery to maintain the memory (clock, address and temporary software) and IP settings. I'm no software boffin but the management system interfaces with the motronic, suspension and display. The logic gates might not like being without a source of power.