Battery Conditioner Advice

[Mr Bean]

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.

On my RT I lost nothing other than the clock setting when I replaced the battery. - twice in 6 years. Everything else was fine.

 

[tanneman]

How long was the battery out for? I'm talking about the battery being removed or disconnected for an extended time. There is the possibility of an internal battery to keep the settings.

We get battery warnings and once the battery has run flat there is software related issues at start-up.

This is way beyond of what the op asked and I'm no expert on the workings of BMW software or hardware.

 

[Mr Bean]

Ah, mine was only disconnected for no more than 30 mins or so.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Disconnecting the battery won't do any harm, even over extended periods. If it's important it is written to non volatile memory. Adaptive settings will be lost but that's no big deal.

 

[wessie]

How long was the battery out for? I'm talking about the battery being removed or disconnected for an extended time. There is the possibility of an internal battery to keep the settings.

We get battery warnings and once the battery has run flat there is software related issues at start-up.

This is way beyond of what the op asked and I'm no expert on the workings of BMW software or hardware.

Does your USB memory stick need power to keep the data intact? The ECU will store everything in non-volatile memory (NVM). In the olden days that was a a ROM chip for the software so we had to change chips for an upgrade. Now everything will be in Flash memory or similar. As with the memory stick, this data will stay intact for decades.

 

[tanneman]

I hear what you say wessie. The only data we load is route data which is a text file. All the other software is operating and application. The operating never changes but the application is upgraded from time to time in line with hardware modification or system changes like automatic train operation. The address plug is there to keep the settings of each component in the system. Once the battery goes flat in the address plug there is a lot of spurious faults but because of the redundancy this usually dealt with by the system operation until you change out the battery in the address plug.

There is no problem if we preload the software and leave the component in the stores but once fitted it won't work without knowing the date, time and address. This is what requires the power source to keep those settings. Time and date is updated from the GPS and the address plug defines the position within the system.

The future is whatever colour you want.

 

[Sea Dog]

Tender - fit and fry.

Things have moved on, although this may well be true of the cheapo end of the market. The Ctek won't do this and neither will a number of those from other reputable manufacturers.

 

[fredaroony]

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.

Noco 3500 also has a lithium mode

 

[fredaroony]

I'm happy with this http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/469919-Alternative-to-BMW-battery-charger?highlight=Noco