BMW Battery Charger - new problem

[Vampire]

Thinking that I was taking the most practical approach, independent of cost, I just purchased the BMW battery charger, Part Nbr 71 60 7 688 864.
This "approved" device would simplify the battery tender problem for my R1200GS because it is designed to operate through the accessory socket.
The accompanying manual doesn't tell you this, but from reading other posts, you first turn on the ignition to "wake up" the accessory socket, then plug in the charger and turn it on.
The "power LED" came on, as did "LED 0" indicating all was well. I left the ignition on for a further 60 seconds then turned it off.
Some time later, I noticed that "LED 0" had gone out, and that the "Error LED" was a constant red, indicating (according to the manual) that there was a short circuit at the charging terminals, or the battery was connected to the wrong poles - but that was absurd because I was using the accessory socket and everything was otherwise functioning normally.
Thinking that maybe the battery was the problem, I disconnected the charger, turned on the ignition and hit the starter. The bike started normally.
I turned it off, then repeated the charger connection procedure.
This time, "LED 0" failed to light and the "Error LED" was a constant red.
My local support people believe that maybe the accessory socket was turning itself off again, but this diagnosis is not consistent with the results of the second attempt to use the charger.
Anyone have any idea of what is occurring (apart from the obvious, the expensive thing doesn't work !!!)
Many thanks,

 

[wessie]

1. Get a refund on the expensive tat that is the BMW charger you bought

2. If your bike started on the press of the button why do you need a charger connected?

3. If you are parking the bike up with a drain on the battery, such as an alarm, then buy a conventional battery tender [1] and connect it directly to the battery terminals.

[1] the type with a control circuit or microprocessor that switches it on & off as required. In the UK this would be an Optimate or Accumate.

 

[NorthernBoy]

2. If your bike started on the press of the button why do you need a charger connected?.

Are you serious?

When you put your bike away for a while, of course it starts. You have just ridden it. The charger is so that it wil also start in two weeks when you come back to it!

 

[wessie]

Are you serious?

When you put your bike away for a while, of course it starts. You have just ridden it. The charger is so that it wil also start in two weeks when you come back to it!

Did you read point 3?

 

[NorthernBoy]

Did you read point 3?

Of course I did. But that does not stop point 2 being a pretty foolish question.

 

[WindyChuffer]

1. Get a refund on the expensive tat that is the BMW charger you bought

2. If your bike started on the press of the button why do you need a charger connected?

3. If you are parking the bike up with a drain on the battery, such as an alarm, then buy a conventional battery tender [1] and connect it directly to the battery terminals.

[1] the type with a control circuit or microprocessor that switches it on & off as required. In the UK this would be an Optimate or Accumate.

Lets face it, Point 2 is rather a stupid comment. Of course a bike that's just switched off is going to start - it depends how long its going to be left. And thats the point of an intelligent charger, such as the "tat" that BMW sell...

Charging direct to the battery terminals is rather crude compared to via the accessory socket which is a nice engineering solution.

There is a big promise with the BMW brand, and its such a shame they fail to deliver on simple elements such as an accessory socket that works and a battery charger that works. Quite simple really...

 

[Fitzy]

Don't get it really

My local dealer Wollaston, fitted another socket wired directly to the battery for the Optimate. They told me that the existing BMW sockets were not suitable for using the charger.Now the battery remains charged even when i leave the bike for a few weeks.

 

[Wapping]

My local dealer Wollaston, fitted another socket wired directly to the battery for the Optimate. They told me that the existing BMW sockets were not suitable for using the charger.Now the battery remains charged even when i leave the bike for a few weeks.

You dealer is quite right. Use of the auxillary socket is not suitable for an Optimate charger. A socket wired directly to the battery will work just fine or simply use an Optimate flying lead.

However, the auxillary socket works just fine with the BumW charger, or at least it does on my bike.

 

[marsellus wallace]

My charger does exactly the same.It worked perfectly before the software update intended to fix the battery charger problem!!

 

[The Bede]

Binned the BuMW charger ...

... Bought one on dealer advice after the beast proved incapable of holding enough battery charge to survive a garaged week in February. Forthcoming ten week trip was obviously going to be too much ...

... Plugged it all in night before departure, only to be hit final morning with the "Error Light". No time to delay departure, dealer arranged replacement Optimate, with flying lead and neatly installed quick connect socket, which works perfectly.

... Seems like the BuMW charger is a bit of a dog, but dealers are obliged to make them their first offering ... don't think the dealers have been exactly chuffed with BuMW yUK attitude and performance on this and other issues.

 

[chasr]

For info;

'Thank you for your email to BMW Customer Information.

The temperature of the battery is critical to the charging process. The
lower the temperature of the battery, the higher its internal resistance.
The battery would behave as if it were flat. The optimum temperature for
charging a battery is 25°C ± 2°C.

If the temperature falls below 5°C during the battery trickle charging
process, the charger deems the battery to be flat due to its high internal
resistance and attempts to charge it. However, the current does not increase
during the charging attempt, after 3 attempts to charge the battery, the
charger will then switch to error.

We would recommend that you move the vehicle or battery to a warmer
environment for at least 24 hours (temperature>10°C). It will now be
possible to charge the battery again. There is a new version of this
charger available which will not act in the same way, therefore, if you
purchase a more recent battery charger, you will not have to charge your
R1200GS in a warmer area.'

Love & kisses, BMW

 

[Pressurized]

If the temperature falls below 5°C during the battery trickle charging process, the charger deems the battery to be flat due to its high internal resistance and attempts to charge it. However, the current does not increase during the charging attempt, after 3 attempts to charge the battery, the charger will then switch to error.

So, when it's cold and the battery has the hardest job starting the bike and is more likely to flatten itself, the BMW charger is least likely to work.

We would recommend that you move the vehicle or battery to a warmer environment for at least 24 hours (temperature>10°C).

By pushing it, I take it, because you wouldn't want to risk starting it, would you?

There is a new version of this charger available which will not act in the same way, therefore, if you purchase a more recent battery charger, you will not have to charge your R1200GS in a warmer area.

Ah yes, the classic BMW beta test scenario.

Surely this must be a piss take, chasr?

 

[Mouse]

Alternatively buy a Hawker dry cell battery and never worry about it again

 

[Yoda]

....... the higher its internal resistance......

So the Daleks were right all along!

r.e.s.i.s.t.a.n.c.e....i.s....f.u.t.i.l.e

e.x.t.e.r.m.i.n.a.t.e..

e.x.t.e.r.m.i.n.a.t.e..