BMW charger - time to full charge?

[Greybeard]

An impossible question, but bear with me.

I have a 2005 1200GS and bought a BMW charger 11 months ago. Until September this year I only used it occasionally (following instructions in BMW 1200GS bike handbook). I use the bike more or less daily all year and so far it has always started (though I had one close call when it was starting to snow).

Because I have just fitted auxiliary lights (Hella micro DEs on with dip beam + FF50s) and my round trip commute is a paltry 11 miles I'm now using it more often as I've noticed the bike is slightly slower to fire up on the return journey.

The thing is - when I plug it in the charge lights starts on red (normal) but goes straight to green 3/3 full charge within about 20 - 30 minutes. This seems a bit quick.

Can anyone tell me what I sort of time it takes to charge a battery under normal conditions, and does the light sequence always go through 1/3 - 2/3/ - 3/3 ?

If there is a problem with the charger I need to take it make in next week or so as it is still I think under warranty.

Thanks.

 

[wilbjr21]

It will stay on green until the voltage of the battery drops due to the "standby" current being taken by the various loads. It will then start charging again. Mine seems to spend most of it's time charging at the 1/3 rate. I use it all the time plugged into the accessory socket while it's still live. If it sensed your battery was a problem it would go into anti -sulphating mode does it do this at all?

 

[chasr]

Can anyone tell me what I sort of time it takes to charge a battery under normal conditions, and does the light sequence always go through 1/3 - 2/3/ - 3/3 ?

It sounds like you've got the only working charger/bike combo in the World

The light sequence should always go through the sequence as you describe, but it can do it bl00dy fast!

To check it out, leave some lights on for a few hours, and then charge the bike. If it zips through to green in less than an hour, then something's not right. Don't expect much sympathy & understanding from your dealer - they've had lots of problems with the system and most seem to have have given up.

Stand by for millions of suggestions from the 'just wire an Optimate direct to the battery' brigade.

 

[Greybeard]

If it sensed your battery was a problem it would go into anti -sulphating mode does it do this at all?

Erm - I don't think so. Just red light - blinking on and off for 15 - 20 minutes, then straight to green 3/3. Actually I have seen the 1/3 yellow light on flicker on briefly.

Sorry to be a dunce but what does anti-sulphating mode look like?

 

[wilbjr21]

Do you have a copy of the instructions. If not I can scan mine in and email them to you. A flashing red led suggests sulphate mode i.e. battery on the way out.

It sounds like you've got the only working charger/bike combo in the World

As an aside the BMW charger works fine. If you connect anything that draws any amount of current from the accessory socket (connection for Autocom, relay coil soldered on the back etc.) or leave the GPS switched on (from the socket under the tank) the charger will error. This could be why some people have problems.

I know one can use an Optimate (I have one) - I just like the BMW charger better.

 

[Greybeard]

Do you have a copy of the instructions. If not I can scan mine in and email them to you.

I think I still have the charger instructions although from memory they weren't very extensive. Will check at weekend...

 

[Wapping]

It will switch to green quite quickly if the battery is already reasonably well charged .

My charger, used 24/7, spends quite a lot of its idle time with the orange LED lit and, from time to time, the green LED lit. Sometimes, if I am in the garage, I notice it flicking back and forth betwen the orange and green lights maybe three times in an hour or so. I have never realy cared what the lights are doing, more interested to see whether the bike starts. In short, it starts 100% even if it hasnt been used for a month or two.

If your bike is starting then you have no problem, chances are the charger is doing its job. If, if one day, it fails to start then you will know it isn't, or that something else has gone wrong. Dont worry.

 

[wilbjr21]

Erm - I don't think so. Just red light - blinking on and off for 15 - 20 minutes

,

I don't think this should happen with a heathy battery.

 

[Greybeard]

I don't think this should happen with a heathy battery.

Maybe not... Having looked at the charger instructions I decided to disconnect the battery from the bike and link up the BMW charger directly using some spare crocs, just in case the battery was 'sulphated'.

After a brief flicker of the red '0' light the charger now shows amber 1/3 light which seems to me to say it is charging OK. I'm going to leave it overnight and then go and speak to my friendly BMW dealer... if it charges when hooked up directly but not through the aux socket then I think something is amiss.