BMW socket charger

[grantmac]

Bought one of these at the same time as I bought my 2017 GS. Plug it in after every trip seeing as I don't use the bike every day. Last tour was in September last year so it went on the charger. Imagine my disappointment when in April this year I decided to take my bike for a ride and the battery was dead! It had been on the charger all winter, inside in a heated garage? So I had to go out and buy a new battery. Apparently this charger is meant to maintain the battery.

Now I've been a bit more observant when plugging in the charger. Seems to charge fine once first plugged in but if I go to check its status I see its in ''sleep'' mode. So I decided to unplug and wait for a few minutes and replug. Seems only then does it react to the battery charge level and then start charging again.
Duff charger or am I using it wrong?

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Have you got the user manual if not it is below.

https://www.bmw-motorrad-bohling.co.../683/store/8/battery_charger_instructions.pdf

And little video for battery installation.

 

[GBH]

I have the same charger and I have noticed something a which I think is not quite right. When you plug it in it charges up the battery fine and after 5-10 minutes it goes into sleep mode. At this stage I usually unplug and leave the bike. The other week I left it on overnight and then unplugged it. After a couple of minutes I plugged it back in only to find it taking a big charge way higher than I have seen it before plus it took a good 30 minutes to go back into sleep. So it go me thinking almost like it starts to discharge the battery once in sleep mode?

So not like an optimate which cycles and checks the battery ever hour or so, overall not very pleased with this product bearing in mind the price!

 

[Sea Dog]

In case you or any other readers aren't aware, the handlebar socket on the LC is isolated after 5 minutes by the Canbus system unless you use the BMW charger designed to keep it awake. If you use a different charger (I use a Ctek) then connect it directly to the battery. Also these bikes need a charger with an AGM mode or the float voltage will be too low.

 

[malcopopolo]

Interesting...

I purchased a dual usb to hella plug for the GS. connected it and left it in situ. week later totally flat battery, took almost 24 hours to revive using a 4 ah charger.

Disconnected the dual usb and battery is fine. for some reason the hella aux socket does allow some current drain!

 

[Smug]

The dual USB socket I use has an LED which lights up when it is plugged in and live. It doesn't use much but must use something.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

I have this charger, in fact I've used it on my last three GSA's. Its always operated the same. Plug it in, leave it alone. It does go into maintaining / standby mode (Slow flashing orange LED) But now and when I go into the garage, the charger is on one of its cycle modes. Im sure the OP just had a duff battery in this case.

 

[grantmac]

I have this charger, in fact I've used it on my last three GSA's. Its always operated the same. Plug it in, leave it alone. It does go into maintaining / standby mode (Slow flashing orange LED) But now and when I go into the garage, the charger is on one of its cycle modes. Im sure the OP just had a duff battery in this case.

I am hoping the same. I will check it more often to make sure the orange LED is flashing but I guess indeed it was a duff battery. Lets see how the new one goes.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

I am hoping the same. I will check it more often to make sure the orange LED is flashing but I guess indeed it was a duff battery. Lets see how the new one goes.

It jumps out of standby mode/maintaining mode and the screen will illuminate and it states what its doing. Good luck.