Charging through acc socket, headlight glimmers?

[Ali-bear]

Just had the battery on charge for the first time, I'm using an old very basic charger connected through the accessory socket. Using the turn on, off ignition, switch on charger within one minute method.

After a few minutes I noticed that the headlight was glimmering. Just flickering a little bit very dimly. Is this normal?

Bike hasn't been ridden for three weeks with alarm not set, I think its kept most of its charge and didn't really need charging. Strangely, the charging voltage dropped to 10 volts and the current dropped right off too (voltmeter connected across charger terminals, ammeter built into basic charger only just deflected off zero).

I disconnected the charger when I noticed the headlight was doing this and the bike seems fine.

Anyone?

 

[GSmonkey]

You can't charge the 1200GS via the accessory socket using a normal charger, as the bike shuts down the socket to anything other than a BMW charger that can communicate with the ECU.

I recommend you connect direct to the battery.

 

[Moto loca]

Like GSMONKEY said remove charger from accessory socket and connect direc
into the battery
note: best way to charge battery is to have charger output set to low amp

 

[Ali-bear]

I thought the only problems were that the charger can't be left permanently connected, and that you have to switch on/off the ignition to wake up the acc socket.

 

[JayGee]

I thought the only problems were that the charger can't be left permanently connected, and that you have to switch on/off the ignition to wake up the acc socket.

I think you would have to do this every few minutes as the socket is shut off a few minutes after ignition off. Only a special charger can tell the ECU to keep the aux socket open.

Easiest is connect straight to the battery terminals under the seat. Don't use a car charger, it's output could fry the battery (I use an old optimate but always disconnect the battery if it's completely flat cos that's what the manual says)

 

[wilbjr21]

I thought the only problems were that the charger can't be left permanently connected, and that you have to switch on/off the ignition to wake up the acc socket.

Yes that would work ok but I fail to see the point.

As has been said many times - BMW charger to socket and the rest directly to the battery

 

[Ali-bear]

The point is that I don't have to take the seat off when I want to charge it.

Ok then does anyone with the official BMW charger notice their headlight glimmering like an asthmatic glow-worm?

 

[Wapping]

The point is that I don't have to take the seat off when I want to charge it.

Ok then does anyone with the official BMW charger notice their headlight glimmering like an asthmatic glow-worm?

You may not want to take the seat off each time but you have little choice.

I have seen or had any problems or glimmers with the official BumW charger, nor with a regular charger attached to the battery.

 

[Jon P]

Cough up and buy the BMW charger or take the seat off. BMW also suggest that if using a non BMW charger that you should disconnect the battery.

I notice a lot of folks saying that they have to turn on and off in order to get the bike to accept the BMW charger? I don't have to do that.........and it didn't say in the charger instructions to do that either. I just connect and away it goes. Mine is an 07 GSA.

 

[Ken H.]

The point is that I don't have to take the seat off when I want to charge it.

OK, then one-time run a lead with a connector on it from the battery out one side for connecting. And then make up an adapter to match for your charger.

We can't stress enough not to use a conventional charger through the accessory socket. The fact that the headlight is coming on a bit is evidence that voltage is being reversed through the ZFE module from its accessory output/input to the headlight output. If you haven't done damage to the ZFE module yet, you run great risk of doing so.

 

[GSmonkey]

If you want to charge the bike without taking the seat off every time, simply hard wire a weatherproof optimate lead to the battery and tie-wrap to the frame adjacent to the BMW socket. Then just plug the optimate in and job's a good 'un.

 

[John Armstrong]

If you want to charge the bike without taking the seat off every time, simply hard wire a weatherproof optimate lead to the battery and tie-wrap to the frame adjacent to the BMW socket. Then just plug the optimate in and job's a good 'un.

Or if you really want to have a BM socket on the charger lead: http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BAS-SD14&variation=&aitem=8&mitem=14

 

[wilbjr21]

Or if you really want to have a BM socket on the charger lead: http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BAS-SD14&variation=&aitem=8&mitem=14

That's some more good advice. You must have plenty options now?

When using the BMW charger, designed for the purpose, you will find that the lights flash momentarily and a click emerges from the bike when the charger cycles through it's stages and the ZFE unit opens the accessory socket.

 

[Voyager]

I have added a third accessory socket - wired direct to the battery via an in-line fuse.

Its on an 1150GSA but the principle should hold good for the 1200.

If, like me, you charge multiple BMW bikes using the same charger (not all at once !) then one plug fits all

I use a Halfords 'intelligent' charger that has settings for Bike / Car and Sealed / Standard. It does 'Charge' & 'Maintaining' - seems to work OK.


Bob.

 

[chasr]

Ok then does anyone with the official BMW charger notice their headlight glimmering like an asthmatic glow-worm?

Yes. My first 1200 did this a few times, & the local Stealers has also noticed this problem. They didn't know why