smox
Guest
Optimate with R1200GS
Hi Gazza,
My Optimate III works fine now directly wired to the R1200GS, as you showed in your earlier post. I don't know why BMW make this so complicated when a simpler solution is easier and more reliable!
Hi Gazza,
My Optimate III works fine now directly wired to the R1200GS, as you showed in your earlier post. I don't know why BMW make this so complicated when a simpler solution is easier and more reliable!
I've started using the Optimate, no problems so far.
Checked the voltage when connected: The Optimate ramps the voltage up to about 14.4V then back down. It repeats this a couple of times, I guess this is a test to determine battery type and state of charge. The voltage then settled to about 13.6V on a float charge.
Checked the voltage when charging from alternator and it sits between 14.3V and 14.45V. So I can't see the problem using the optimate, other than you can't use it through the system.
The CAN bus system is a lot of smoke and mirrors re. battery charging. Bikes have had ECU's for years and I've had a succession of bikes charging direct using the optimate and again no problems.
Checked the voltage when connected: The Optimate ramps the voltage up to about 14.4V then back down. It repeats this a couple of times, I guess this is a test to determine battery type and state of charge. The voltage then settled to about 13.6V on a float charge.
Checked the voltage when charging from alternator and it sits between 14.3V and 14.45V. So I can't see the problem using the optimate, other than you can't use it through the system.
The CAN bus system is a lot of smoke and mirrors re. battery charging. Bikes have had ECU's for years and I've had a succession of bikes charging direct using the optimate and again no problems.
OEM Charger
Could anyone lucky enough to have the OEM charger let me know what the voltage is when it's in the "float" mode? Or whatever it's called after the battery has been charged and it's keeping it at a constant voltage.
I have a theory that the bike's "brain" controls the voltage of the battery by opening and closing the accessory socket when the charger is plugged into it. Therefore the "cheaper" chargers eg £20 from Motobins that gives out approx 14.3 v and 600mA max will have virtually the same charging capability as the £60 OEM on. Except that as they're not too clever, they keep 14.3v at the socket which means the bike keeps it open. And as they don't have a desulphating mode.
Could anyone lucky enough to have the OEM charger let me know what the voltage is when it's in the "float" mode? Or whatever it's called after the battery has been charged and it's keeping it at a constant voltage.
I have a theory that the bike's "brain" controls the voltage of the battery by opening and closing the accessory socket when the charger is plugged into it. Therefore the "cheaper" chargers eg £20 from Motobins that gives out approx 14.3 v and 600mA max will have virtually the same charging capability as the £60 OEM on. Except that as they're not too clever, they keep 14.3v at the socket which means the bike keeps it open. And as they don't have a desulphating mode.
Simple solution is to use the Optimate for maintenance charging.........it will never go into desulphate mode then (as the battery is OK at the start).
If the battery ever goes completely flat, remove and charge, which would be good advice is any case.
I've been using the optimate now for a few weeks without problem.
If the battery ever goes completely flat, remove and charge, which would be good advice is any case.
I've been using the optimate now for a few weeks without problem.
birdseye said:
Same experience. Original battery went phut in August - after less than 4 weeks! Connected Optimate directly across the battery, plug in if leaving the bike for more than two days unused, no problems since.
BMW charger - Don't like the idea of a live unshielded male plug.....
HMarc
Guest
Not true if you're using the BMW R1200GS charger. It apparently sends an electrical "pulse" to the bike every so often, which "wakes up" the CanBus computer and causes it to turn the aux power socket back on. Somebody (I think on UKGSer.com) who had some electronic testing/logging equipment proved that's how the BMW charger works.
I had my R12GS plugged into the BMW charger all winter, and it kept the battery fully charged the whole 2 months it was on the charger. I even managed to catch the charger in the middle of a charge cycle (as evident by the colored LEDs) a few times.
I know for a fact that the BMW charger works, at least on MY R1200GS.
Similar threads
