GS1100 Odyssey battery

[Webgrecian]

I've just bought a decent odyssey battery for my GS for the first time and the invoice had a dire warning about not using a constant current charger.

I confess to being ignorant in this department. Will a bog standard 12v battery charger lead to rapid degradation and will I need to fork out for a 'pulse' charger as recommended?

 

[John Armstrong]

An educated guess is that a "constant current" charger is like old car ones. Most motorbike ones I know of use a constant voltage style of charging ie about 14.2v.

"Bog standard" charger make / type

Have you asked Odyssey or the bog maker if that charger is ok?

 

[Tarka]

The optimum charging rate for non gel/AGM batteries is one tenth of the Amp/Hour rating.

That for gel/AGM is less...much less in some cases...and a 'rest period' may be needed.
The above reason is why many old style 'constant rate' chargers can do more harm than good.

Batteries should be in a constant cycle of charge and discharge for maximum life,rather than stood dormant,so I leave all my bikes on Optimates which check and tend the batteries constantly.

I believe that Optimate got the name from 'OPTIMum rATE' ,and the newer ones are fine with all types of battery so have a look at one of them.

 

[Gecko]

I use a BMW charger on my AGM - the paperwork says they are OK for Gel & AGM and can be left on for months.

 

[motobiker]

I have an optimate.. but hardly ever use it. Apart from in the depths of winter when the ABS is more likely to fail to initialise at start-up.

To be quite honest the bike itself is more than adequate at keeping the battery fully charged... all depends on how many gadgets you have installed I guess. I have none.

The other brand of charger made with AGM's in mind is the Ctek.

 

[Stewart H]

I have an Oxford oxmate charger which says its suitable for gel type batteries.

Stewart

 

[madman]

When your bike is running, the charging system does not know what type of battery you have and just charges it.
I have found that the Odyssey battery does not need a trickle charge as it holds its charge very well for long periods.

 

[motobiker]

When your bike is running, the charging system does not know what type of battery you have and just charges it.
I have found that the Odyssey battery does not need a trickle charge as it holds its charge very well for long periods.

Battery on my bikes is just a plain cheapo Varta lead acid. bike gets used daily.. often in the week just short runs. Battery never needs a boost. few weeks ago left the bike at home for 15 days while away.. started first time. ABS 'set' perfectly.. no problems at all.

With a brand new Battery on a bike that gets used a charger shouldn't really be necessary.. not for a long time anyway.

 

[Deleted member CB]

Will a bog standard 12v battery charger lead to rapid degradation

According to Odyssey, yes.

I've had one on an airhead for 3 years & never had to put a charger on it (cos I aint got the correct one!), it holds it's charge really well, never had a problem with it.
Though I do have an isolator switch for when it stands idle, & if I have to crank it over a lot I make sure it then goes for a LONG run .

 

[Vern]

Why don't you ride the bike,they have their own charges fitted you know.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

I've just bought a decent odyssey battery for my GS for the first time and the invoice had a dire warning about not using a constant current charger.

Strange - I thought 'normal' car battery chargers were constant voltage ie 14.4v and the current varies according to the charge state of the battery. NiCd batteries require a constant current charger is what I was led to believe - but I'm probably wrong

 

[papa_jop]

Strange - I thought 'normal' car battery chargers were constant voltage ie 14.4v and the current varies according to the charge state of the battery. NiCd batteries require a constant current charger is what I was led to believe - but I'm probably wrong

Nope! You've got it quite right!

/J

 

[Deleted member CB]

For those with older computers without Google

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/files/US-ODY-OM-006_0208.pdf

 

[cookie]

why anyone thinks charging in the garage is necessary is beyond me anyway

 

[Webgrecian]

Thanks for this. It looks like I won't have to bother charging it for some time anyway!