Is it the Optimate or the battery?

[samson]

I have an Optimate 3 battery charger that I have used over the winter to keep the battery in my 1150 in shape ( Didn't ride much because of the weather). Just before the start of the season, the Optimate started to display the desulfate mode a lot, usually followed by the indication that the battery was weak ( red light). So I bought a new battery less than a month ago.Have been riding a lot more now but I had been away for a couple a weeks so I plugged in the Optimate ( via the bike charge socket) and got the desulfate mode followed by the Weak indicator. Unlikely on a brand new battery surely! Is the Optimate reading me false?

 

[JJH]

It could be check out the battery with a good volt meter and hydromiter JJH

 

[JJH]

Also try connecting directly to the battery. JJH

 

[Frequentflyer]

Not sure if relevant- my optimate was similar and I eventaully noticed that the pushfit connector was corroded and so was'nt making decent connection- worth a look?

 

[Taff]

Your timing is good Samson, as I too have noticed the red light on my Optimate in the last week. The bike starts at the first attempt though but will check for corrosion.

 

[wessie]

Not sure if relevant- my optimate was similar and I eventaully noticed that the pushfit connector was corroded and so was'nt making decent connection- worth a look?

FF makes a good point. If you have a fly lead (or infrequently used accessory socket) that is permanently live then the terminals are likely to corrode.

Take care if you use a metal instrument to clean them as it is easy to bridge the contacts. A bit of contact cleaner on a cotton bud would probably be best.

 

[Tarka]

Apart from corrosion,another common problem is the female pin sockets opening out a bit due to the actions of plugging in/unplugging.
The Optimate works at such a low current that the slightest imperfection of contact will show a 'red'.
Once you`ve cleaned the plug and socket parts,check for this and carefully close them up if they`re out of round.

 

[samson]

It looks as if corrosion was the culprit. The two pin push in connector on the fly lead was seriously furred up and green, as was the connector on the spring end of the fuse barrel. But I suspect the real bad apple was one of the connections inside the part that plugs inro the bike. As I separated the plug one wire came away from the connector completely corroded through. I had to strip away quite a bit of cable to find some bright wiring.
The unit now seems to be behaving itself. My only regret is that I may have binned a good battery because my corroded charger was telling me porkies. But maybe it was so far discharged as to be unrecoverable. Thanks guys. Another lesson learned!