Oddysey battery problem

[Demongroover]

Cannot start my 1200GS, the battery will not charge up.
Thing is, it's a new-ish Oddysey battery from Nippy Norman which i bought as the original went flat a couple of times.
I've been mostly riding my other bike (Harley chop) this summer and the BMW has been stood, unfortunately without the Optimate connected.
My question is, are these batteries known to be hard to charge from total discharge? Why has it run down so badly (no alarm connected)?
How can I get it back to primo condition?
It's been on the Optimate for 48 hours or so and is still only showing that it's on Test Charge.

 

[Paul90]

If you read the leaflet that comes with the battery (no doubt on their web site) it says that a fully discharged Odyssey has to be recovered with a high current charger (ie, NOT an Optimate).

Jump it from a car and let the altenator do it's job ?


You might have a duff one though. Just becasue it's an Odyssey doesn't mean they can't fail.

 

[Demongroover]

I haven't got the bumpf that came with it but that's cool, I'll jump it and leave it ticking over for a bit then. Cheers.

 

[Fanum]

I haven't got the bumpf that came with it but that's cool, I'll jump it and leave it ticking over for a bit then. Cheers.

Whoaaah there Neddy!!!!

DO NOT LEAVE IT TICKING OVER FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF MINUTES!!

Take it for a ride (half an hour or more ought to do it) or leave it turned off and connected to the car battery with the car running......the car has a radiator and a fan and shouldn't overheat by leaving it running.......your GS is an oil cooled bike with NO fan and NO radiator and if you leave it 'ticking over' for more than a few minutes, you could easily come back and find it on fire....I kid you not!!!

 

[Demongroover]

Yep, will do Fanum!

May even pop and buy a decent car charger on my way home from work tonight.

 

[Paul S]

If you are going to get a new charger then you may as well get a Ctek one which is what is recommended for use with these batteries http://www.motorworks.co.uk/bmw/products/specials/ctech.php

 

[Paul90]

I think the Ctek is ok to maintain an Odyssey at full charge but again can't recover it from a deep discharge.

I can't remember the exact figures from memory but I think you need 10's of amps to get the charge process going once it's in a deep discharge state.

Take it for a good run is the best and easiest way

 

[Paul S]

I think the Ctek is ok to maintain an Odyssey at full charge but again can't recover it from a deep discharge.

I can't remember the exact figures from memory but I think you need 10's of amps to get the charge process going once it's in a deep discharge state.

Take it for a good run is the best and easiest way

Prolong battery life with this Swedish battery charger. It is the best we have come across yet. Recommended for all battery types including Odyssey. The most common type of battery charger is the linear charger. This type normally does not control the current that it puts out. It typically starts charging with a very high current, which rapidly goes down to low levels when the voltage in the battery increases. Multi XS 3600 is based on a primary switched technology, which allows the Multi XS 3600 to deliver an almost constant current to the battery, even from totally drained up to full voltage. This makes Multi XS 3600 recharge a battery faster than most linear chargers with rated current of up to 10ah.

Features: Three Step Fully Automatic (IUoUp).Maintenance pulse charging.Increased battery life and performance.Will also charge nearly completely discharged batteries.Charges batteries from small from small to 1.2 Ah to big 120 Ah. A unique charging selection for low temperatures and AGM batteries.Low ripple voltage (<50mV).High efficiency: 85%. Water resistant for outside use. Delivered with two connection sets, one with clamps, and one with eyelet terminals. Compact design with mounting brackets

 

[Paul90]

Hi Paul S,
I don't want to get into an argument but when I looked at the Ctek XS800 spec (the model you linked to) on Ctek's web site it said:

Charging current 0.8A max.

In the Odyssey Technical manual it says:

These chargers, [not specifically refering to Ctek] normally in the 0.75 to 1.5 Amp range, are not big enough to charge a deeply discharged Odyssey battery. They must only be used either to continuously compensate for parasitic losses or to maintain a trickle charge on a stored battery, as long as the correct voltages are applied. It is very important, therefore, to ensure that the Odyssey battery is fully charged before this type of charger is connected to it.

I have never had to charge my bike Odyssey battery from a deep discharged state but the people who make the battery are recommending a minimum of a 6A charge current for those small batteries if in DD.

I have tried to charge other deep discharged Odyssey batteries (4x4 winch batteries) and have been unable to do so without a HIGH CURRENT charger. For these bigger batteries they recommend 25A or more charge current from DD. Not many people have chargers that large at home but most alternators will happily churn out more than that. Hence, start it and take it for a run.

As I said I don't want to get into an argument. If you have used the Ctek and it works for you then great. Carry on. Enjoy. It does look like a good bit of kit.

Paul

 

[Paul90]

The Ctek XS7000 has a max charge current of 7A.

£110 ish. Perhaps that's the one to go for ?

 

[Demongroover]

Well, borrowed an 8 amp Halfords battery charger from my brother-in-law.
How long would you leave a regular (non-intelligent) charger unattended?

 

[Paul S]

From the Odyssey web site:

ODYSSEY™ Battery Charge time for 100% discharged battery (11.5 volts)
Model 10-amp charger
PC535 1 ½ hours

So would suggest that you do not leave it for more than 2 hours and then see if your optimate will work on it.

Hi Paul S,
I don't want to get into an argument

No need to get into an arguement especailly as I think you are right

Was referring to the XS 3600 but even this will only charge at a max 0f 3.6a and so not enough to recover a deep discharged Odyssey battery.

 

[Paul90]

Cool.

What we haven't established is why the thing is flat.

Still a good chance it is a duff battery and charging won't help.

 

[Demongroover]

All charged up and bike started off the button.
I will service the bike (few parts for powder coating also) and monitor the state of the battery now.