Optimate and canbus

[harry the cat]

Do I need a canbus specific battery charger? It was suggested to me yesterday that I do?

 

[Shamone]

Nope - The battery is like any other so if you connect the lead there it’s the same.


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[harry the cat]

Nope - The battery is like any other so if you connect the lead there it’s the same.


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That’s what I thought but a guy I rate who wields spanners suggested it might upset the ECU. I couldn’t work out how given if I draw off the battery to operate an airman it doesn’t cause issues. Why would putting current in cause a problem?

Then again what do I know?

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Only if you are using the BMW socket, if connecting directly to the battery no need.

 

[ianm00]

Do I need a canbus specific battery charger? It was suggested to me yesterday that I do?

Yes if you want to plug into the Bike accessory socket to charge the battery, No if you connect direct to battery.

Ian

 

[fred_jb]

There is a warning in the manual against charging via a direct connection to the battery, unless you disconnect the battery from the bike first. I think it says something to the effect that you could damage the bike's electronics if you charge the battery directly while it is still connected to the bike. However, I don't see how, unless perhaps you have a very crude and unintelligent charger which might use an excessive voltage, though I got a charger which will work through the accessory socket just to be on the safe side.

 

[Alan R]

There is a warning in the manual against charging via a direct connection to the battery, unless you disconnect the battery from the bike first. I think it says something to the effect that you could damage the bike's electronics if you charge the battery directly while it is still connected to the bike. However, I don't see how, unless perhaps you have a very crude and unintelligent charger which might use an excessive voltage, though I got a charger which will work through the accessory socket just to be on the safe side.

On the three GS’s I’ve owned over the past 10 years each one has lived when not being ridden, connected to an Optimate direct to the battery. Same with my k1200s; my f800gs and my f650 Dakar. So that’s six bikes, five with can-bus, that have not suffered any ill effects. The k1200 was seven years old when I parted with it and was still using its original battery.
Alan R

 

[steve hughes]

There is a warning in the manual against charging via a direct connection to the battery, unless you disconnect the battery from the bike first. I think it says something to the effect that you could damage the bike's electronics if you charge the battery directly while it is still connected to the bike. However, I don't see how, unless perhaps you have a very crude and unintelligent charger which might use an excessive voltage, though I got a charger which will work through the accessory socket just to be on the safe side.

You may have a charger that charges through the accessory socket, but good old canbus will close down this socket 15 mins after turning the ignition off.

The bmw canbus chargers do no more than send a signal t the canbus to say “stay open” .

I don’t know about your manual but my 08 F650GS had a non canbus wired directly to the battery and I ran it this way for four winters, no issue. Just wired my F700GS like this eg direct using an optimate.

Steve

 

[landmarkjohn]

Eyesight is not what it was...... first glance this post I read "Opiates and cannabis"

 

[Hoff]

If you have an Optimate with dual mode (Canbus and standard) then you can charge through the accessory socket or through a directly wired charging connection to the battery.

 

[Matty589]

Yep I had an optimate 4 with dual program and it charged all my BMWs through the accessory socket with no issues.

 

[harry the cat]

Thanks all. Mine’s an old Optimate 3 but I’m intending to use it direct to the battery and avoid the accessory socket. As for warnings Fred noted thanks but the manual warns you about everything. I think the lawyers right them.