Optimate charger

[Jock63]

Hi all,

I have an optimate charger that I have been trying to use on my 1200GS.

I find that when I use the BMW attachment the charger doesn't seem to work. I do have an autocom wired through the back of the power socket.

The optimate does seem to work fine when it's attached direct to the battery though.

Anyone know if this is normal, it's not a big issue but it's a bit annoying having to take the seats off.

 

[The White Rabbit]

I 'skim read' :lol: that it wont work via the socket so never tried.

Attach the extra lead tail that Optimate supply to the battery permanently and let it dangle down so you dont have to remove the seat. If you dont have one they are about a fiver.

 

[AndyT]

Hi all,

I have an optimate charger that I have been trying to use on my 1200GS.

I find that when I use the BMW attachment the charger doesn't seem to work. I do have an autocom wired through the back of the power socket.

The optimate does seem to work fine when it's attached direct to the battery though.

Anyone know if this is normal, it's not a big issue but it's a bit annoying having to take the seats off.

Lets be honest its an absolute pain in the arse. The BMW socket switches off about 10 mins after the ignition is turned off unless you use the BMW charger. I have wired in a connector straight to the battery and tie wrapped it to the frame so I can just plug in my optimate to this and it feeds the battery direct.

Good Luck

AndyT

 

[Dellis]

As Andy says the only way is direct to the battery unless you shell out on a BMW charger.

Dave

 

[talonfs]

Just got my Optimate this morning, attached the supplied lead to the battery direct with the waterproof end under the left hand small side panel. has been on charge all day, no problems.

 

[purds]

Mines wired direct to battery and has been so for ther last 2 years.
No problems at all.

 

[Our Gee]

Same here, use the Rubber Capped Battery Connection Lead. Mine is Cable tied to terminate just below the Small Plastic removable Panel on the Near Side just above the 2" induction Pipe. Only Problem so far is the occasional Red Light on the Optimate which is caused by a Bad Connection between the Rubber Capped Lead and the Grotty White Plug on the end of the Cable to the Optimate. (this part needs up-grading)
Mike Tee

 

[rodsharp]

Have drilled plastic side cover and fitted an extra socket connected via fuse direct to battery and this makes for an easy connection using matching plug.
Been using optimate for 4 years on 2 bikes without any problem.

 

[badgerrrrrr]

Hi all,

I have an optimate charger that I have been trying to use on my 1200GS.

I find that when I use the BMW attachment the charger doesn't seem to work. I do have an autocom wired through the back of the power socket.

The optimate does seem to work fine when it's attached direct to the battery though.

Anyone know if this is normal, it's not a big issue but it's a bit annoying having to take the seats off.

i have a 57 gsa brought and fitted my autocom to the rear of the Aux socket and the bmw charger doesnt work either, spook to ocean plymouth and afew people have had the same problem, autocom havent got an answear and nor do bmw i have had to but a connector on the autocom and plug it into the aux socket when riding then plug the battery charger in when i put her to bed. still waiting to hear from ocean plymouth. i've tried wiring the autocom to other live feeds but the same happens with the autocom directly fitted the new type charger will not work.????????

So if anyone has an answear i would like to no as well.

Perhaps i just have gremlins in the cambus

 

[Fredb51]

i have a 57 gsa brought and fitted my autocom to the rear of the Aux socket and the bmw charger doesnt work either, spook to ocean plymouth and afew people have had the same problem, autocom havent got an answear and nor do bmw i have had to but a connector on the autocom and plug it into the aux socket when riding then plug the battery charger in when i put her to bed. still waiting to hear from ocean plymouth. i've tried wiring the autocom to other live feeds but the same happens with the autocom directly fitted the new type charger will not work.????????

So if anyone has an answear i would like to no as well.

Perhaps i just have gremlins in the cambus

One or two folk will predictably be along in a minute to tell you that of course the BMW charger works and you must be doing something wrong. Truth is, on some bikes it works fine, others not, and in my experience the cause of problems is way beyond that of any BMW dealer to resolve. Leave your Autocom as it is and arrange for a separate direct connection to the battery for your charger. If you search this and many other GS forums you will see a common thread- the expensive BMW charger "sometimes" works when plugged into the auxiliary socket; hard wired tails for Optimate/C-Tek/Acumen/Battery Tender/Yuasa/Accumate (or any other charger half to a third of the cost of the BMW unit) always work and will continue to work.

 

[wilbjr21]

One or two folk will predictably be along in a minute to tell you that of course the BMW charger works and you must be doing something wrong

That'll me me then.

The BMW charger will not work if any current is taken from the Aux socket (this includes the BMW extension socket wired to the beak) and also current drawn from the other socket found near the front of the fuel tank and designed for GPS use.

It has nothing to do with the CAN Bus as this just connects some units together using a pair of wires. The socket is controlled by the ZFE electronics unit.

Your Autocom unit is best wired via a switched live circuit such as with the Tourtatech TPS 15 unit or any relay. This is what I used after coming across the same problem as yourself.

The BMW battery charger is a good and well thought out piece of equipment. It received a bad reputation when being used by people who didn't read the handbook. I realise this is a generalisation and there are exceptions. BMW have addressed this through software updates that make things easier and fixed earlier bugs.

Hope this helps.

 

[Fredb51]

That'll me me then.

The BMW charger will not work if any current is taken from the Aux socket (this includes the BMW extension socket wired to the beak) and also current drawn from the other socket found near the front of the fuel tank and designed for GPS use.

It has nothing to do with the CAN Bus as this just connects some units together using a pair of wires. The socket is controlled by the ZFE electronics unit.

Your Autocom unit is best wired via a switched live circuit such as with the Tourtatech TPS 15 unit or any relay. This is what I used after coming across the same problem as yourself.

The BMW battery charger is a good and well thought out piece of equipment. It received a bad reputation when being used by people who didn't read the handbook. I realise this is a generalisation and there are exceptions. BMW have addressed this through software updates that make things easier and fixed earlier bugs.

Hope this helps.

I make a habit of reading handbooks, and I presume franchised BMW dealers are au fait with their products. I've had all the software updates available to date and my expensive BMW charger still doesn't function as intended. I don't have anything else wired to the AUX socket. I'm also one of those folk who can't leave my GS for more than 2-3 weeks without the battery dying; this also has the dealers stumped. Other GS owners seem to be able to leave their bikes for surprisingly lengthy periods without problems. I would imagine that most of the folk who address forums about problems with the battery/charger have GS's that are similarly afflicted to mine, and that no amount of reading manuals or getting software updates is going to make any difference. The direct-wired charger solution works just fine. For me and for many others.

 

[Jon P]

I make a habit of reading handbooks, and I presume franchised BMW dealers are au fait with their products. I've had all the software updates available to date and my expensive BMW charger still doesn't function as intended. I don't have anything else wired to the AUX socket. I'm also one of those folk who can't leave my GS for more than 2-3 weeks without the battery dying; this also has the dealers stumped. Other GS owners seem to be able to leave their bikes for surprisingly lengthy periods without problems. I would imagine that most of the folk who address forums about problems with the battery/charger have GS's that are similarly afflicted to mine, and that no amount of reading manuals or getting software updates is going to make any difference. The direct-wired charger solution works just fine. For me and for many others.

Something is wrong. BMW should remedy this - what does your dealer say? If they offer you your money back on the BMW charger.........that's a 'fob' off - they should be able to get it fixed.

I do often read of this problem - I have to say mine works perfectly so there is a problem some where and it should be put right.

Not sure about here in the States but products in Europe are protected against 'inherrant faults'...........of course dealers try to play down problems and are usually instructed not to admit problems (human nature). Over the years I have had several things fixed long long after any manufacturer warranty has expired. The best one was when the shower room of our motorhome developed a split in the floor after three years use...........the dealer told us we needed a new floor at a cost of about $2,500..............we told him that it was an inherrant fault (we knew of two others with the same damage) and that it should be fixed free of charge under an EU directive - of course they just laughed, so we suggested that they speak to their legal department. Within 24 hours they arranged a date to do the work at no cost.

I had a new BMW gearbox on my R80GS under the same 'inherrant fault law' The bike was about 18 months old (BMW only had a 12 month warranty at that time in the UK) and the output shaft bearing failed............again I knew of two others with the same fault and BMW coughed up. Of course they use the term 'good will gesture' but it is an EU directive (you can find it if you dig deep enough). My recollection is that any product is covered for up to 6 years............it is up to you to demonstrate that it is an inherrant fault simply by finding others with the same problem.

 

[wilbjr21]

I make a habit of reading handbooks, and I presume franchised BMW dealers are au fait with their products. I've had all the software updates available to date and my expensive BMW charger still doesn't function as intended. I don't have anything else wired to the AUX socket. I'm also one of those folk who can't leave my GS for more than 2-3 weeks without the battery dying; this also has the dealers stumped. Other GS owners seem to be able to leave their bikes for surprisingly lengthy periods without problems. I would imagine that most of the folk who address forums about problems with the battery/charger have GS's that are similarly afflicted to mine, and that no amount of reading manuals or getting software updates is going to make any difference. The direct-wired charger solution works just fine. For me and for many others.

I agree with John P - you must have a fault. There is no other explanation from what you have said.

The direct wired battery charger is one way to get over your fault and if your happy with that then that's fine - it's just that I wouldn't be.

 

[Fredb51]

I agree with John P - you must have a fault. There is no other explanation from what you have said.

The direct wired battery charger is one way to get over your fault and if your happy with that then that's fine - it's just that I wouldn't be.

Obviously something is wrong- I figured that out on my own some time ago. However it is clear that mine is not the only GS afflicted with battery/charger issues, and it is also clear these issues are widely experienced. If the two dealers I've been to can't resolve the problem and their view is something along the lines of "they all do that, sir", then I don't really see the point of folk banging on about how wonderful the expensive BMW charger is when many, many presumably intelligent folk are convinced of the opposite and have made less costly and more effective arrangements. Good for you, gents, if yours work OK- it just doesn't mean everyone else will have no problems.

I'm not happy about having to address these faults- no- but have you ever tried to elevate an issue beyond dealer level and get any sign of life or interest from BMW NA? Life is too short to get that worked up about something like this if there's a straightforward remedy at hand.

 

[wilbjr21]

Fredb51

The subject matter of the thread is why the BMW charger failed to operate correctly when an Autocom was connected to the wiring of the Aux socket.

I addressed this with my experience of the same issue and gave the explanation of what was wrong and how to fix it. I don't want to get into the relative merits of various battery chargers in this thread as there are a great many other threads with this subject matter.

I don't think I was banging on about how good the BMW charger is. I own an Optimate and an Accumate as well for my other bikes. The unit of choice for my 1200 just happens to be the BMW Charger.

 

[Fredb51]

That'll me me then.

The BMW battery charger is a good and well thought out piece of equipment. It received a bad reputation when being used by people who didn't read the handbook. I realise this is a generalisation and there are exceptions. BMW have addressed this through software updates that make things easier and fixed earlier bugs.

Hope this helps.

The above was the bit I take issue with. Fair enough comment regarding your response about the Autocom wiring, although that particular issue represents yet another oddity to be considered when using the BMW charger and socket. I, like you, bought that charger and the only real difference is that you, unlike many, have enjoyed it functioning as intended. As the installation of tails for a generic charger takes only a few minutes and there is such a difference in cost and reliability, I now think the answer is a no-brainer for anyone who appreciates value for money and wants to be sure they have a fully charged battery. If the OP had bought an Optimate or whatever he wouldn't have had any problems in the first place, Autocom or not, and would be many pounds better off. Of course, this exchange and many like it wouldn't happen if the mysterious GS electrical incontinence at rest wasn't such a widely experienced problem. I have several bikes (even Italian) and visit various forums and none of them have even a tiny fraction of the number of battery/charger threads seen on GS forums, and in 40-plus years (27 of them in the UK) of two wheels the GS is the first regular-use motorcycle I've owned where I've had to even contemplate routine employment of a battery charger.

 

[GSmonkey]

...and wants to be sure they have a fully charged battery.

...that's the point more than the cash. Having a battery charger that requires the intervention of the bike's computer is an inherently flawed design. If you've got a BMW charger then go ahead and persevere. If however you've got to go and buy a new one, buy an Optimate (or similar)