Optimate charging Question

[(RIP) Mark H]

Hi all,
Just done a search for all posts about the optimate charger read em all and cant find the answer to my problem,
I have a R1200 RT and have regually used the optimate to keep the battery good when not in use, but... today put it on the optimate about 3pm this afternoon, it went to amber (Charge as normal) but its still showing amber at now (7.45) its never stayed on amber so long, I disconected just now and the bike started ok, I run it for a few minutes and shut down and reconnected the optimate, still on amber ????? question is should the optimate have brought the charge to green by now, the optimates getting quite warm ! how long should the optimate be left for constantly showing amber ??

 

[Tarka]

Is your Optimate connected via the accessory socket or directly to the battery with the short Optimate battery lead ?

Optimates can be on amber for several days...depending on battery status and what model Optimate.

Every battery charger gets warm when working...but shouldn`t get 'hot'.

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Optimates connected directly to the battery,

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Put my Optimate onto my Little Honda......... red light came on. tried again, still came on next day. tried again. OK. all green. Don't fret about it......... Hypocrite, I would.

 

[Greg Masters]

Guys, the Optimate is an 'intelligent' charger.

Just connect and forget.

Greg

 

[Haytch]

I think officially... a continuous amber indicates the battery is not getting to full charge ... possibly caused by a defective cell .....however....I have found the charger sometimes get 'stuck' ... not switching to green, or falsely indicating red... just switch off at the mains and try again ... make sure the connections to the battery are good.

 

[Haytch]

if your battery allows (ie its not a maintenance free one) check the electrolyte level and top-up if needed.

 

[Dickieboy]

Guys, the Optimate is an 'intelligent' charger.

Just connect and forget.

Greg

What Greg says, and additionaly if you check at different times the optimate may be showing green l.e.d. at one time and orange l.e.d. another as it puts the battery through a cycle.

 

[kondorpilot]

Whilst on the subject can anyone give me advice on the use of an Optimate with a bike fitted with the Canbus system.
Can it be done or do I need to spend money on a special charger?

 

[peterh]

You can use an Optimate with a Canbus IF you wire the charger directly to the battery via the Optimate leads supplied for direct connection, or if you go via a DIN socket on the bike that is wired directly to the battery (ie not the standard below the saddle DIN socket on the 1200s which is wired via the Canbus).

 

[kondorpilot]

Thanks Peter

 

[GSmonkey]

Would recommend that should the battery every get deep discharged that you charge the battery off the bike.

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Thanks for all your posts guys, the green light up after about 7 hours on amber and all seems well now ! thnx again,

 

[(RIP) maverick]

Been reading through all these optimate threads and still struggling with mine. Had it for about 4 years and not used much. Stuck it on my sidecar bike battery last week Monday which indicated about 7.4 volts on the meter. Optimate had three led's lit but not the green. Went into the garage on Saturday and only one light lit and battery flat

This is directly connected to the battery via croc clips and right way around Any means to test whether the optimate actually still charges or work?

 

[LiquidLAN]

I was noticing this when I first connected mine up to a brand new 12GSA, it turned out to be really shity contacts on the Optimate lead, have a look at the contacts on the interchangeable plastic block... the one that allows you to connect the croc clips of the fly lead