I've a 02 1150gs, no problems at all but I'm using it less now, and last time it was a bit reluctant to start. I've an optimate and power accessory adaptor, and read some of the threads on here, but I would like to confirm its use - is it really as straightforward as just plugging in to the LHS power socket and switching on ? leave ignition off ? and any problems with a datatool s4 ? a dummies/idiots guide would be much appreciated ! tia
optimate idiiots guide
- Thread starter MikeHave
- Start date
- Park the bike up as usual - ignition off
- Plug in Optimate to mains
- Connect to bike
- DO NOT TOUCH/DISCONNECT ANYTHING until 5 minutes before you next ride the bike
My OE battery is now 8½ years old and still starts the bike on the button - Optimate ALWAYS connected when the bike is in the garage at home.
Greg
Wot Greg says.........
Batteries like to be fully charged all the time. There is no chance of overcharging it with an Optimate.
It really is that easy
worked fine for me for the Ducati (had an alarm that guzzled battery power) and the current 1150 GSA.
Top bit of kit, would highly recommend to everyone.
thanks for your replies, I'll give it a go
73octane
Guest
Having listened to many stories about batteries and how to look after them over the years I think it's not as simple as some manufacturers make out.
This advice given by Colin Coles of Worlds End motorcycles seems to sums up most of it for me.
Types Of Charger
There are many battery chargers available. You should be sure to use a battery charger which is designed for motorcycles, a car charger will deliver too much charge.
Trickle chargers charge the battery continually at a fixed rate. However, they require a watchful eye as they do not have a way of responding when a battery is fully charged. Leaving them to charge excessively can damage the battery.
Taper chargers decrease the amount of current delivered through the battery as the voltage rises. As with trickle chargers they require a watchful eye to avoid overcharging. Both taper and trickle chargers are slow.
Pulse or intelligent chargers monitor and collect feedback from the battery's voltage during the charging process and drop into a standby mode once the battery is fully charged. When the battery naturally discharges to a certain level the charger will go into charging mode and restore the battery to its normal charge. A pulse charger can be left unattended for long periods of time, but you should still carry out periodic fluid level checks.
Also this nugget of information is part of a very informative article from Yuasa batteries, full article can be found at
http://www.yuasabatteries.com/motor_battery.asp
So, I can just set it and forget it, right? Well, not exactly. For one thing, you need to monitor the battery occasionally for correct fluid level (unless you own a sealed battery). Another problem is that of exercising the battery. Even if held at 13 volts, the unwavering voltage will allow the battery to eventually begin to sulfate. With most of these units, I recommend that you unplug the charger at least once every 60 days during seasonal storage. Allow the battery to rest for a couple of days, and then plug the charger in again. One charger that I’m aware of, the 1.5 amp Yuasa unit, has a feature found mainly on the aforementioned high priced RV chargers. It drops off the float charge and sends the battery through a complete new charge cycle every 28 days, thus eliminating the need to do that manually. There may be other motorcycle units that do that, but I’m not aware of any.
still not 100% sure which one to buy, so I'll keep riding it instead
This advice given by Colin Coles of Worlds End motorcycles seems to sums up most of it for me.
Types Of Charger
There are many battery chargers available. You should be sure to use a battery charger which is designed for motorcycles, a car charger will deliver too much charge.
Trickle chargers charge the battery continually at a fixed rate. However, they require a watchful eye as they do not have a way of responding when a battery is fully charged. Leaving them to charge excessively can damage the battery.
Taper chargers decrease the amount of current delivered through the battery as the voltage rises. As with trickle chargers they require a watchful eye to avoid overcharging. Both taper and trickle chargers are slow.
Pulse or intelligent chargers monitor and collect feedback from the battery's voltage during the charging process and drop into a standby mode once the battery is fully charged. When the battery naturally discharges to a certain level the charger will go into charging mode and restore the battery to its normal charge. A pulse charger can be left unattended for long periods of time, but you should still carry out periodic fluid level checks.
Also this nugget of information is part of a very informative article from Yuasa batteries, full article can be found at
http://www.yuasabatteries.com/motor_battery.asp
So, I can just set it and forget it, right? Well, not exactly. For one thing, you need to monitor the battery occasionally for correct fluid level (unless you own a sealed battery). Another problem is that of exercising the battery. Even if held at 13 volts, the unwavering voltage will allow the battery to eventually begin to sulfate. With most of these units, I recommend that you unplug the charger at least once every 60 days during seasonal storage. Allow the battery to rest for a couple of days, and then plug the charger in again. One charger that I’m aware of, the 1.5 amp Yuasa unit, has a feature found mainly on the aforementioned high priced RV chargers. It drops off the float charge and sends the battery through a complete new charge cycle every 28 days, thus eliminating the need to do that manually. There may be other motorcycle units that do that, but I’m not aware of any.
still not 100% sure which one to buy, so I'll keep riding it instead 73Octane - Your information is somewhat misleading to those who aren't 'in the know' I've no idea who this 'Colin Coles' is, but methinks he's scaremongering...
MikeHave isn't trying to use 'any' battery charger - hies specifically said he's using an Optimate - a modern 'state of the art' battery charger. It will never delever 'too much charge', unless it goes faulty in a somewhat extremely unlikely way. Optimates are neither trickle or 'taper' chargers (a term I've never heard of before) They are computer controlled and recommended by virtually every bike manufacturer.
Pulse charging is only used to de-sulphate batteries - it's not a charging method.
No modern motorcycle battery I know of is anything other than a fully sealed type. Do you really think someone would an unsealed battery that would leak battery acid when the bike's on the side stand
What??? Unwavering means 'does not change. A fully charged battery is the only way of preventing sulphation.
There is absolutely no need to 'allow a battery to rest' every 60 days. That article is misleading it beggars belief... I mean
FFS!!!!
Why? Where is the scientific backing for this???
Errr - Optimates, Oxford Maximiser's etc etc etc....
MikeHave isn't trying to use 'any' battery charger - hies specifically said he's using an Optimate - a modern 'state of the art' battery charger. It will never delever 'too much charge', unless it goes faulty in a somewhat extremely unlikely way. Optimates are neither trickle or 'taper' chargers (a term I've never heard of before) They are computer controlled and recommended by virtually every bike manufacturer.
Pulse charging is only used to de-sulphate batteries - it's not a charging method.
No modern motorcycle battery I know of is anything other than a fully sealed type. Do you really think someone would an unsealed battery that would leak battery acid when the bike's on the side stand
What??? Unwavering means 'does not change. A fully charged battery is the only way of preventing sulphation.
There is absolutely no need to 'allow a battery to rest' every 60 days. That article is misleading it beggars belief... I mean
FFS!!!!
Why? Where is the scientific backing for this???
Errr - Optimates, Oxford Maximiser's etc etc etc....
Even if Slowdown was spouting complete bollox (which he isn't), the proof is in the real results.
My 8½ year old GS battery has been hooked up to an Optimate most of its life and still performs well. In fact it scares me how well it still performs - I feel I should go and buy a new battery just for peace of mind.
What more do you want from a charger?
Greg
My 8½ year old GS battery has been hooked up to an Optimate most of its life and still performs well. In fact it scares me how well it still performs - I feel I should go and buy a new battery just for peace of mind.
What more do you want from a charger?
Greg
jonesai
Registered user
The battery on my 1993 R100GS was the original (acid battery) when I sold the bike 2 years ago ie 13 years old. Never saw an optimate. Used to charge it on my 10 year old Halfords battery charger for a hour so if it wouldn't turn the engine on the starter - usually after the bike had lain idle for 2 or 3 weeks. 
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