Optimate over Winter

[JohnnyBoxer]

On a bike that is laid up over winter

So which way is best?

All the time or occasionally?

I tend to pop it on for 3-4 hours (until both green lights are glowing) every 3-4 weeks - this is the option I favour, but just asking if there is another way

Is this correct or should I charge for 2 days each month or just leave it on all the time?

 

[cookie]

i generally do as you. possibly longer gaps.

 

[daveb]

Last 5 years left on 24/7 - Never a prob!

 

[(RIP) Miff]

The idea is to leave it connected all the time as the Optimate decides if the battery needs charging or not.

However, Optimates have been known to develop a fault whereby they eventually fry the battery...

Mine gets swapped from one bike to the other every few days.

 

[Buz]

Still riding the bike so fitted mine to the Landy and just leave it all the time as I never know when i'll drive it.
If the Optimate is unplugged/switched off but still connected to the battery, will the battery discharge through the Optimate?

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Now and then for both green lights or all the time when I forget to switch it off...........Either way never had a problem!

As a side note i've been using it on my 2002 John Deere 3800 Telehandler as the alternator wasn't charging enough............Used it for around six weeks no problem charging overnight and always had both green lights. Got a new alternator now so it'll go back on the bikes over the winter.

I'm also using it on the ride on lawnmowers aswell as the quadbike so it's quite a busy wee Optimate!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

i generally do as you. possibly longer gaps.

Seems sensible and I never use it all over summer

 

[Micky]

Just stick it on for a day every month or so JB

I most certainly wouldn't leave it on

 

[Nutty]

That's reminded me to connect the Optimate to my HP2 I knew I'd forgotten something

 

[Alf Garnett]

Last 9 years if I don't ride it's on all the time,still on the original Battery
(BMW R 1200 Montauk).

 

[flying circus]

50/50 on an off, but defo on if temp falls below 0c

 

[cookie]

my 1200 goes months without a charge sometimes over winter. never really had a problem.

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that's stood 2 months in the coldest winter for 18 years. no charger. starts first time

 

[luke scott]

Is the Oxford optimiser 600 subject to the same views above ? Got one at the NEC last week and the instructions made no reference to leaving it plugged in or not all the time.

 

[rce]

If the Optimate is unplugged/switched off but still connected to the battery, will the battery discharge through the Optimate?

YES


I normally connect for a few hours once a month ish particularly if the temperatures remain low as they are now.

 

[Georgeeboi]

I'm on and off as well but if it is below freezing it's on and I start the bike up once a week.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I'm on and off as well but if it is below freezing it's on and I start the bike up once a week

Why??

Won't that cause condensation in the engine

 

[Micky]

I'm on and off as well but if it is below freezing it's on and I start the bike up once a week.

Now that'll cause more harm, more wear, than not running it

As JB says, condensation in the engine, doesn't get warm enough! If you can't give it a good run then I wouldn't run it at all.

Plus it'll wake up the battery and give it a hell of a fright

 

[Bendy toy]

Deffo a very bad idea. Cold starts are THE most harmful and the engine will be left full of condensation. Either ride it properly or store it.

Batteries left doing nothing will gradually self discharge. So what just charge them again. Yes but self discharge causes a permanent change in the lead sulphate. Instead of converting back when its charged this stuff wont convert. So the capacity gradually falls off until the battery is useless. Storing a lead acid battery without a float charge connected 24/7 will reduce its life. The worse the discharge is allowed to get the more damage it does so keeping it topped up is a lot better than nothing' Once a typical bike or car battery has gone below about 9 volts open circuit, it wont recover and is usually scrap. Optimates do have a recovery cycle that hits the battery with a high voltage to wake it up. But the battery will have lost capacity. Deep cycle batteries can go lower and will recover but they dont have the cold cranking amps to start the engine.

Trickle and float charging are not the same. Trickle just puts on a continuous small charge. Any excess will electrolyse some water. Float charge (e.g. Optimate) only puts power in when the battery voltage drops below its set point so no "boiling".

This might help though its mostly about deep cycle batteries
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm#Cycles vs Life

TBH when mine packs up I'm going for a 12 cell Ballistic battery though looking at the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) the 8 cell might also be enough. These are not lead acid, lose only 10% charge in 12 months storage and dont degrade by being stored. A bit pricey but worth it in my belief. The other expense is my Optimate is no good on a Ballistic battery - the automatic recovery cycle can ruin it.

 

[Humbug]

I left mine connected everytime the bike was not being used. It was still on it's original battery after over 7 years. One of my other bikes is still on the original battery after nearly 9 years!

 

[Delboy777]

I'm on and off as well but if it is below freezing it's on and I start the bike up once a week.

i wouldnt be doing that