OPTIMATE tripping out Household Electrical Circuit!!??

retroman

retroman

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Hello,

OK here'a an odd one. I keep my 2002 R11550 GS on a trickle charge via an OPTIMATE charger. Lately the household circuit has been tripping out and I've traced this to the bike when it's under charge!! It's not the charger as I've 2 Optimate units - so I'm wondering if the battery is on its way out?

Would this cause the surge in the household circuit resulting in the trip at the house fusebox?

Not sure how old the battery is but at least 5 years I reckon.

Advice please??!!
 
Are you using the same socket all of the time? Tried other appliances in that socket?

Try running an extension lead from another socket which is in regular use to power the optimate. I would suspect it will work

The problem is most likely in the socket or associated wiring e.g. a loose wire in the socket or a junction box or damaged insulation somewhere - done any DIY involving making holes in floors or plaster? Got any rodents?
 
If it is definitely the bike that's tripping the household beaker I'd be questing the safety of the electrics on the bike. Also I'd be wondering about the safety of the charger. I'd have thought that there would be enough built in safety in those devices to be intelligent enough to stop any wayward electrical happenings. You should be able to connect and forget them according to the sales pitch on these things. Worrying. what fuse is in the plug? Jjh
 
wessie said:
Are you using the same socket all of the time? Tried other appliances in that socket?

Try running an extension lead from another socket which is in regular use to power the optimate. I would suspect it will work

The problem is most likely in the socket or associated wiring e.g. a loose wire in the socket or a junction box or damaged insulation somewhere - done any DIY involving making holes in floors or plaster? Got any rodents?
Click to expand...

I'd agree with that before I'd blame the bike
 
Insufficient information.

Is the charger plugged into a 13a socket?
Is the socket protected by an MCB?
If so, what is the rating of the MCB/Fuse?
Is the RCD (Earth Leakage Trip) tripping and taking out most of the house?
If it is the latter, it is unlikely to be the charger or motorcycle.
It is almost certainly a neutral to earth fault.
If this is the case, they are very difficult to find.
The usual symptoms are random, occasional tripping of the RCD
with no apparent fault. Often, the only way to get the RCD on again
is to turn off the main distribution board isolator, switch on RCD, and
then turn isolator back on again.
Myke
 
Have you inspected the mains lead where it enters the Optimate, I had an Oximiser I think it was, the cable had split to bare wire right where it enters the housing, might be worth a check.
 
Thanks for the replies. The bike lives outside under a cover on a forecourt. I've an external weather socket running off the mains, with an extension cable running to the Optimate. I'll check all the cables and connections and see how I get on. I've had no problems for 9 years until now, so it would appear that damp is getting in somewhere, as has been suggested.

Many thanks once again.
 
Bet its the outdoor socket - Had the trip occasionally going off for a while and could not find a reason - I had an outside light with a small crack in the glass - when I finally got around to replacing it I found moss inside around the bulb holder.
 
retroman said:
The bike lives outside under a cover on a forecourt. I've an external weather socket running off the mains, with an extension cable running to the Optimate.
Click to expand...

Is it a neighbour doing some arc welding from your extension lead whilst you're asleep?

:nenau
 
Greg Masters said:
Is it a neighbour doing some arc welding from your extension lead whilst you're asleep?

:nenau
Click to expand...

Or a caravan parked up outside?

Most likely to be the extension lead, bear in mind although you have a weatherproof 13A SSO, everything you have plugged into it probably isn't IP rated (IP being Ingress Protection - water/moisture), best if you could do away with the extension lead by extending the SSO or installing one closer.
 
wessie said:
Are you using the same socket all of the time? Tried other appliances in that socket?

Try running an extension lead from another socket which is in regular use to power the optimate. I would suspect it will work

The problem is most likely in the socket or associated wiring e.g. a loose wire in the socket or a junction box or damaged insulation somewhere - done any DIY involving making holes in floors or plaster? Got any rodents?
Click to expand...

Wessie and those who suspected damp ingress were spot-on. The extension lead was the culprit, when I opened the socket all the terminals were rusted solid. I've installed a new extension lead (with more waterproof components) and all is well.

Incidentally, when the household electrics tripped, the 15A fuse on the bike (clock and accessory socket, into which the OPTIMATE is plugged) also blew. It's nice to know that these things work when they should.

Thank you all very much for the advice.

:beerjug:
 
retroman said:
Thanks for the replies. The bike lives outside under a cover on a forecourt. I've an external weather socket running off the mains, with an extension cable running to the Optimate. I'll check all the cables and connections and see how I get on. I've had no problems for 9 years until now, so it would appear that damp is getting in somewhere, as has been suggested.

Many thanks once again.
Click to expand...
It might have been an idea to mention these small points in your original post.

Glad you're sorted :)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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