R1200GS Charging problem

[Peter Pan]

Hi all. I've got a problem with charging my GS using the special BMW supplied charger that supposedly creates a "spike" when switched on keeping the route to the battery open after the ignitions been switched off.

Whenever I plug my charger in, the power light comes on, followed by the charging light (red, amber or green), however when the bike circuits "power down" after 30 odd seconds, the charging light goes out and the red "error" light on the charger comes on. BMW have conmfirmed the charger is not faulty.

Bike's just had 3 days at my local BMW dealer where they put it through a series of tests, liaised with BMW directly and updated all the software etc. It was returned to me last night and they claimed that it was now sorted with the exception of my getting a brief headlight flash when I turn on the iginition when the batteries fully charged. They (and BMW) had no idea what the cause of the headlight flash was. Fine I thought. I can live with that.

Went for a 170 mile run today, got home, cleaned up the bike, plugged in the charger and hey presto!, back to square one - red error light on charger ....

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

 

[Malcvtr]

You probably already know this, but as far as I understand it you've got to plug in the charger within 15 minutes of switching off the ignition, otherwise it won't work.

Malc

 

[Mr K]

I just connect my Optimate across the battery and it seems to work.

 

[gfspencer]

Is this how you do it?

(1) switch on the bike and wait until it has cycled through . . .
(2) plug the charger into the bike
(3) plug the charger into the wall
(4) switch off the bike

Two red lights at first . . . come back in 30 min or so and I might get an orange charging light . . . . come back later and the green light is on . . .

 

[Malcvtr]

I just connect my Optimate across the battery and it seems to work.

Dead right, mate, but (as I understand it) the BMW charger goes through the accessory socket, so doesn't have direct access to the battery.

 

[Wapping]

You probably already know this, but as far as I understand it you've got to plug in the charger within 15 minutes of switching off the ignition, otherwise it won't work.Malc

Twaddle.

 

[Malcvtr]

Twaddle.

Is that right, mate? Well, I bow to your superior knowledge, but perhaps you should tell Nippy Norman's as well because they sell the same charger as the BMW one and in the item description, they include the following:

"IMPORTANT CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
What is not mentioned in the otherwise brilliant instructions is that if the charger is connected more than 15 minutes after the ignition is switched off then it will not work !
In other words the socket is only able to start the process within 15 minutes of the engine being switched off."

But you obviously know better...

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

I gave up trying to get my non-BWM charger (Oxford Optimiser) to work via the accessory socket - got all sorts of different lights at different times. And had a flat battery on one occasion when the charger was on and apparently working correctly, indicatign batteyr was fine. Don't know whether this has been sorted by the latest software download, but don't really want to find out by risking another flat battery and associated hassles.

I gave up in the end and just used crocodile clips to attach direct to the battery. Seems to have worked OK since then.

Seems BWM charger has been more hassle than it's worth for those that bought them.

Robin.

 

[Wapping]

How then do I:

Ride up to the garage door

Turn of engine

Remove key from ignition

Go inside

Get changed

Have a cup of tea

Go back outside (sometimes wash the bike)

Push bike into garage

Plug in a BMW charger via the front auxilary socket

Shut garage door

Return next day / week to see a glowing green light and a fully charged battery

Maybe I'm just lucky?

 

[Malcvtr]

How then do I:
Ride up to the garage door
Turn of engine
Remove key from ignition
Go inside
Get changed
Have a cup of tea
Go back outside (sometimes wash the bike)
Push bike into garage
Plug in a BMW charger via the front auxilary socket
Shut garage door
Return next day / week to see a glowing green light and a fully charged battery
Maybe I'm just lucky?

I have no idea, mate, but you can read the message for yourself on Nippy Norman's site. I was just passing on that advice to a guy who asked for help.

Do you think Nippy Norman's are just scare mongering and decided to put that message on their site because they wanted to wind us all up, not because it was genuine customer feedback like they claim?

 

[Wapping]

I gave up trying to get my non-BWM charger (Oxford Optimiser) to work via the accessory socket - got all sorts of different lights at different times. And had a flat battery on one occasion when the charger was on and apparently working correctly, indicatign batteyr was fine. Don't know whether this has been sorted by the latest software download, but don't really want to find out by risking another flat battery and associated hassles.I gave up in the end and just used crocodile clips to attach direct to the battery. Seems to have worked OK since then.
Seems BWM charger has been more hassle than it's worth for those that bought them.Robin.

The non-BMW chargers will not work through the accessory socket. The Can switches the socket off after +/- 15 seconds. The branded BMW 'trickle' charger overides the Can and keeps the circuit open. You can hear a 'click' about fifteen seconds or so after plugging the charger in, which I take to be a relay (or something similar) 'opening' or 'closing', keeping the circuit open.

An Oxford / Optimate or similar 'trickle' charger can be connected directly to the battery (crock clips or a flying lead) with no problem and will do a first class job. They are cheaper but maybe a little more inconvenient.

 

[Wapping]

I have no idea, mate, but you can read the message for yourself on Nippy Norman's site. I was just passing on that advice to a guy who asked for help. Do you think Nippy Norman's are just scare mongering and decided to put that message on their site because they wanted to wind us all up, not because it was genuine customer feedback like they claim?

The fellow told us he had a BMW charger not an ersatz one from Nippy N's.

 

[Cestria]

Is this how you do it?

(1) switch on the bike and wait until it has cycled through . . .
(2) plug the charger into the bike
(3) plug the charger into the wall
(4) switch off the bike

Two red lights at first . . . come back in 30 min or so and I might get an orange charging light . . . . come back later and the green light is on . . .

As Punch used to say....'thats the way to do it' This is what the manual says you should do when using the BMW charger, this is how I do it and it works fine. Maybe I'm just lucky as well.

 

[Malcvtr]

The fellow told us he had a BMW charger not an ersatz one from Nippy N's.

Yes indeed.
I know that. Scroll up and you'll see that I said, "they sell the same charger as the BMW one"
Take a look at the image on Nippy Norman's site.
It's the same charger.
At least, that's what I was told by another member of this list ("Thunder") when I asked the question a while ago.
But perhaps he's wrong too.

Anyway, I'm past caring now.

See ya.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

The non-BMW chargers will not work through the accessory socket. The Can switches the socket off after +/- 15 seconds. .........An Oxford / Optimate or similar 'trickle' charger can be connected directly to the battery (crock clips or a flying lead) with no problem and will do a first class job. They are cheaper but maybe a little more inconvenient.

Ah, that would explain the flat battery then. Thanks.

On some occasions, the lights on the Optimiser went out (indicating there was nothing connected), on other occasions they'd light up (and stay lit up). Pain in the arse not knowing whether it's working or not, whereas removing seat and "crocodiling" the battery takes no time really. I would fit the little socket thing to allow leaving the little connectors on the battery terminals, but I'm buggered if I can find where I put it when I took it off the last bike...

Now, could someone PLEASE read my "Pheasant Strike" thread and tell me if my oil cooler is damaged? I'll never be able to spleep peacefully if I don't know...

Robin.

 

[Wapping]

Hi all. I've got a problem with charging my GS using the special BMW supplied charger Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Have you had a look at the state of the wiring coming into the aux socket?

There are several threads / posts where owners have expressed concern that corrosion builds up.

Are you sure it's the error light that is coming on? Sorry if the question seems rude but it's a mistake others have made.

The '0' LED in the top row is also red. Its illumination only shows that the charger has started its charging cycle.

If you are having lots of problems (and the battery itself isn't shot for some reason) I suggest junking the BMW charger and conecting an Optimate direct to the battery.

 

[Wapping]

Ah, that would explain the flat battery then. Thanks.
I would fit the little socket thing to allow leaving the little connectors on the battery terminals, but I'm buggered if I can find where I put it when I took it off the last bike...Robin.

Your welcome.

A new flying lead is only a few quid. Saves taking the seat off.

 

[Wapping]

Yes indeed.
I know that. Scroll up and you'll see that I said, "they sell the same charger as the BMW one"
Take a look at the image on Nippy Norman's site.
It's the same charger.
At least, that's what I was told by another member of this list ("Thunder") when I asked the question a while ago.
But perhaps he's wrong too.

Anyway, I'm past caring now.

See ya.

Could have sworn your #7 post read...similar to NN's....probably I misread it. Anyway, Nippy's certainly looks similar to BMW's branded charger, which is the item the hero of the thread has got. Wheher it is the same I have no idea. All that I do know is that the BMW offering doesn't get too fussed about sitting around for 15 minutes.

My tips:

(1) Buy an Optimate or similar and connect direct to battery.

(2) Buy NN's charger and connect via the aux. socket within 15 minutes

(3) Buy BMW's charger and connect via aux. socket at leisure. Unless of course it doesn't work. Then throw in bin / complain to BMW / get money back / cry / rant and then revert to (1) above.

 

[melegsareboney]

Is this how you do it?

(1) switch on the bike and wait until it has cycled through . . .
(2) plug the charger into the bike
(3) plug the charger into the wall
(4) switch off the bike

Two red lights at first . . . come back in 30 min or so and I might get an orange charging light . . . . come back later and the green light is on . . .

I'm having the same problem. Tried the above and after a min. or so still getting the error light. This is the second charger I've had as AJs replaced the original yesterday. They tested it and thought it was O.K. Can't understand what I'm doing wrong!!

 

[Malcvtr]

Could have sworn your #7 post read...similar to NN's....probably I misread it.

If my #7 post was my "Which Charger?" post, you certainly did misread it, mate. Here's the relevant bit copied and pasted:

"But if I want to use the BMW socket, is there any difference between the official BMW charger and the one for sale on Nippy Norman's site?"

"Thunder's" response was a simple, one word, "No."

But like I said, maybe he's wrong. I don't know him. It's interesting, however, that gfspencer's contribution says to

(1) switch on the bike and wait until it has cycled through . . .
(2) plug the charger into the bike
(3) plug the charger into the wall
(4) switch off the bike

"Cestria" says this is what the manual says to do. This would suggest that the Can-bus system does indeed turn off the socket after a while. Maybe 15 minutes like Nippy Norman's says? Who knows? I don't 'cos I've got an Optimate III, thank God. Maybe "Cestria" is wrong about what the manual says is the correct way to connect the charger. Maybe he's got a different manual or a different model of the BMW charger?

If you're right and you can do it when you like, that's great news. You obviously can and do. Maybe there's something different with your Can-bus system software and it's not turning off the socket - hence you can charge it when you like. Certainly, this computer nonsense has a mind of its own: the original poster's bike now flashes its headlight for some reason and no-one, not even BMW FFS, knows why!