Who needs an optimate.....

[Steptoe]

The battery takes more abuse from the charging system on the bike than from an Optimate (much higher charge current and higher voltage) without problems.

But it's the constantly being attached 24/7 to a battery charger.

Then when you go away for a week and leave it unattached to a charger for a few days that you find your battery is shagged.
As i've said all my bikes are parked up, sometimes for long periods of time without any form of battery charger attached to them and they all start up fine, even the airhead !!!!!

Gunsons used to do a battery charger that did the same as the optimate but for half the price.

I only say "used to" because i haven't looked recently, but can't see why it shouldn't still be available

 

[John Armstrong]

Still use the £20 trickle charger from Motobins. No over charging worries, only thing is if the battery is flat it'll take an age to get it charged.

 

[ahutcheon]

Then when you go away for a week and leave it unattached to a charger for a few days that you find your battery is shagged.
As i've said all my bikes are parked up, sometimes for long periods of time without any form of battery charger attached to them and they all start up fine, even the airhead !!!!!

Makes sense. I doubt that an Optimate ruins batteries, but using one constantly could hide the fact that a battery has died until one is in a situation where the discovery is rather inconvenient.

I attach the Optimate to the bike once in a while (bike has an alarm fitted) if I'm not using it for weeks on end during winter. Often the bike does without for long periods while the Optimate recharges the sealed battery I then carry down to the creek to power the pump that lifts water to the livestock in the far paddock. I should probably obtain another solar panel, but the exercise is good for me...

 

[King Rat]

Can't you use an Archimedes screw and get a bullock to walk round in circles pumping the water -like they do in much of the world? It would your life much easier with regard to the battery! taste better at the end of it too.

 

[sproggy]

Can't you use an Archimedes screw and get a bullock to walk round in circles pumping the water

I don't think she'd like that much......

 

[King Rat]

Oh I don't know, she looks like she is a "good doer".

 

[fatnfast]

For many years I have been involved in the maintenance of Aircraft batterys. Batteries designated for 'emegency use' on aircraft are maintained, whilst off the aircraft, on a constant 'trickle' charge, using a charger that is not so different to the basic function of an opitimate. This ensures any emergency battery issued to an aircraft is ready to do its job. This is what the optimate also does, ensure your battery is ready to start your bike. However, these aircraft batteries are also subject to 'capacity testing' at specific intervals to ensure they provide 80-100% rated output should an emergency happen in flight. This is carried out on special to type testers and not something an optimate could hope to replicate, and yes, batteries that have been on trickle charge and then come up for a 'capicity test' do fail to pass the test.
Non emergency batteries for aircraft are typically charged, cap testesd, recharged and then can sit around for 3 months before being put to use. They are just as prone to not being up to spec as the batteries that remain on trickle charge.
So IMHO, and has been pointed out already, if you use your bike infrequently or have an alarm they are good. If you use your bike every day (and ride further than a couple of miles) then there is no need. They will 'usually' ensure your bike always starts, but cannot detect a capacity caperbility defect and could leave you stranded after a long ride due to a defective battery, as opposed to your bike not starting in the garage.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

i'm buying a red one next time



.

 

[John Armstrong]

For many years I have been involved in the maintenance of Aircraft batterys. However, these aircraft batteries are also subject to 'capacity testing' at specific intervals to ensure they provide 80-100% rated output should an emergency happen in flight. This is carried out on special to type testers and not something an optimate could hope to replicate, and yes, batteries that have been on trickle charge and then come up for a 'capicity test' do fail to pass the test.

How many bikes use ni-cad batteries?

 

[fatnfast]

Aircraft batteries are not just ni-cad. The construction varies, but includes lead acid types (for both main and emergency types).

 

[John Armstrong]

Aircraft batteries are not just ni-cad.

But cap testing for them AFAIK is.

 

[fatnfast]

All ac emergency batteries are subject to cap testing. Infact all aircraft batteries have a specific service scedule that will involve cap testing. Dependent on construction, the scedule will also involve cell balancing, level checks/adjustment etc.
Either way, any batteries that are maintained on trickle charge can still fail a cap test. But, this failure rate does not exceed the failure rate I have seen on batteries that are allowed to stand after maintenance. This appliesto a variety of battery types and construction.

The opitimate (111) does claim to check for discharge, although a better bet is to use a techmate for a simple and effective test (£21+vat from Honda).

 

[King Rat]

The red one will go with your lipstik and nail varnish.