Strange problem accessory socket anybody else had this?

Clive said:
I'd get the alternator tested - I had similar symptom before alternator failure.
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Thanks for the suggestion, I've just been and put a meter on it and it looks OK at the moment. I've just checked the voltage accross the battery at tick-over and 3000RPM, are there any other ways to check the alternator? It looks to me like the battery might be not as good as it should be but the alternator seems to charge it back up so if next time I stop I don't get the red triangle. Anyone any idea of any other battery or alternator checks I can do, it's a 50 mile trip to the dealers so I'm not too keen on taking it and lossing a day.
 
You should be showing around 12.2 volts across battery with ignition on - a short while after starting at tickover it should be around 14.5 volts - mine doesn't seem to vary much at higher rpm.
 
Clive said:
You should be showing around 12.2 volts across battery with ignition on - a short while after starting at tickover it should be around 14.5 volts - mine doesn't seem to vary much at higher rpm.
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Thanks, mine showed 12.65V with ignition off, 12.2 with ignition on but engine off and 14.45V at 4000RPM and only a bit less 14.3V at tick-over. This seems to say the battery is holding charge and the alternator/rectifier is OK.
 
Well, after much frrustration of GPS and Autocom units cutting out I've finally implemented a solution to the whole issue :) although can't say it's a cure to the problem :( I've fitted Touratech part TPS15 across the battery to power all accessories. This incorperates a relay, powered from the 'parking' light, to switch the battery power.

Have to say I'm not best pleased at having to do this for, what is after all, a BMW induced problem, but then again at least I can go riding this w/e (tour to Wales/Snowdonia if you must know) without having to explain to my mate on his bike - a low tech 1150RS, but at least it works ;) - why the bike-to-bike comms keeps failing and the GPS is not working and we are now lost...

Peter
 
Trip said:
Chris,

your experiment seems to confirm that the problem is in software and it's cutting the power when the power draw is too low. When the backlight is brighter, more power is drawn and the software does not shut down the socket.

Trip
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From my experience, I'd say no to that low load theory.

I recently got this "upgrade" and am using the accessory socket to drive a relay which runs the real loads. It now shuts down sporadically - usually under low RPM conditions.

When I attempted to operate my BestRest airpump (~5 amps), it began then shut down almost immediately. I even ran the engine and it still shuts down.

it runs just fine on a non-updated R1200GS.

I'd say that this firmware "hunts" for load by monitoring battery voltage. If it detects zero load on the accessory circuit, it "knows" it can turn it off with impunity. When the voltage then increases because it turns off a relay-fed load, it's found a load.

BMW, please don't fix a non-problem.
 
When I attempted to operate my BestRest airpump (~5 amps), it began then shut down almost immediately. I even ran the engine and it still shuts down.
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My BestRest products pump draws 6 amps (measured) and the socket will shut down if a load greater than 5 amps is drawn - engine running or not. Its supposed to do this. This has always been the limit on the accessory socket. Answer is (as no doubt you know) to connect it across the battery directly with the croc clips supplied. If you need more amps you've got to go the relay route.
 
I also had heard that the 1200GSA would be 10A. Page 144 in the Adventure handbook states "Ratings (Per on-board socket) 5A". I took this to mean that, if you had the additional (optional extra) socket, 5A could be taken by each giving a total of 10A. I thought that things had improved and 10A should be available throught the standard socket if the optional one isn't fitted. But mine trips at the 6A needed by my pump. :(
 
autocom and software update

ratboy said:
Hi, I've just found this thread and have been having the same problem with my Autocom cutting in and out. As there does not seem to be a fix at the moment is it possible to take the feed for the Autocom fom somewhere else on the bike. Does anyone know?
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I phoned autocom to see if they could hardwire the powersupply to the back of my aux socket - they kindly booked me in and did the job an hour later -

- BUT THE AUTOCOM GUYS SAID BMW SOFTWARE UPDATE OF LAST TWO MONTHS MAKES AUX SOCKET POWER DOWN AFTER 20 MINUTES. :eek:

So instead, they were now wiring them direct into the loom - which they did for me gratis - :) Several hero points for autocom.

But what about the firmware update - I said I couldn't make any sense of that - doesn't it defeat the point of having an aux socket - what about heated waistcoats, all the gizmos that folk run etc. etc.

Anyway - just reporting what I was told this morning - autocom say they've had lots of 1200GS's back in the last few weeks, and they have been wiring direct to the loom. They said they had spoken to BMW about it...

Also noticed thread in here about someone thinking firware update reduced their bikes performance???

BTW - I rode home with a GPS powered from the socket, and didn't notice it power down at any point over the two hour journey, so maybe Autocom comments to be taken with pinch of salt, but can't see why they'd make something like that up?
 
power2learn said:
So instead, they were now wiring them direct into the loom - which they did for me gratis -
Click to expand...

Any information about which part of the loom they are wiring to?

power2learn said:
BTW - I rode home with a GPS powered from the socket, and didn't notice it power down at any point over the two hour journey, so maybe Autocom comments to be taken with pinch of salt, but can't see why they'd make something like that up?
Click to expand...

One of the characteristics of this problem is that it is random in nature. One time you switch on the ignition the accessory socket will operate perfectly. Yet the next time you switch it on the socket will continously power on and off. A number of people have made suggestions as to starting procedures to prevent this happening, but none of them worked for me.

Peter
 
ampthill said:
Any information about which part of the loom they are wiring to?
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Peter, sorry I don't know - not had a chance to look yet, and probably wouldn't know what the wire was for if I did. The Autocom guys were very helpful though - I'm sure they'd tell you if you rang up and asked them.

Not sure what the little box was that they added either.

Wish I could be more helpful.

Tom.
 
wilbjr21 said:
My BestRest products pump draws 6 amps (measured) and the socket will shut down if a load greater than 5 amps is drawn - engine running or not. Its supposed to do this. This has always been the limit on the accessory socket. Answer is (as no doubt you know) to connect it across the battery directly with the croc clips supplied. If you need more amps you've got to go the relay route.
Click to expand...

this same pump worked fine before the "upgrade". you'll find, if you check, that the wires to the accessory socket are sized for 10 A minimum. CAN bus has no fuses - just current control switches under software control. It's fine with 10 A and has worked reliably in that configuration for over 2 years.
 
I have had exactly the same experience, a tyre pump that I had previously used without problems would no longer work on the accessory circuit after the upgrade that caused all this hassle. I haven't measured the current it draws, but that fact remains that it used to work and no longer does.
 
this same pump worked fine before the "upgrade". you'll find, if you check, that the wires to the accessory socket are sized for 10 A minimum. CAN bus has no fuses - just current control switches under software control. It's fine with 10 A and has worked reliably in that configuration for over 2 years.
Click to expand...

I have had exactly the same experience, a tyre pump that I had previously used without problems would no longer work on the accessory circuit after the upgrade that caused all this hassle. I haven't measured the current it draws, but that fact remains that it used to work and no longer does.
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I agree with you both. My previous 1200GS seemed to work OK. I now have the 1200GSA (lucky me) and that is the handbook from which I was quoting in my previous post (thinking I was being helpful). This bike hasn't had any upgrades to the software and trips the pump immediately on a load of 6.4A (pump running on load to a tyre). Maybe this is another measure to protect the battery. Five amps is very modest.
 
spowers said:
From my experience, I'd say no to that low load theory.
Click to expand...
Just to muddy the waters some more...

At the start of my Spain/France trip last week the GPS started its usual messing about - "cured" by starting with it switched off and then riding 2-5 miles before switching it on. Part way through the trip I needed to recharge some batteries via the rear socket - I have a home made adapter that runs wires from a "BMW" socket into a cigar socket in the tank bag. I noticed that from then on the GPS worked fine (i.e. as it used to) at all times. Later as an experiment I didn't bother connecting anything into the cigar socket, just left it connected into the rear socket - no problems with the GPS either.
 
Having a nightmare trying to run teh wife's and I heated vests (Widder) and an autocom off the power sockets. All my sockets power off teh original, the second accessory socket piggybakcing into the first. Absolutely fine until the latest upgrade. From all the above, adding a second socket in teh 'designed' place at the front of the bike will be unlikely to solve the problem? Am I right in thinking that both sockets run into the connections into the lom in which case the 'overload' will continue. How can a 12RT have two sockets that work with heated kit a CD palyer and GPS? :nenau
 
Hi
I was in Southport Super Bikes this week & the man in the service & repair dept.

Said that BMW knew that the Software needed to be updated & is due out in 2 to 3 weeks. :bow :bow :bow

At last someone that tells the truth, instead of, “they all do that sir” :thumb
 
jeff garnett said:
Hi
I was in Southport Super Bikes this week & the man in the service & repair dept.

Said that BMW knew that the Software needed to be updated & is due out in 2 to 3 weeks. :bow :bow :bow

At last someone that tells the truth, instead of, “they all do that sir” :thumb
Click to expand...

Good news on the update, though technically the chap is telling the truth: they do all do that... it's just that we see it as a problem while they've regarded it as a feature...
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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