Battery optimisers

Totally agree with Jack, the Optimate or similar are clever trickle chargers and can be left permanently on when your bike is parked up, automatically adjusting the level of charge so your battery is always at an optimum operating condition

 

Bugger I bought the 3!!!

 

Optimate 4 is what you want make sure you get one with a suitable lead for your tractor

 

Oh! I always thought you were 2 short not 1

 

Both my T120 and my FJR1300 are constantly on Optimate 4's. FJR battery is 8 years old and still seems good as new.

 

I used to have an Optimate 3 but it died after relatively short service. I currantly use an Aldi intelligent charger which has programs for bikes and cars and appears to work perfectly. Had it for about 18 months and totally faultless.

 

Quick question, I plug my optimiser 3 into the sae connector thats connected to the battery, the save light lights up then moves on to the charge light then on to the green test and maintain light. Should this glow solidly? I have had it connected for 24 hrs and it is still flashing, is this a problem or not?

Ta

 

Hi Steve, it could be an indication of: either a faulty/defunct battery or the battery charger has died.

My guess would be the battery is not holding the charge.

I had an Optimate 3 that died on me so I now have (via Tigcraft) an excellent Aldi intelligent charger that only cost about £13 and has various programs for bikes as well as bigger batteries from cars and other vehicles.

 

Cheers Dave,
It's definitely charging the battery. Would it be the alarm stopping it from reaching a constant full charge or even the tomtom rider dock? I shall unplug the latter. I am right in thinking that the green light should be constant at some point?

 

http://accumate.co.uk/Optimate 3 Instructions.pdf
My alarm doesn't stop mine from reaching a trickle charge state. The alarm is why I use one.
Mine the optimate 4, so not sure if that makes a difference.
At the top I put a link to the charger manual. It's easier to read than the booklet you get with it.

 

cheers, so it says the light should flash for the full 12 hrs, I can only assume its good then, doesnt say anything about a steady green light.

 

Hi Steve, I'm not at all pretending to know alot about Optimates, but I would have thought that it should, sooner or later, go steady green.

 

Cheers again! Took a reading shortly after charge and came out as 12.7 then 7 hrs later it's 12.58v. Alarm not fully armed

 

That suggests to me the fattery is bucked !!!

 

http://accumate.co.uk/Optimate 4 Instructions.pdf

if battery had gone flat I always used to disconnect and charge direct as you are also powering alarm / usb devices too..... once charged 24hrs plus you should be ok..

 

Optimate all the way!