Battery charger/conditioner

pibbow

pibbow

Member
Know that I have a bike with one of those new fangled alarm things, I need a battery charger to keep everthing tiptop. Which one would you recommend?
 
Just bought an Optimate on Saturday. Only does 12V but told it was the best if you wanted to recover sulphated batteries etc. You can hard wire to the bike or just use crocodile clips. Still reading the instructions (scary...a man reading instructions!) so bit early to say if good or not. Will tell you in next 48 hours.
 
I've had the same Optimate for the last six years. I've had two bikes during that time and the Optimate's kept their batteries in top shape.

I'd recommend the hard wiring rather than messing about with croc clips.
 
Battery charger

Hi,
Optimate for me (five years) - hard wired connections. Ducati Glasgow have them in stock along with additional flying connections (hard wired) for the battery. If you have several bikes you only need one charger and then switch to different bikes once charged. Although there's no problem in leaving it connected I put my batteries on charge roughly once a week (Sunday normally). You could use the new DG website to place an order.

Geoff
PS You should have bought one the other week when I met you in DG.
 
Last edited:
I've used an optimate for years and can't fault it. Thers is a new model out and there are loads of old ones on fleabay. If you get two extra leads then you can use the same optimate for all three just swop it from one to the other once a week. I found here to be the cheapest for spare battery leads and extension leads, fleabay isn't always cheapest!

This looks a good buy!
 
Charger - purchase

Hi,
I generally like to support my local dealer even if, in some cases, costs me more money. Without them who could I trust to look after my bike and always with a friendly smile. If we only purchase bikes from the dealers how do they support other staff e.g parts, clothing, accessories etc and stay in business.

Geoff
 
Geoff said:
Hi,
I generally like to support my local dealer even if, in some cases, costs me more money. Without them who could I trust to look after my bike and always with a friendly smile. If we only purchase bikes from the dealers how do they support other staff e.g parts, clothing, accessories etc and stay in business.

Geoff
Click to expand...

I bought mine from local (only!) dealer. Automatically gave me a discount without asking. Got it immediately and no postage charges. If any problems I can take back and resolve on the spot. Probably could have saved a fiver but toffs are careless!:)
 
OPTIMATE also do a 12/6v switchable version.
http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.htm

Use the hard wiring kit & buy one for ech bike plus a spare.

Don't leave connected all the time as this WILL dry your battery out.

If the bike is to be left unattended/ you can't be arse doing it every couple of weeks; buy a cheapo 7 day plug timer from B&Q or similar and just set it to come one for one day a week.
 
By chance 5 minutes ago I bumped into someone who says Maplins sell the connectors if you want to make up extra hard wired connections if you have more than one bike/car etc.
 
Geoff said:
Hi,
I generally like to support my local dealer even if, in some cases, costs me more money. Without them who could I trust to look after my bike and always with a friendly smile. If we only purchase bikes from the dealers how do they support other staff e.g parts, clothing, accessories etc and stay in business.

Geoff
Click to expand...

Just expressing similar sentiments over on DSC. Profit margins are higher on parts (for them) so it all helps. Wages, rates, utilities, staff all cost them.
 
arj said:
If the bike is to be left unattended/ you can't be arse doing it every couple of weeks; buy a cheapo 7 day plug timer from B&Q or similar and just set it to come one for one day a week.
Click to expand...

Hi,
The only problem with this is you disconnect the charger from the mains but it's still connected to the battery. This results in non-defined load placed across the battery which will discharge the battery. If I remember the instruction manual for the optimate advices that you don't leave connected once the mains is removed from the charger.


Geoff
 
Geoff said:
Hi,
The only problem with this is you disconnect the charger from the mains but it's still connected to the battery. This results in non-defined load placed across the battery which will discharge the battery. If I remember the instruction manual for the optimate advices that you don't leave connected once the mains is removed from the charger.


Geoff
Click to expand...

Good point there Geoff.
Don't think it's a big drain, but worth measuring the current draw, so may be have to up the charge days.

I left my Senna ( only one with alarm fitted) & the Multi on last winter on one day a week and they seemed quite happy.

The previous year I left the Senna charger on all the time and when I checked the battery in spring after removing the fairing for a good clean the electrolyte level was 1/2way down the battery :eek:

With the others I just tend to put them on charge once a month.
 
I have had an optimate for 3 years had no probs at all
Have it hard wired to the bike
Plug it in after every time i have been out on it and my bike stays in the garage all winter plugged in:)
 
accumate has the best charging and recovery rate in a recent ride test. optimate came surprisingly low down the listings, but ive used both and would say their both good.
ive got an accumate brand new for £40 if thats any help
 
Hooked the Optimate onto a couple of long dead batteries off goodness knows what to see if miracles could be performed. First one read 4.2V beofre charging and after an hour it was reading 7.9V but red light suggests that may be as good as it gets. (Suspect a knackered cell) Other one was 7.2V and now 11.9V and that may be a bit more promising. Will check the readings tomorrow to see if they hold the charge. I hate throwing anything away if it can be saved. Even though I don't need it or will ever use it....:o
 
I've never used one of these optimate things. Since I removed the alarm from the 996 it started first time every time.

Yesterday i fired up the 749 for the first time in 3 or 4 weeks? fired first time, battery was showing 12.5 volts pre ignition and soon went up to 14+.

I know many people use them but why? or is it just if you have an alarm/weak battery you need them. Is the battery life jeapodised by not having having it on charge?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom