View Full Version : Battery Optimizer Using 12v?
Hey all,
Can anyone recommend an SV650S battery charger that can utilize a 12v socket on the bike to charge through? The socket is directly connected to the battery if that helps at all.
I used to have an accumen charger on my old CBR that had its own lead, but seeing as I already have the 12v sitting under my pillion seat I was hoping I could use that. The bike is also being left outside so I can't leave the seat off or anything.
Thanks for your suggestions in advance!
Biker Biggles
09-01-13, 03:56 PM
Any of the usual chargers will do that if you fit a plug to them that fits into your socket.Or have I misread the question?
yorkie_chris
09-01-13, 04:00 PM
Any of the usual chargers will do that if you fit a plug to them that fits into your socket.Or have I misread the question?
+1 any quick connect that can handle a couple of amps.
You can even get BFO quick disconnects big enough to jump start through.
I've got one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-Multi-Functional-4-Stage-Battery-Charger/dp/tech-data/B004TLF4PC/ref=de_a_smtd
http://www.ctek.com/int/en/chargers/MXS%203.6
I think this is what you're asking for.
I'd like to basically plug one end into a wall socket in the house and the other into the 12v (cigarette type socket) on the bike to charge it without having to go direct to the battery (although the 12v is directly wired to the battery). Does that make more sense lol :)
timwilky
09-01-13, 04:17 PM
so you need any standard charger. they all have a plug connector as well as crocodile clips
My advice, buy an optimate.
yorkie_chris
09-01-13, 04:19 PM
any standard charger. they all have a plug connector
No they don't.
No they don't.
I used to have an accumen charger as I mentioned above and this didn't have battery clips or a 12v connector. It used its own lead that connected to the battery and then I plugged the other end into the wall - so I agree that they don't all have them.
Could you recommend any that do?
If you've got the Acumen, get down to Maplin, buy
1) White socket that is the opposite gender to the one on the end of your acumen lead. They sell both gender for a couple of quid each they are called Tamiya connectors. <Link> (http://www.maplin.co.uk/tamiya-race-pack-connector-11455)
2) Cigarette socket plug. <Link> (http://www.maplin.co.uk/car-accessory-plugs-1054)
3) A short bit of wire about the same sort of size as the Acumen lead of an appropriate length.
Make up lead between white plug and Cigaretted plug ensuring +12v on pin and earth on side clips.
Plug new lead into cigarettes socket on bike, plug Accumen into the new white socket. Job jobbed.
Or you can just snip off the old end from the acumen and stick the cigarette plug on that but then you've got no other options.
optimate do a connector to plug directly into a cigarette socket. http://www.optimate.co.uk/tm72.htm
timwilky
09-01-13, 04:44 PM
No they don't.
God even the oxford piece of crap excuse for a non charger has a plug to enable flying lead or crocodile connections.
OK then just to please YC. Many bike specific chargers have the option of plugging to either a flying lead or crocodile clips.
This includes
Optimate
Ctek above
Oxford piece of **** oximiser
etc.
optimate do a connector to plug directly into a cigarette socket. http://www.optimate.co.uk/tm72.htm
And at only 3 times the price of making your own one to the length that suits :)
If you've got the Acumen, get down to Maplin, buy
1) White socket that is the opposite gender to the one on the end of your acumen lead. They sell both gender for a couple of quid each they are called Tamiya connectors. <Link> (http://www.maplin.co.uk/tamiya-race-pack-connector-11455)
2) Cigarette socket plug. <Link> (http://www.maplin.co.uk/car-accessory-plugs-1054)
3) A short bit of wire about the same sort of size as the Acumen lead of an appropriate length.
Make up lead between white plug and Cigaretted plug ensuring +12v on pin and earth on side clips.
Plug new lead into cigarettes socket on bike, plug Accumen into the new white socket. Job jobbed.
Or you can just snip off the old end from the acumen and stick the cigarette plug on that but then you've got no other options.
I don't have the accumen anymore as I sold it with the CBR. So I am looking for something that can pretty much fit my needs without modification (since I don't own any chargers now).
Best bet is to get a bike specific trickle charger (optimate, acumen) etc then buy or make the lead. Is not common to find a charger that comes with a cigarette plug on the end apart from weird Chinese mail-order ones. Just shop around for one on special then buy the lead Tomor recommended unless you fancy your chances with a soldering iron.
Or just use the lead that comes with it, hard-wire it to the battery and leave the connector accessible with all the seats on. I have mine sticking out so I can get to it easily and can also plug other things into it when I need things powered on a ride.
I have the Optimate 4 and connected the flylead to the battery and have the end under the pillion seat. Just have to pop it off and connect the charger. Have one fitted to the wife's ER6F and it's tucked under the side fairing, so don't even have to take the seat off.
Thanks guys, seems like the optimate 4 is the way to go. It does plug into the mains right as the one I'm looking at on amazon doesn't show the plug in the picture (silly question I know but worth checking!)
Yep normal mains plug on one end, optima the plug on the other.
cheapest opti 4 (http://www.jcmotors.com/p-20774-tecmate-optimate-4-weatherproof-desulting-battery-maintainer-charger.aspx?CurrencySetting=GBP#.UO2yB-S6ffI) i could find. Any reason you are going for the 4 over the 3+?
Ours was £47 from Orwell motorcycles so £38 isn't bad. Not really had to use it in anger but it's a great bit of kit to have.
cheapest opti 4 (http://www.jcmotors.com/p-20774-tecmate-optimate-4-weatherproof-desulting-battery-maintainer-charger.aspx?CurrencySetting=GBP#.UO2yB-S6ffI) i could find. Any reason you are going for the 4 over the 3+?
No reason, just might as well get the model up if it's there!
God even the oxford piece of crap excuse for a non charger has a plug to enable flying lead or crocodile connections.
OK then just to please YC. Many bike specific chargers have the option of plugging to either a flying lead or crocodile clips.
This includes
Optimate
Ctek above
Oxford piece of **** oximiser
etc.
i have an Oxford Oximiser since i loaned my Ctek out.
it has brought the same battery back from death (0 power and on the red light) twice. ok so it took a cppl days but it works lovely.
timwilky
09-01-13, 07:00 PM
i have an Oxford Oximiser since i loaned my Ctek out.
it has brought the same battery back from death (0 power and on the red light) twice. ok so it took a cppl days but it works lovely.
I have my opinions having been stupid enough to have bought two.
first one lasted about a year. you only find out id has failed when you need it. So stupidly bought a second. After a further year, lesson learned I bought an optimate.
Just ordered the optimate. Thanks for all your help!
I have my opinions having been stupid enough to have bought two.
first one lasted about a year. you only find out id has failed when you need it. So stupidly bought a second. After a further year, lesson learned I bought an optimate.
mine has been great. got it at a bike show for what i thought was a silly price of £20 when in fact it cost me nothing. i got a receipt and everything but to this date the money has never ever been taken from my account. scoooore :D
so if it breaks then no loss. the Ctek from Aldi i had (sorta still do) is much better.
Biker Biggles
09-01-13, 08:28 PM
I bought an Optimate in 1999.Still got it.Still working.Bargain.
Sir Trev
10-01-13, 08:43 AM
Have one fitted to the wife's ER6F and it's tucked under the side fairing, so don't even have to take the seat off.
This
My Optimate standard plug peeks out from under the seat so plugging in after a ride is simplicity itself. Good piece of kit which has lasted me for years.
Hey so I've got the optimate 4, changed it to can-bus mode and connected it all up (with the manufacturer lead) to the 12v cigarette socket on the bike. It has been flashing on the initial stage (detecting a signal) for about 20 minutes and I wondered how long it takes to detect? Thanks!
TicklinJock
26-01-13, 12:28 PM
Hey so I've got the optimate 4, changed it to can-bus mode and connected it all up (with the manufacturer lead) to the 12v cigarette socket on the bike. It has been flashing on the initial stage (detecting a signal) for about 20 minutes and I wondered how long it takes to detect? Thanks!
My 2005 pointy works with an Accumate and it doesn't have can-bus mode. Not sure if a 2008 uses can-bus, but if your cigarette socket isn't can-bus controlled it probably doesn't need to be in can-bus mode.
yorkie_chris
26-01-13, 12:58 PM
A can-bus fag lighter? Yewhat?
Pointy isn't that clever.
If your 12v is live permanently then just plug it in with whatever setting you'd connect it to the battery.
A can-bus fag lighter? Yewhat?
Pointy isn't that clever.
.
Bit of a waste .ItsCAN-bus equipped BMW's 12V accessory socket that use that mode
yorkie_chris
26-01-13, 02:02 PM
What's next bluetoothing your phone to spark you a cig up? lol
That's because BMW love making stuff complicated and ununf*ckable for no good reason.
So will the standard option work? I just read the instructions and it said to connect to a 12v socket it should be set to can-bus mode. The cig is directly connected to my bike battery if that helps?
Sid Squid
26-01-13, 06:08 PM
Your bike is NOT can-bus equipped. Put it to standard settings.
Your bike is NOT can-bus equipped. Put it to standard settings.
Unless you have bought a new BMW .
It's actually started working in can-bus mode unless its automatically swapped to standard. What is can-bus?
timwilky
27-01-13, 01:37 PM
can bus is intelligent devices wired in an electrical bus architecture.
So the devices themselves are told what to do, such as turn on lights, turn on fuel pump etc. Makes for easier diagnostics for failure/status of valves etc.
Adds considerable to cost to build, but reduces cost of ownership as hook up to a simple diagnostic unit and you know what the faults are.
yorkie_chris
27-01-13, 04:21 PM
Adds considerable to cost to build, but reduces cost of ownership as hook up to a simple diagnostic unit and you know what the faults are.
Sometihng is broken... trace (specific) wire... fix thing.
Something is broken, take to dealer specific tool, pay lots of money to replace 5p part.
Clever kit but IMO they've got no place on bikes.
Controled Area Network
Saves on loom cost.
Has 2 thin conductors that pass data to &from the control units and actuators.
Ok thanks for explaining it to me. So any idea if it's switched to standard or is the optimate somehow working now anyway? Or should I switch it to standard myself and keep it plugged into to 12v?
Quiff Wichard
01-02-13, 04:19 PM
Interesting thread
Would this direct connection of an optimate via an already existing cig lighter socket charge the battery if my cig socket is wired through a switch live ?
Yes..I am thick
I have changed the mode to standard as suggested and it's been sitting in turbo recovery for about an hour. I am pretty sure the battery isn't in a badly neglected state and the bike started up fine a week ago (haven't tried it today). The instructions say it can't engage in turbo recovery if the battery is still connected to the vehicle wiring... So I'm a bit confused here? I'll check again in 45 minutes which will then be the 2 hours maximum that it states in the instructions...
Ok so I've had LEDs 7 and 6 come on (test LEDs) which apparently indicates a problem. I may need need to connect the optimate directly to the battery to see if this makes a difference. But how do you disconnect a battery without the alarm going off?
Allarm,Read its instructions.
Not all have the same way to pop it into service mode.
If its not got a battery back up you dont have to worry anyway
Allarm,Read its instructions.
Not all have the same way to pop it into service mode.
If its not got a battery back up you dont have to worry anyway
I think it does have a pack and its a datatool. Whenever ive disconnected before it always goes off. Unfortunately the bike and the manual are at locations 70 miles apart so I cant check the manual. I think I know how to get it into service mode though so I'll give that a go and see what happens :)
The bike is still starting this morning though, despite the optimate saying it has a serious issue. I'll still try charging it once removed from the bike however just to see if there is a problem with the battery. It is coming up to 5 years old.
Google it ;)
http://www.datatool.co.uk/consumer/support/faq.php?prod=system3http://
Its cool, ive managed to service mode it, the battery went into standard recovery (not turbo) with the optimate connected directly to it outside the bike. So i dont think it works through the cigarette socket in standard mode. I have now wired the default lead that comes with the optimate and I will try that this evening.
Will post my findings later. I appreciate all the help :)
The alarm can affect the charging mode.
I'm like most not a fan of them (alarms). but have one on the 'prilia , just to keep insurance man happy .
I'd like to leave the alarm connected at the moment due to where the bike is. Now that the battery is back to fully charged hopefully it will be OK through the lead.
Chain it to somthing solid.
I know but I haven't got that option at the mo as I have to leave it with my grandparents. On the plus side the charger is now working as intended so all is well!
Well you can get bolt down ground ancors.Look in the screwfix catalougue :)
Well you can get bolt down ground ancors.Look in the screwfix catalougue :)
Yeah I used to have one where I used to live but my grandparents wont let me do that at their house lol
Just as a side note to this thread, can the battery be charged ok in place? I know some chargers say its best to remove it from the bike. Reason I ask is I have done lots of short hops on the bike today, riding a couple of miles between starting. It was fine until leaving town as the bike went to fire then the lcd went dead and after turning off the ignition and restarting it was fine. I assume the battery is low from all the starting and having being unused since December. I thought a spell on the charger would sort it out.
If you have a suitable charger yes.
12 volt gel appability
Some cheap ones have poor rectifiers that can produceVoltage ripple that the back up circuit on the ECM can get upset with.
Dedicated Optimizers charge and keep voltages up,Though I don't agree with fit and forget practice.
I've got an Optimate four, bike had been sat for two months but started fine the first couple of times. Guess all the stop start today has drained it a bit.
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