Author Topic: Optimiser which one. (Read 4364 times)

pawl · « **on:** August 13, 2017, 16:19:39 »

Looking to get an optimiser . But which one ? Help !!
Regards Pawl .

Stonec0ld · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2017, 17:38:17 »

I use the Oxford solariser or whatever it's called as my bike lives outside. Slots into the pocket on the cover and seems to work well.

Paz324 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2017, 19:41:53 »

I use an optimate 4, but I'd resist the temptation to leave any charger connected for a long period of time to avoid ruining a good battery.

I understand when your bike won't start it's inconvenient but charging your battery when necessary is far safer than allowing an optimiser to boil your battery dry over winter.

AlanT · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2017, 19:58:41 »

I thought the point of the optimiser was to leave it connected so as monitor the battery condition and only apply charge as and when necessary, in order to maintain the battery in a good state and prevent deep discharge.

Ianmc · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2017, 20:01:28 »

Don't buy an expensive charger,just buy a small charger and a plug in timer and charge the battery for 30mins.a day.It's worked for me for years.

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2017, 20:54:30 »

Optimate say you can leave it plugged in as it goes into maintenance mode...

I was told by two mechanics you can/should use a car charger once in a blue moon for about 15 minutes to boost the charge

old git · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2017, 21:12:45 »

I've got 2 Optimate 4's. My 2009 FJR is always connected when not being ridden and after 8 years and 52k miles the original battery is still as good as new. V-Strom will be constantly plugged in when I'm not using it much over the winter. Never heard of a correctly functioning Optimate ruining a battery.

SimonW · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2017, 22:08:27 »

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FC42HAA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ianmc · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2017, 23:11:31 »

Good write up on how the Opimizer works.

http://I.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDgwMA==/z/CKsAAOSwBLlVB0bY/$_57.JPG

Link doesn't seem to work

Relevant11 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2017, 03:44:55 »

I've an optimate 3 which is plugged in permanently to the Veek when not in use and a dr bike one plugged into the atv again pretty much all of the time no problems what so ever.

timangus · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2017, 08:01:58 »

I recently visited a private car collection and there were over 100 optimises permanently connected. I have used one for years without issue. These are conditioners so do not charge a fully charged battery.

Methusela · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2017, 11:26:39 »

Another Optimate 3 here. For the last 10 years I have kept my bikes (both Hondas & Suzuki) connected to an Optimate when not in regular use. My last bike, a Honda Pan European was 12 years old when I sold it and had done 72,000 miles. It was still on the original battery. My Veek has been treated the same since 2015.

hookie · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2017, 12:08:39 »

I have an Optimate 3 which I've had for about 16 years. It's plugged into the Vee as soon as it's back in the garage and left on 24/7. The Vee is now 10 years old and still on it's original battery which is showing no signs of deteriorating at all. Can't be bad.... I have heard reports about some of these charger/optimisers damaging batteries, but I'd recommend the Optimate without any reservations.

grumps · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2017, 14:23:09 »

Optimate 4 here but only cos I need the Canbus program for my Beemer.

I thought the whole point of Optimates was to tend the battery over long periods of time so I have my bike plugged in most times.

Mudster · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2017, 15:18:32 »

Got an optimiser 3 and it's done just fine. I have 2 bikes in the garage and I give it a week on each to keep both batteries topped up.

Jeff in Wales · « **Reply #15 on:** August 14, 2017, 18:14:45 »

Might be of interest:

A video by The Missenden Flyer.

Loz · « **Reply #16 on:** August 15, 2017, 08:24:32 »

I have 2 Optimate 3's and a Datatool version (looks very similar to Optimate).
Once I have ridden one of the bikes I tend to plug whichever chargers closest in to the bike about a week later.
They normally remain plugged in unless I happen to move one of the bikes and forget to plug it back in.

philthunder · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2017, 10:07:01 »

Sorting some old wives tales.
For a start Optimate is a make of intelligent charger!
In a modern intelligent charger, the bulk stage in a 12 volt charger involves about 80% of the recharge, where the charger current is held constant (in a constant current charger), and voltage increases. The target voltage for a 12 volt charger for AGM Gel or some flooded batteries (old style top up type) is 2.4 to 2.45 volts per cell, which is 14.4 to 14.7 volts.
The modern regulated chargers then go to the float stage.
The float stage is where the charge voltage is reduced to around 2.25 volts per cell, which is around 13.5 VDC and held constant, while the current is reduced to less than 1% of battery capacity. This mode can be used to maintain a fully charged battery indefinitely. Some chargers shut off instead of maintaining a float voltage, and monitor the battery, initiating a charge cycle if necessary.
Now the old style of fixed voltage BATTERY CHARGER would start to BOIL the acid once the battery was at full charge, the intelligent charger is just that “intelligent”. It knows when the battery is charged and will hold at that charge without undue over charging.
If the battery is allowed to drop below 12v Permanent sulfation sets in if the battery has been in a low state-of-charge for weeks or months. At this stage, no form of restoration seems possible; however, the recovery yield is not fully understood. New lead acid batteries can often be fully restored after dwelling in a low-voltage condition for many weeks.
Intelligent chargers can also have a desulfation charge. This will try to recover a sulphated battery by putting a pulsed higher voltage into the battery, this type of charge should always be applied with the battery disconnected from the bike wiring as the higher voltage can possibly fry CANBUS equipped electrics. Not that Suzuki has dabbled much in that field.
Chargers by CTEC, Oxford, Optimate, Acumate, Saito are all good quality. Expect to pay £30-£50. The more expensive ones will do more than just motorcycle batteries and some will do Lithium as well. Auto Express product reviews has put the CTEC at #1 in several tests. Worth knowing it meets all expectations, if a cheap one stuffs a battery it can be an expensive mistake.
Starting your bike to charge it is also not recommended, just starting it needs a 20 min ride to replace the current drawn starting, not always possible in the midst of winter.

hotbulb · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2017, 10:51:09 »

Useful info ... Thanks PhilTh.
For what it's worth, I have an Optimate 3 (Plus, I think). Used only rarely as I use the bike regularly; the original battery in the Transalp lasted 11 years, though, so presumably I'm doing something right

Freddyfruitbat · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2017, 11:26:47 »

I have an Aldi "Auto XS" charger (not currently available at Aldi, but this is the model). It has a 'motorcycle mode' and seems to work effectively for bike and car when I use it for occasional 'top-ups'. I don't know a lot about batteries but as far as I can tell this is not a unit which should be left connected continuously, is that right?