Battery Question

[DeuceBG]

Can anyone suggest why Mrs D's 55 plate XL1200R keeps coming up as "Desulphate" on the Optimate everytime we put it on charge after a ride out?
Usually it goes onto charge after half an hour or so but tonight it's been like it for over two hours.

Thanks
Deuce

[the_monster]

dirty / dodgy connector on the optimate or its a gel battery and the mk3 optimate then they don't do gel batteries

[Realbark]

If the battery had been partly recovered whilst still connected to the vehicle wiring, the battery’s resistance to accepting the normal charge program may already have reduced to the extent that the OptiMate circuit will not stay engaged in the desulfation mode. The desulfation mode is activated if the battery voltage rises above 14V (13,7V for the OptiMate IIISP) within a second following connection to the OptiMate, due to high battery resistance to charge. For the program to stay in the desulfation mode, the voltage has to remain above 14V (13,7V for the OptiMate IIISP) while only 200mA of current is provided by the OptiMate. If, following connection to the OptiMate, the battery does not meet these criteria, then it is highly unlikely that the battery is recoverable to a useable condition.

This is from the optimate FAQs (OptiMate Battery Optimiser, battery charger) = mine has been showing similar symptoms over the last week or so. The bike still starts fine on multiple start ups while riding but i may live to rue not getting a new one..................

[DeuceBG]

Cheers for the input guys.
Tis possible there is a faulty pin in the Optimate plugs because if someone even catches the wire whilst brushing past the bike in the garage, the slightest movement will cause the thing to go into Desulphate mode.
After I posted this thread, I checked it again and the light had moved from Desulphate to the other red light with the triangle, which is not good I guess.
However, I unplugged the unit and carefully reconnected it and it went to Test / Charge mode.

I'll just have to keep an eye on it eh!!

Deuce

[OrlandoMad]

'scuse my ignorance, but doesn't the battery get charged by the bike while you're on a ride out ? (like a car does) . . I haven't had to charge mine since I bought the bike 5 months ago . . but does that mean I'm going to have problems with it later :-(

[DeuceBG]

Originally Posted by OrlandoMad

'scuse my ignorance, but doesn't the battery get charged by the bike while you're on a ride out ? (like a car does) . . I haven't had to charge mine since I bought the bike 5 months ago . . but does that mean I'm going to have problems with it later :-(

You're right it does charge as you ride but the Optimate stops the battery being discharged by the immobiliser LED when not being ridden.
If you ride it regularly it's probably not a problem.
The LED on my old discovery for example would flatten a brand new battery in two weeks of standing idle.

Deuce

[OrlandoMad]

Thanks Gary . . I ride mine just about every day, so that will be OK. I already have a new battery in the cupboard ('cos the original is over 4 yrs old now) waiting to go in . . but the original battery seems in good condition still.

[Tibbs Art]

With a optimate, if I leave this on over the winter do I have to remove the round plugs on my battery to stop gassing/overheating?
I'm thinking of getting one as a trickle charge over the winter.

Cheers

Tibbs

[DeuceBG]

Originally Posted by Tibbs Art

With a optimate, if I leave this on over the winter do I have to remove the round plugs on my battery to stop gassing/overheating?
I'm thinking of getting one as a trickle charge over the winter.

Cheers

Tibbs

As far as I know Tony, it's just "Plug and play" with no other messing around at all apart from connecting the short lead to the battery.
I've never done anything else other than plug the bikes in at the end of each trip.
The purpose of the Optimate is to trickle charge and condition the battery so it shouldn't cause overheating or any other problems.

[Tibbs Art]

Thanks Garry,
I think I better get me one then.

Cheers

Tibbs

Originally Posted by DeuceBG

As far as I know Tony, it's just "Plug and play" with no other messing around at all apart from connecting the short lead to the battery.
I've never done anything else other than plug the bikes in at the end of each trip.
The purpose of the Optimate is to trickle charge and condition the battery so it shouldn't cause overheating or any other problems.