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Trickle charging

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 7:09 am
by bargood
I just purchased a 2013 R1200RT. This replaced my 1996 R1100RT. Since I only use the bike on weekends I keep the battery charged by using a Battery Tender. I plug it into the accessory port. On the old r1100 it worked great. On my 2013 r1200rt it starts to flash red after a short time which means it isn't charging. Any idea why? Wonder if anyone else had or has that problem. Thanks. 

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:25 am
by David.
Looks like CAN-bus was introduced in 2004, https://motorcycleinfo.co.uk/bmw-r1200g ... indexc97d/

Is the battery tender/charger CAN-bus compatible.

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:26 am
by PeteM
bargood wrote: I just purchased a 2013 R1200RT. This replaced my 1996 R1100RT. Since I only use the bike on weekends I keep the battery charged by using a Battery Tender. I plug it into the accessory port. On the old r1100 it worked great. On my 2013 r1200rt it starts to flash red after a short time which means it isn't charging. Any idea why? Wonder if anyone else had or has that problem. Thanks.

You need a specialist CAMBUS charger, lastest Optimates do this but older ones do not (although even the latest ones need to be set correctly),but I had problems with mine so ended up shelling out for a proper BMW one which works faultlessly

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:31 am
by David.
Which battery tender/charger have you got, can it be hardwired to the battery with an appropriate lead.

I use a 2004 Datatool charger via a lead bolted to the battery.

Image

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 12:11 pm
by Beagle
Either connect a trickle charger direct to the battery or get the canbus version and use the auxiliary socket.




Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 2:06 pm
by David.
Battery Charger thread, viewtopic.php?t=9

Accumate 6V/12V Battery Charger, https://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/accumate-6 ... gJ1pvD_BwE

BMW Motorrad Battery Charger (UK plug),  https://bmw.europe-moto.com/gb/motorcyc ... gInOvD_BwE

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:42 pm
by Frank123
BMW trickle charger is the best bit of kit to keep your bike battery fully charged all of the time especially during long winter and Covid19 lockdown days/weeks.

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 12:09 pm
by Beagle
Frank123 wrote: BMW trickle charger is the best bit of kit to keep your bike battery fully charged all of the time especially during long winter and Covid19 lockdown days/weeks.

Agree its brilliant, plug in the auxiliary socket and a warning sign on the Bike  cover reminding me its connected and you can forget it.


https://www.nippynormans.com/k1600gtgtlsportbaggerga/optimate-44-bmw-can-bus-goldline-dual-charger

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:44 pm
by NLC
I would recommend plugging a pigtail directly into the battery and using the charger in standard mode. Charging via CanBus for example via an Opitmate you are only using a fraction of the feature on the charger.

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:45 pm
by David.
Are BMW volts & amps really better than other makes.

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:47 pm
by PeteM
NLC wrote: I would recommend plugging a pigtail directly into the battery and using the charger in standard mode. Charging via CanBus for example via an Opitmate you are only using a fraction of the feature on the charger.

That's why I use a BMW charger, it talks to the bike and the two work together to keep the battery in the best possible condition.

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:19 pm
by simbo
PeteM wrote:
That's why I use a BMW charger, it talks to the bike and the two work together to keep the battery in the best possible condition.

😂😂

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:30 pm
by David.
Unless the battery has been neglected and is very flat (sulphated),  the Optimate 4 (dual CAN-bus version) should work just fine through the accessory socket.

This program is designed for charging, testing and long term maintenance of batteries mounted in vehicles fitted with CAN-bus.

Optimate 4, Instructions for use, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... ctions.pdf

Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:34 pm
by NLC
PeteM wrote:
That's why I use a BMW charger, it talks to the bike and the two work together to keep the battery in the best possible condition.
I’d rather take the money I saved and buy my mates a few rounds. BMW charges £68 for the special oil. At the end of the day it is oil. The “special” charger is BMW profiting from white labelling someone else’s product.


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Re: Trickle charging

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:36 pm
by NLC
David. wrote: Unless the battery has been neglected and is very flat (sulphated),  the Optimate 4 (dual CAN-bus version) should work just fine through the accessory socket.

This program is designed for charging, testing and long term maintenance of batteries mounted in vehicles fitted with CAN-bus.

Optimate 4, Instructions for use, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... ctions.pdf
David I have spoken to Optimate about this. Answer from them is to not use the Canbus. Many of the Optimate functions are disabled in the Canbus mode.


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