i ran a multi cigar lighter from the Optimate tail and from that i ran a GPS and a phone charger ( also charger for go pro tho did not yet connect ), today after just over an hours run and a 3 hour park up the bike would not start due to a low battery, showing 12.3,, jumped it easy and drove one hour home with no probs and battery reading 13.7 , and all electrics disconnected from Optimate tail , but it then packed up at low revs on a round about, battery now showing 12.3, did start again after sitting for ten minutes but still showing 12.3.. got home and parked up,, still showing 12.3 when turned off,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Q,, is it possible to run extra out put from lead direct from battery ( optimate tail ) ,, how do others run / power the gps, phone charger etc.. ?
Is the battery on it's last legs and the GPS and phone charger coincidentally just helped to push it over the edge ? It sounds like it isn't taking / holding a charge ?
Your GPS, phone charger and Gopro charger all together will take so little power that they are not worth worrying about, your tail light bulb will take more. I would suggest that the battery or regulator is knackered. When the bike is running the battery does nothing as the alternator provides all the power for everything plus more to charge the battery. The battery is only there to start the bike. The battery will either not hold the charge due to age, or will not get the charge topped up due to the regulator not charging it.
Thanks for replies biys ,,,,,,, i should have included that it was a new battery 4 weeks ago ,,,,,,,,,on rhe optimate all night but still only 12.3 this morn , however started no prob , taken to work with me ( short half mile trip ) and showing 13.7 when running ....will see what happens at lunch time .
I wouldn't say 12.3 volts is low. The battery might have a duff cell though so once loaded, ie being started, it may not have the current to turn the motor over. Usually this shows by seeing the voltage drop to 10 volts or less when cranking.
Ok , update , ( thanks for replies ). Noe been sitting at work for 3 hours ( no optimate , no extra electrics , tail still connected to battery but cigar lighter not connected to it ) , dash showing batt at 12.3 , bike fires up no prob ( did not fall to 10 on crank ) and immed shot up to reading of 13.7 ......wtf !!!! ( Oh my memory ) i think battery used to read 13.7 when the engine tu rned off
13.7 will be from the alternator. Unless the 12v socket stays live when the engines off I can't think what wouldn't caused the problem. All auxillary devices plugged in like this need turning off to save a battery drain. Had the same trouble with heated grips in the past.
Even if the 12v socket stays live with ignition off it will make no difference, electricity cannot leak out of it. If something is plugged in such as all three of your devices then they will discharge the battery, but would take many days to do so.
Can someone with a 749 ( or knowledge of ) confirm what the battery should read with engine off , uis it 12.2 or 13.7 ........... Mine is now sitting staedy all day at 12.3 and starting running fine
Well, I don't want to be pointing out the obvious, but it'll be a 12 volt battery. Most when fully charged hold around 12.5V. The higher reading you get when running is from the alternator.
