Hi all. Has anyone else suffered this? I've had my Optimate for a number of years now and I'm fairly sure I had it when I owned a 748. Since owning the 848 the Optimate never stops displaying the 'charging' light. It never goes to the 'Good' or 'Bad' battery indicators. I've checked the lead to the battery is well connected. I'm just wondering if my Optimate is on the way out as I'm off to the NEC at the end of the week and may be able to pick one up a little cheaper (not sure if 'I' believe that!)
Sounds to me like the optimate is fecked. I've got the III and though it starts on orange when I plug it in it soon becomes green when it gets to fully charged.
Before you consign it to the bin, give the connectors a good clean. Mine suffered from this and it was caused by verdi gris on the connectors.
Mine does the same.only started using it last couple weeks as never had power in last garage.but stays on orange charging all the time.wasn't sure if it was just trickle charging all the time compensating for natural discharge .
Thanks guys. Overall there's a possibility the connectors just need a clean but the majority seem to think the charger is past it's best. I'll give the connectors a clean and see if that cures it before Friday. Watch this space...
Get a Ctek CTEK chargers - the smartest battery chargers in the world! For cars, boats golf carts and other 6, 12 and 24v vehicles.
Tried cleaning the connectors, no difference unfortunately. So, which CTEK/Datatool model and why do you like them over Optimates?
I have seven optimate 4s never had a problem with them one is on my 848 no problem since mid 08, same batt no issues.
DATATOOL - 100% Motorcycle Alarms, Locks and Chains, Stolen Bike Tracking, Bike Accessories used one for a few years without a problem
Well it looks like the Optimate is up the chute. I took it round to my brother's and plugged his bike onto it. We had just taken his bike off his own Optimate. Spoke to him 2-3 hours after plugging it in and it's still showing the amber charge light - defunct! Having had a look around those CTEK chargers look a good bit of kit for the money. I'll have a browse at the NEC but I think I'll end up order a CTEK online in the end. Thanks for the input guys.
I think mine is a CTEK 7000 (or 700 or something like that). It's been faultless so far. I've gone through a couple of Optimates in the last few years....don't know what I do to them?
my opimate 3 failed, was the plug in connector on the wires, cut out and joined, all ok : ) , brought another cheapy trickly charger for my other bike from aldi, 12 quid, just as pleased with that, kev
Make sure you get a charger that is appropriate for bikes otherwise your battery can get overdone and the plates may buckle. Ken's CTEK is a good charger for a car or a commercial vehicle but it is designed for much bigger batteries than a 10-12Ah bike battery. It will work but will stick far too many amps into the battery if the battery is in a low state of charge. If you have the standard AGM battery you need a charger that is designed for small batteries up to 20Ah with a bulk charging current of around 1A.
Thanks all. As suspected at the show it was either Oximiser or Optimate. I didn't look too closely but there were no obvious bargains either. I've now ordered a CTEK XS 0.8 which covers batteries from 1.2 - 32Ah. Reading up on them, they sound more advanced than the usual suspects, Optimate etc., but without the 'brand' name to increase the price. Any problems with it I'll let you know! :biggrin:
