Folks, I’ve got the new Ducati optimate charger below: https://ducatistore.co.uk/shop/ducati-battery-charger-tecmate-69928471ay.html I’ve wired it into the battery, but the cable isn’t long enough, as I’d like to run it out of the left side of the bike and tuck it away when not in use, without having to take the seat off every time. The dealer routed it out the back, near the rear shock, but I want to also use an SAE adaptor cable so I can use my heated gear all with one connection to the battery. Having it on the left side of the bike is ideal, as I can plug and unplug easily. Has anyone used this cable permanently under the seat, as it seems like the only option? https://www.optimate.co.uk/products/o33-extension I’d prefer a longer cable directly from the battery, but Optimate don’t do longer lengths than standard.
That’s an option, but the end is quite big. Ideally just the same as stock but about 1 metre lomg would be ideal. Edit - just seen that this is on all the time, so a parasitic drain on the battery.
I cut and shut mine with a length of cable from another adapter cable, I soldered and shrink wrapped the joints. Connector now comes out the left side of the bike just above the clutch slave cylinder.
I’ve got the Ducati charger (doesn’t look the same as yours though) and I use the maintenance/service port (?) under the seat. It’s the larger rectangular plug and connects to the CAN-bus. I put it on trickle over the Winter when my tracker tells me the better is low.
Not very often, but I’ll be using my heated gear all through the winter, so would prefer to have just one connection to the battery, with the other end near the front of the riders seat. Poking the other end through the frame will be nice and discreet, plus I can tuck it all away in the summer.
You don’t need an Optimate branded cable, look on Amazon and pick out a longer SAE battery tender cable. I’ve seen them up to 68cm which should be plenty long enough. Andy
Yeah, could do, but I’d like it to come out of the lower half of the frame. Nice and discreet, so I can tuck it away in the summer months, but a snip of the cable tie in the winter, and it’s there ready. I’m hoping that there’s no issues permanently using an Optimate extension lead on the bike???
No issues whatsoever with an SAE pig tail on any bike. in fact, my dealer installs them on each bike sold as part of the PDI. We need them in Canada for winter storage amongst other things like heated gear. While in the garage, I was thinking about you and possible solutions. Having removed the rear brackets does limit your choices but it's not impossible. The obvious would be to leave it tucked-in under the seat in the summer and having it stick out from under the seat in the winter. Aesthetically not great but it would work. A cleaner solution would be to fasten the end of the SAE cable to the plastic covering the sub-frame under the seat. Why not re-install the rear foot-pegs? They also serve to hold the panniers.
That will work. You can get longer a pig-tail SAE. They’re available everywhere. Just make sure it's fused to handle the higher amperage of any heated gear you may want to use.
What are the advantages of the Ducati charger over say an Optimate? I need to buy a trickle charger, is this one the bestest?
The battery maintainer market moves at a pace, the NOCO Genius 2 was the flavour of the month 3 or 4 months ago. I have 4 NOCOs on the go at home, 2 on AGM lead acid chemistry batteries and 2 on Lithium chemistry batteries and I’m a fan. Small, discreet and relatively inexpensive. Plug in and leave. Andy
