If laying the bike up for the winter period, should the battery be connected to the Optimate permanently or charged every couple of weeks for a few hours
I leave mine permanently plugged in. But, occasionally flick the ignition on for a few seconds so it can work at putting power back into the battery. I think that's what your supposed to do, save the battery getting a memory or something?
My garage is integral and has the boiler in it so you could say it's heated as there is zero condensation. I have an optimate and I have used them before. Since I have been in this house I have just brimmed the tank, give it a wash and dry, covered it over, then just moved it every couple of weeks to prevent tyre problems (paddock stands are better). And come March it's always fired up no problem. I don't have an alarm on my blade.
I spoke to the guys who make the Optimate once after I dropped mine and it started making an unpleasant buzz. Belgium, I think it was. Anyway, they seemed really attentive and wanted to replace it until I finally convinced them it wasn't a warranty or quality issue, just me being a twat. The tech they threw at me (in better English than mine, I might add) was way beyond my level of understanding, but they dumbed it down to the process on the '4' model being that of a massage. Gentle, then a rest, deep muscle, then a rest, testing period, then back to start, taking feedback readings all the time. So it mimics in the workshop as close to a day to day running cycle as it can. Mine tends to be plugged in all the time. I get a bit fractious about it if we go away but I'm having integral RCDs and crap put in now to apease the HSE nonsense, so we'll see if I can resist pulling the plug next time. The only trouble I ever have with starting if the bike's been left for more than a couple of weeks is with the alarm fobs. They don't work at all unless I trigger the alarm (annoying), then they work fine.
I've had an optimate since i got my bike over 2yrs ago and should have it plugged in all the time but no power in garage and I've been lazy and luckily no battery issues at all so never got round to sorting it. But if I could I would have it plugged in all the time when not riding it obviously
Leave mine plugged in all winter and when I'm not using it daily in the summer,keeps the battery conditioned.
I just plug it in very gold weather for a day or two. Never had any probs. Just run the bike every two weeks, up and down the drive.
Also leave mine on constantly when the bike is not being used. Only one question - if the Optimate looses its mains supply (due to a power cut, for example) whilst connected to the bike battery, could the battery discharge back through the Optimate and flatten its self?
it could I guess if it was off for weeks....... how long does your battery last generally when stored away....... just plug it in and forget about it..... the optimate cycles through a number of tests in which charging and partial discharge takes place.......providing its plugged in !! lol
Last few winters I've had mine on the optimate on a timer plug. Approx 2/3 hours a week in an integral garage with zero condensation and it always starts first time in the spring. I've got a mate who had a ZX6R who left it in a wooden garage for the full winter then come March took the battery out ,I charged it for maybe 8 hours and it fired up first time. Optimates are brilliant.
There should be reverse protection to stop the charger draining the battery, however I know the lights on my Oxford one light up even when the charger is off and so I would expect that the charger could drain the battery if it was left connected and switched off.
