Battery Optimizers

[tricol]

So now that the bike has it's own bedroom in the garage, would it be a good idea to get one of these? It was fine last winter when stored in the shed, started every time. Longest between rides was probably 4-5 weeks.

If yes, anyone got one they can recommend?

Thanks.

[Skub]

You'll get mixed opinion on this one.

I've used various models of Optimate for many years,but never any of the other brands,so I can't speak for them.

I use them as a battery manager,so every time I park the bike in the garage,I plug it in,regardless of season.I really don't remember the last time I bought a battery for any bike. My ZX10R was 16 years old and still on the original battery.

I think Optimates are great.

[porter_jamie]

had an optimate and a ctek one both seems to work very well

[cheb]

I've an Optimate and it works for me. The worst thing about it, and what I'd be checking in a replacement, is the cheapness and inflexibility of the wires to and from it. It's more cable than flex, and very annoying because of it.

[ChrisW]

I bought an own-brand Halfords smart charger the winter before last which is actually excellent, especially for the money. Came complete with clamps or SAE plug.

Just had a look and the 1a model is only £25.

[mangocrazy]

I've used Optimates and Accumates, and both have been excellent. I'm not keen on keeping batteries on charge 24/7 even if it is only a trickle charge, so I use a 7 day timer to charge them up for a couple of hours a week.

[tricol]

Thanks everyone. Will have a look at Halfords, I had one years ago when my scooter batteries always died over winter, but those weren't optimizers.

[Count Steer]

I've used Optimates and Accumates, and both have been excellent. I'm not keen on keeping batteries on charge 24/7 even if it is only a trickle charge, so I use a 7 day timer to charge them up for a couple of hours a week.

Doesn't that rather defeat the main benefit of an Optimate rather than a standard battery charger? I thought they were clever things that cycled the battery ie put a load on then recharged. Dunno, I may have imagined that, but I thought that's what they do.

[Dodgy69]

Something like this will do the job nicely. Don't need to pay silly money.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorc ... rod/474644

[weeksy]

NOCO genius for me.

[mangocrazy]

I've used Optimates and Accumates, and both have been excellent. I'm not keen on keeping batteries on charge 24/7 even if it is only a trickle charge, so I use a 7 day timer to charge them up for a couple of hours a week.

Doesn't that rather defeat the main benefit of an Optimate rather than a standard battery charger? I thought they were clever things that cycled the battery ie put a load on then recharged. Dunno, I may have imagined that, but I thought that's what they do.

I wasn't aware of optimisers being able to apply a load but maybe they can. They can certainly monitor the battery's health and apply corrective action if needed. My (minor) concern is that 99% of the time the battery will be on float/trickle charge and I'm not entirely sure that's good for the battery. Giving it a burst of charge for a couple of hours a week is enough to keep it topped without it being on permanent (albeit very light) charge.

That's just purely my view and I may very well be wrong...

[Skub]

I've used Optimates and Accumates, and both have been excellent. I'm not keen on keeping batteries on charge 24/7 even if it is only a trickle charge, so I use a 7 day timer to charge them up for a couple of hours a week.

Doesn't that rather defeat the main benefit of an Optimate rather than a standard battery charger? I thought they were clever things that cycled the battery ie put a load on then recharged. Dunno, I may have imagined that, but I thought that's what they do.

I wasn't aware of optimisers being able to apply a load but maybe they can. They can certainly monitor the battery's health and apply corrective action if needed. My (minor) concern is that 99% of the time the battery will be on float/trickle charge and I'm not entirely sure that's good for the battery. Giving it a burst of charge for a couple of hours a week is enough to keep it topped without it being on permanent (albeit very light) charge.

That's just purely my view and I may very well be wrong...

I think the newer Optimates simulate the drain and charge conditions a battery would normally encounter in regular use,rather than just hitting it up with a charge.

[dern]

NOCO genius for me.

NOCO genius are awesome. I have a 4 way one in the garage and it's superb. I also have a single one that works for bikes and the cars/vans. I've also got one of their battery starter packs and it's an indispensable bit of kit, take it with me on any big trip.

Also have an old optimate and a ctek and they're both fine but if I want to recover a battery I'll stick it on the NOCO.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I've also got a NOCO genius, better than an Optimate, it properly charges AGM batteries and doesn't kill lithium batteries.

I've also got a NOCO boost starter thing, it's superb, it'll start pretty much anything short of a diesel tank.

[MrLongbeard]

I've used Optimates and Accumates, and both have been excellent. I'm not keen on keeping batteries on charge 24/7 even if it is only a trickle charge, so I use a 7 day timer to charge them up for a couple of hours a week.

Doesn't that rather defeat the main benefit of an Optimate rather than a standard battery charger? I thought they were clever things that cycled the battery ie put a load on then recharged. Dunno, I may have imagined that, but I thought that's what they do.

I wasn't aware of optimisers being able to apply a load but maybe they can. They can certainly monitor the battery's health and apply corrective action if needed. My (minor) concern is that 99% of the time the battery will be on float/trickle charge and I'm not entirely sure that's good for the battery. Giving it a burst of charge for a couple of hours a week is enough to keep it topped without it being on permanent (albeit very light) charge.

That's just purely my view and I may very well be wrong...

I do similar, charge for one week a month, let the battery go up and down on its own.
Although I fear the current battery is on its last legs, I'm not gonna bemoan a battery that's small enough to go in pocket and start a 1.9 twin, and will get replaced by a MotoBatt Hybrid next year.

[porter_jamie]

My Noco battery pack thing is an absolute beast. Used to start diesel boat engines and all sorts. There is a video of someone testing the smaller version in a scrap yard in Canada under feet of snow and it managed about 7 starts on one charge or something daft.

[porter_jamie]

Idaho, not Canada

[dern]

That’s the one we have I think. It kicks over our t5 van with a dead battery in the freezing cold for an instant start and still has loads of power left.

[wull]

I own three chargers, one of which I keep at work and two at home.

The Optimate ( can’t remember which one )
The Ctek mxs 5.0
Noco Genius 1

The Optimate is quite old now but works perfectly well, I’ve never had any issue with it, I’ve had the Ctek for roughly 5 years and that’s probably the best one I have used, I used it for a few years on my Evo, keeping the battery charged up over the winter and on my bikes and now it’s kept at work, it comes with various leads and you can add leads so it’s a quick connection with no need to remove the seat or anything. It has various settings for car, bike etc.

I purchased the Noco to use on the beemer and haven’t connected it up just yet, I’m just about to though, I’ve added the quick release connector so I don’t need to remove the seat. The Noco genius 1 is quite neat, literally the size of a plug and that has various settings including the ability to charge lithium batteries.

You can see the connector at the pillion peg. I had the same set up on the previous bike, I pretty much do this straight away when I get them then it means it’s just a quick connect up and that’s it.

[tricol]

Thanks all. The local Halfords has the Noco range in stock so will pick one of those up soon.