Charging

[Urban Surfer]

I have a 2010 GT, and the bike came equipped with a pigtail connected to the battery. The manual explains not to charge the battery with a trickle charger unless it is disconnected or it may damage the electronics.

The charger I have puts out 750 MA (battery tender junior)

Should I just plug in or take the battery out?

I will replace it soon with a lithium battery, about a 1/5 of the weight.

[dirtrider]

Afternoon Urban Surfer

 

It's not about the amps but more about maximum volts.

 

You can use that battery direct pig tail to charge the battery on the BMW, in fact a LOT of us do that & have done that for years without any damage.

 

You just have to MAKE SURE your battery charger doesn't have a high voltage desulfation cycle & NEVER outputs more than 14.4 volts.

 

If more than 14.4 volts output then you should disconnect the battery first before connecting the charger.

 

[Urban Surfer]

Thanks Dirt Rider. You are always there to help.

If ever you are on the west coast here look me up and I shall certainly look after you.

[DiggerJim]

I use a Battery Tender Jr myself. Have for the last 10ish years. Never a problem. (I use an Odyssey PC680 not the BMW OEM battery though. The BMW one got traded out 3 yrs in on the current bike.) I usually have it plugged in all winter because it can get wicked cold in my garage & it doesn't seem to be a problem at all. Others suggest that you only need to plug it in once a month during the winter (and others say no need at all).

[kgerry]

during the winter i plug in my Optimate about every 2-3 weeks for 1 day, then unplug it again.....

[Guest Kakugo]

during the winter i plug in my Optimate about every 2-3 weeks for 1 day, then unplug it again.....

 

Know that we Optimate users have been excommunicated by BMW purists.

[philbytx]

I have BT's on both bikes and both cars 24/7/365. Been doing this for the past 15 years. Yup! I'm completely anal