Battery issues ?

Dog Tyred · Post by **Dog Tyred** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:06 am

This may qualify me for 'Chump of the Year' Award but here goes anyway.

I recently changed my battery for one of those nice gell ones from Mr Winger.

As I don't use my bike through the winter and it is alarmed, I connected my Optimate 3 and left it snuggled up in the garage. All going well, with green lights all the way....until Saturday when I noticed the condition light had changed from green to red, indicating a weak battery?

Someone has suggested that I have 'fried' the battery by leaving the optimate switched on permenently. I thought the whole idea of an Optimate is so you can leave it switched on so it keeps the battery in prime condition. Am I wrong ??

winger · Post by **winger** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:19 am

Right then!!! It's a quirk of the Optimate don't ask me why i haven't a clue,i've 4 Optimates and they all do it,just unplug it count 5 and plug it back in again and the green light or the orange one will come back on,i've another make made in Norway!! supplied by my battery man it works perfect all the time!!!

JoeC · Post by **JoeC** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:20 am

I get the red light come on occasionally but this is normally when I have disturbed the connections. Have a go at reseating all of the connections from the battery to the wall socket and keep an eye on things.

You are correct in that Optimate's etc 'condition' the battery so as not to fry it.

Boxered · Post by **Boxered** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:41 am

They all do that sir! as Winger says, just turn it off at the wall for a minute, and when you turn it back on, it will usually go to amber for a few minutes and then back to green. My bikes have always been permanantly connected to the optimate when I'm not riding it, and I've never yet had to buy a battery!

Steve

Dog Tyred · Post by **Dog Tyred** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:50 am

Thanks for the quick responses chaps. Doesn't sound as bad as I first thought.

I have already tried switching it off at the wall for a day or so but it still goes back to red once the charging sequence is complete.

I'll try disconnecting the charger from the battery itself tonight and will let you know happens next.

Don't miss the next exciting episode....

JoeC · Post by **JoeC** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:53 pm

Had my Fazer 600S for just over 7 years and still on the original battery. Been using the original type of Optimate on it but now sharing the charger between Fazer, 11S and a CARAVAN leisure battery.

winger · Post by **winger** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:48 pm

My Tiger is 7 years old next may and is still on the original battery as well.

iandunn1100ss · Post by **iandunn1100ss** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:24 pm

i have 6 optimates and they all have done the red light thing at some time,my rsv did 7 years on the oe battery.just watch the acid level if you have one of those batterys as it does drip over time.
ian

YouTube · Post by **Paul** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:06 pm

winger wrote:My Tiger is 7 years old next may and is still on the original battery as well.

There's a fella on this site who can get a cheap replacement battery for you, if you need one

(I've got my coat already...)

Paul

Dog Tyred · Post by **Dog Tyred** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:40 pm

Unplugged the Optimate from the battery for few seconds, re-connect and after charging for few mins hey presto! we have good battery again.

Cheers for the advice chaps. I knew I could count on you

winger · Post by **winger** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:26 am

Paul wrote:
winger wrote:My Tiger is 7 years old next may and is still on the original battery as well.
There's a fella on this site who can get a cheap replacement battery for you, if you need one

(I've got my coat already...)

Paul

I wish it were true!!! but i can't get a YB14 in orange