Having bought the Optimate that will do SLA, AGM and LIFEPO4 batteries you don’t need to overly concern yourself about which type of battery you have. As @edtxw01 said, “two green lights is what you need”. I have very recently bought the same model Optimate as I have two roadworthy machines at the moment. I had devised a method of using just one Optimate to service the two machines using a DP/DT mains relay and a couple of cheap 7 day mains plug-in timers but in the end bit the bullet and reluctantly purchased the new Optimate. Part of my research for my 2 bikes/1 charger design involved speaking to the guys at Optimate and discovered that having unplugged the device from one machine you ideally need to give it a break, 30 minutes was suggested, for the device to reset itself. Otherwise immediately plugging it into another machine could well see the device resuming the diagnostic/charging process it was undertaking on the first machine, not knowing that it was now dealing with a totally different machine. The guys at Optimate were most helpful.
I have a couple of Optimate 4 CanBus editions which I have been using on two BMW bikes. Just acquired a 2020 Tiger 900 Rally and when I plug the charger into the DIN socket under the seat, the charger doesn't seem to trigger the CanBus to connect the charging port to the battery. Is this a situation where I need to shut off the Optimate and let it sit before connecting it to the bike? Will the Optimate typically activate the CanBus? If I turn on the key, the Optimate recognizes that it is connected and functions as it should. Thanks!
One of my Optimates is a model 4, dual program, bought very late 2018 (the latest model is a quad program) and I seem to remember that in the destructions it tells you how to trigger the CanBus function and I think you have to short it out. Two of the programs on the latest quad program model are for CanBus, but they specifically mention BMW. You need to identify which model variant you have and read the destructions. With regard to letting your Optimate have a rest, it's not as daft as it sounds. Before I bought my second Optimate for the Striple I had devised a way, using a mains single throw, twin pole relay and a couple of plugin programmable timeswitches that I could charge/maintain two bikes with one Optimate. Hardware cost of approximately £20. In putting the design together I contacted Optimate who were most helpful and they advised that the Optimate will need a rest of half and hour or so when moving it from one bike to another, otherwise it will carry on with the same function on the second bike as it was doing on the first bike.
Thanks for your help, Baza! My Optimate is correctly set to the CanBus program, so perhaps the interval before connecting it to a different bike is the element that I'm missing in order for it to successfully activate the charging port. It's easy enough to give it a try!
You could fit one if these SAE leads instead? I too have a B*W but have used this option for 10 years now without any problems. https://ebay.us/m/c7bY8U
Thanks for that link! Yes, I have the SAE connector lead, but since there is a DIN connector on the end of the lead from the Optimate and a DIN port on the bike, it seemed like a slam-dunk. On the BMW's, plug the Optimate into the DIN port and the charger sends a little burst of voltage to the bike, signalling it to activate the port. I'll use the SAE connector direct to the battery if I have to - using the DIN port would just be a lot more convenient!
I have a Ctek charger for my lead acid battery equipped bikes and a Noco Genius for the two that have Lithium batteries. I just switch them around every few days during wintertime, I've got adaptor leads on most of the bikes, so its a simple plug in and switch on, I've never tried running one charger on multiple bikes, I don't have the skill set to do so.
I have a Ctek which does me for all the bikes, well all except the dirt bike which can go months without being charged as it has zero current draw when not running but then it has no ECU clock, immobiliser or alarm etc which all sap the battery over time.
Have you found that using an Optimate in the non-CanBus mode will activate the DIN port and allow the charger to work or are you connecting the charger directly to the battery, i.e. not using the DIN port?
This will be my first winter with the CL500, and I'll run my Dr.Bike battery conditioner on occasional weekends (from J&S Accessories, it looks like a rebadged Oxford unit). The CL should be even less demanding than previous bikes - there is no immobiliser or alarm to draw power.....
I genuinely can’t remember on the Tiger as it was quite some time ago. I think it was the din port, though. On my Bonnie I connect it direct to the battery.
As an alternative to the fused SAE battery lead suggested by @littleade you might have a look at this.
Post from Baza: In putting the design together I contacted Optimate who were most helpful and they advised that the Optimate will need a rest of half and hour or so when moving it from one bike to another, otherwise it will carry on with the same function on the second bike as it was doing on the first bike.[/QUOTE] Wow, Baza, I did not know that the Optimate needed to rest for a half hour or so to Reset. Ran into the that wall with my Triumph branded Optimate Duo 2A made 2023 on a flat battery. Inadvertently left the ignition key in my 2023 T120 Bonnie in the on position after my last ride (950 miles on the clock, I don't get out much). Next day, the sealed battery was flat - no juice. No worries, plugged in the Optimate to the Optimate harness on my bike and light #3 lit up red (charging). After a number of hours, the charge came up to 10 volts and then the unit threw light number 2 Red indicating a fault. Hmmm - what to do. Disconnected and re-connected a number of times with light #2 coming on red. Wouldn't go past 10 volts. OK, I'll play, let stand over night without charger, then re-connect next day and got same result. Dxmn! Now, for the crackpot idea. Figured software problem maybe; attached Optimate to a known good 12v battery with clips supplied with the unit and Optimate threw amber in light #3 and then went to green in light #4 quickly. Aha, unit must have reset! Re-attached unit to bike harness, light #3 went to amber immediately and then after a few hours to light #4 green; made it to 12 volts. To verify, detached and re-attached a few times and unit went from light #3 amber to light number 4 green quickly. Guess a flat battery is a challenge for the Optimate. Thanks to Baza for the info! Update: OK, I am not bashing the Optimate; I am no electron master and now that I understand the 'Turn the ignition switch off ploy' and understand the great technology of the Optimate - I am a happy camper with the Optimate; if I had to, I would buy another.
