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Post by markhoopy on Jun 19, 2014 19:25:22 GMT 1
Thinking about buying an Optimate but wondered whether one unit could be connected to two bikes at the same time to monitor and keep both batteries topped up?
If they can do this is it just the newer models or all of them?
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Post by rich on Jun 19, 2014 19:33:22 GMT 1
Don't think you can on any of them. You need one Optimate per bike.
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Post by copper99 on Jun 19, 2014 20:45:50 GMT 1
This time of year, you hardly need to charge them , an hour or so, every other month. I bring my batteries indoors during the Winter months and charge them 2 or 3 times over Winter. Im not a fan of leaving anything plugged in for long periods of time, this was from the Busa forum im on, bike was left on a trickle charge..owner just about saved his house.
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Post by markhoopy on Jun 19, 2014 21:01:52 GMT 1
My 3MA went for the MOT today so I dug out the old certificate so that the extra couple of weeks it had to run could be added to the new one .. it has done just under 400 miles in the last year which obviously isn't enough to keep the battery healthy. Getting the battery off to charge it means dropping the fairing lowers so I thought an Optimate would be a good idea .. and yes I realize that more miles is a better solution
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Post by looey on Jun 19, 2014 21:12:14 GMT 1
Optimates are very very good, but like has been said, I wouldn't leave them connected for long periods. We have several bikes and I just connect them one at a time once a month and they keep fine. I can't be taking batteries off bikes all the time, as we use our bikes all year around. I know of several people who have left them connected over the winter to find the batteries dry and knackered
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Optimate
Jun 19, 2014 21:53:24 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by midlifecrisisrd on Jun 19, 2014 21:53:24 GMT 1
I found they are not good on lead acid batteries.
Connected mine up for a week after it had been out the bike for the winter. Charged for a while then said it was ok
Put it in the bike and it did not last long enough to test the electrics worked
8 hours on a normal charger and was tip top again.
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Post by yamark on Jun 20, 2014 6:50:10 GMT 1
I've got three bikes with the charger leads attached, one charger. I just charge the bikes one after the other without touching a spanner
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Post by markhoopy on Jun 20, 2014 10:09:34 GMT 1
I've got three bikes with the charger leads attached, one charger. I just charge the bikes one after the other without touching a spanner Going to do this with my two bikes .. seems the best way to go. Thanks for all the comments
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Post by Pidz on Jun 21, 2014 3:33:31 GMT 1
Even identical batteries are unique and have different health and charge levels and an Optimate will adjust it's performance to keep one battery at it's best. It will charge a battery then stop and let the battery cool. Then it will check the battery output to see if it has maintained its healthy charge, so you can't use a single Optimate to charge 2 batteries. It would be like strapping 2 patients to a single heart monitor. Personally, I bought an Optimate 3 and later I bought an Accumate. An Accumate is the same as an Optimate but has the advantage of optimising 12V or 6V for smaller bikes. I have never had a problem with set and forget over winter using it on bike and car batteries. BUT!! I only have gel batteries. Gel batteries are sealed and therefore do not give off gases. They can be used laid down on their sides and are ideal for hybrid builds and where spaces are tight for fitting a battery. That said, standard wet batteries can be left on an optimiser, but like any charging of a wet cell, their water content will evaporate over time and will need regular top ups over the winter months. You can buy multi Optimate's in their pro version. These are more aimed at the professional workshops. These come in 2, 4, 6 and 8 cell optimisers. But are about the £120 to near £500 price, depending on which one you buy. But as mentioned, there is nothing wrong with the old fashion method of using a normal charger once a month. It just means a few more trips out to the shed and to most people that is more of an economical sense.
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