Phooey Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 So I took my bike out this morning and after parking it up for about four hours, I returned to a flat battery A security guard in the complex that I was visiting said that he was trying to find me to tell me that my rear light was on ... he said really brightly!I assumed brake light. No lights were on when I returned so I couldn't verify it.Anyway, two questions. What could cause the rear light to be on even with the ignition off and keys in my pocket? Faulty wiring?And, I have heard that there is a device that I could connect to my battery that effectively keeps it 'topped up' when parked up. What is this device and is it worth the trouble/cost?Any thoughts appreciated. Quote
Stu Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 you could have left your parking lights on thats one turn too far from off its a common problem I have done it as for the charger I have one and would recommend one to everyone! Quote
Mr Fro Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 You could try a solar panel but they have to be pretty big to get any meaningful amount of juice out of them. Quote
Phooey Posted April 23, 2014 Author Posted April 23, 2014 Ah ... in my ignorance, I didn't even think about a parking light being on a bike! Would this not illuminate the front light also though.Not sure how to comment on the other bit I don't mean a battery charger, I know about those I remember someone telling me about a device they connect permanently to their battery that keeps it healthy like when it is stored over the winter. I just can't remember what he called it!MrFro ... I already have a Solar Panel but it is cover by my helmet ... Quote
Stu Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 its an optimate "battery charger" yeah you will have the front light on also but only the side light you may have missed it Quote
Abraxix92 Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 (edited) your thinking of a trickle charger, that's ideal only if you don't plan to use the bike battery for a couple of weeks or something similar, not ideal or really wont charge the battery over night, but even with a trickle charger you can't really use it out and about.edit atleast i was thinking of a trickle chargers, my bad lol! Edited April 23, 2014 by Abraxix92 Quote
Tango Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 Mmmm.....are you thinking of an Optimate?.....which is really just a fancy charger.....but it's not connected to the battery all the time....but the connectors for it generally are.... Sounds like you may have a wiring issue..... Quote
Phooey Posted April 23, 2014 Author Posted April 23, 2014 Parking light it was ... just went out and tested your hypothesis, Stu. That akward moment when you realise that you have made a right arse of yourself ... creeps away quietly! Optimate, that's it. Is it worth it? Quote
Stu Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 we have all done it optimate is well worth it especially if you dont use the bike al the time at least you know you can go out and it will start Quote
Guest Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 Optimates are the most well known.. but there are various makes and it really doesn't matter.If it were me - and I 'do' own an Optimate - I would more than happily go for a similar device.. just not at the premium price optimates go for.just a quick look on Amazon turns up a CTEK XS 0.8 12V 1.2A - 32A 6-Stage Battery Charger same idea as the Optimate only less expensive. £24.75 including post. Quote
Phooey Posted April 23, 2014 Author Posted April 23, 2014 Thanks Shorty. Will look at some different options. Just spotted an Oxford Oximiser 900 on amazon at £28.44 reduced from £47. Might take a look at that one!Thanks stu and everyone else. As usual proven why it is a good idea to be a member of TMBF Quote
Joeman Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 I've got an optimate, but I rarely use it. I leave my bikes for weeks on end sometimes and they always start first time on the button without the need for the optimate plugged in. The only times I've used it have been when I know I've left the bike standing for a really long time and need to ride it so i stick it on the optimate until its 'done' just in case. But that's not often.So long as you have nothing draining your battery, you should be able to leave it a long time without needing to charge it up. Quote
Guest Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 Depends on the battery type. AGM and Gel batteries - which are far more common nowadays and OE in many new bikes lose power at a very low rate. .1v per week or less. 'wet' acid types - much faster. Particularly in cold weather also some older alarm systems use more power than others - particularly the latest types. There are a lot of variables.My GT has an AGM battery and no alarm system... i can leave it for weeks.. even months and it starts no problem. It was a totally different situation when i first bought it and it had a META alarm and Varta 'wet' battery. Then.. just a fortnight and it would struggle. But - since the changeover my optimate is hardly used. (though always handy to keep around) Quote
stumblebum Posted April 23, 2014 Posted April 23, 2014 Just spotted an Oxford Oximiser 900 on amazon at £28.44 reduced from £47. Might take a look at that one! I have the Oximiser 900 and can thoroughly recommend it, especially at that price! Quote
mealexme Posted April 24, 2014 Posted April 24, 2014 you could have left your parking lights on thats one turn too far from off its a common problem I have done it as for the charger I have one and would recommend one to everyone! Or you could use the bike enough to actually charge it?Chargers are a waste of time imo Quote
Dan Posted April 24, 2014 Posted April 24, 2014 Do you mean trickle charging? I don't know if it's possible to get something which is permantly attached, where would it get it's power from?When i was cleaning my bike recently one of my kids must have turned the key when they were pretending to ride it and stuck the lights on. I didn't notice and sure enough i went out to find the battery flat. Pesky kids!I went to Halfords spent a load of money on a charger, charged the battery and then took it back for a full refund. Quote
Joeman Posted April 24, 2014 Posted April 24, 2014 Do people not know how to bump-start bikes anymore?I had a flat battery in my gixxer, i bumpstarted it, and took it for a good long ride to charge it up.I stopped off in town, went to restart and it was still dead. The battery was knackered. So I had to push the bike across the road, wait for a set of traffic lights to change and ran through the green light pushing the bike before hopping on, dumping the clutch and riding off to buy a new battery! Quote
Chrissb6 Posted April 24, 2014 Posted April 24, 2014 I would not recommend running the bike on a dead battery, bump it if you can and get it home, but treat that as an emergency and get it fixed as soon as, or you could end up trashing your charging system. A good clip here explains why."> My Bimota has been sorn now for the last 5 years, its sat connected to a Optimate charger still on the same battery and l can go out and fire her up at will. An Optimate charger or the equivalent defiantly worth the investment. And yes l done the parking light switch thing Easily done, now always turn and check before l leave the bike. Quote
Stu Posted April 24, 2014 Posted April 24, 2014 you could have left your parking lights on thats one turn too far from off its a common problem I have done it as for the charger I have one and would recommend one to everyone! Or you could use the bike enough to actually charge it?Chargers are a waste of time imo Because not everyone rides there bike everyday! Quote
Phooey Posted April 24, 2014 Author Posted April 24, 2014 Do people not know how to bump-start bikes anymore? That is exactly what I did Joe!Alex: It is not possible for me to use the bike everyday unfortunately but as it happens this was nothing to do with not riding enough. As Stu kindly resolved the issue for me, I inadvertently switched on the parking light when I parked it. Fours hours later when I returned it was dead! It is now fully charged, according to my mates Optimate 4, thanks to a couple of hours hard, pleasurable, sexing thrusting of the throttle So, it would seem that it was not that flat after all, just not quite enough power to turn the starter. Quote
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