Motobatt charger

MIKETHEBIKE

Active Member
Just looking to buy a charger for over winter for the new battery. Motobatt do a few types but are there any others out there that anyone can recommend. Cheers
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
I've used optimate chargers for years without problem. I only keep one bike on the road through the winter, and which ever machine it is, it gets plugged into the optimate a couple of nights a week during the darker and freezing months.
The bikes I don't use, I take out the batteries and store them in the house away from the freezing temperatures. The non used bikes also get the brake pads pushed away from the discs, have fresh oil in thier sumps and fuel stabaliser mixed into the fuel. I keep the fuel tanks full to help prevent condensation build up in the tank.

More than you prbably wanted to know, but I thought I'd share :)

Steve T

:cool:
 

austin

Well-Known Member
I have had an Optimate4 for about 10years. No problems with it and it’s used at least once a month as I keep a couple of old batteries as spares or just in case batteries that I top up frequently.

Mind I also had Aldi charger that I gave to my son that will be even older. He uses it loads and it just rolls around in a dusty and dirty barn.
 

Alba

Active Member
I've used optimate chargers for years without problem. I only keep one bike on the road through the winter, and which ever machine it is, it gets plugged into the optimate a couple of nights a week during the darker and freezing months.
The bikes I don't use, I take out the batteries and store them in the house away from the freezing temperatures. The non used bikes also get the brake pads pushed away from the discs, have fresh oil in thier sumps and fuel stabaliser mixed into the fuel. I keep the fuel tanks full to help prevent condensation build up in the tank.

More than you prbably wanted to know, but I thought I'd share :)

Steve T

:cool:

Nice info Steve, which fuel stabliser do you use??
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
OFF Topic mode on:-

Robert,

Just nipped out to the garage and checked - its Silkolene Pro FST . Never had a fuel problem since I started using it in laid up bikes. The local bike shop put it into all of their stock bikes when they get them in, so it works well - my old F650GS twin was in there for nearly 3 years before it was sold the other month and it just needed a new battery.

Steve T

:cool:

ON topic mode re-engaged
 

MIKETHEBIKE

Active Member
So I got the Oximiser 900 for Xmas. With not using the bike for a few months (due to my back problems, im getting titanium rods fitted on saturday at preston hospital) and also I'd left something plugged in with a little red LED light on it. The battery is dead as a do do. The instructions say it needs 4.1 amps before it will start recovery. Any thoughts on this. As from saturday ill be laid up for a while and wont be able to sort it for the cold months.......
 

austin

Well-Known Member
I don’t know about the 4.1 amps but, but an Optimate tests how a battery responds to charging and current draw and then does a combination of banging a big current in and trickle charging to restore the battery. It then tells you what state the battery is in albeit pretty clunky as in green for good, Amber = iffy and red=shagged I am pretty sure any “smart” charger does similar. Unless the manual says otherwise just leave it hooked up.

Good luck with the operation on Saturday. It sounds horrendous to me.
 

hotbulb

Active Member
Some of the Optimate-type "smart" chargers can't deal with a completely flat battery.... one where the voltage is below (say) 4 volts. It's sometimes possible to revive such a battery by using and old-fashioned "dumb" charger for an hour or two to push up the voltage, before swapping to a "smart" charger which will be kinder on the battery and hopefully reverse any sulphating that's occurred .
 

MIKETHEBIKE

Active Member
Thanks Austin I'll leave it over night and see what happens. It's pretty cold in that garage so could be a while to wake it up. It was a brand new battery before the national so should be saveable.
Yea I am and not looking forward to the operation 8 to 12 weeks recovery then can't lift anything for another 3 months while the bone fuses. But if that's what it takes ......
Cheers all the best for the new year.
 

Lutin

Administrator
Staff member
Forum Supporter
Best wishes for the operation and subsequent recovery.

Hope you're not laid up for too long.
 

MIKETHEBIKE

Active Member
Thanks for your good wishes lads.
Instructions say it will not charge from dead, So now after warming it up in the airing cupboard. I've now got it on the car battery charger for 1hr maybe I'm not sure. Then if it reaches 4.1volts (sorry Austin I said amps before) I'll switch back to the oximiser. Fingers crossed.
 

MIKETHEBIKE

Active Member
Well 1hr has passed and the battery was at 10.9v. I've switched it over to the oximiser and can now go under the knife happy that my battery is being looked after.
Thanks for the help :beer:
 

Lutin

Administrator
Staff member
Forum Supporter
Update op went well. Back should be fusing nicely now. Pain is horrendous though. But happy in the thought my battery has made a full recovery. :superman:

That's great news. I mean, it would be a disaster if you had to buy a new battery. :whistle:

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Were you prescribed any painkillers? If they're not working, ask for different ones.

Hope the healing goes well. :thumbsup:
 

MIKETHEBIKE

Active Member
Yes codiene but I've upped it to tramadol and amitriptyline for night. Bloody painful I tell ya.
And yes buying another battery would add to the pain
 
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