tlc Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I have one of the expensive BMW Canbus-compatible chargers. I kept it plugged into the accessory port on my '14 RTW. It seemed fine till a couple weeks ago. Now the charger gets to the "0-1/3" charged light, then goes no further. The charger also gets hot. I thought something might be wrong with the charger, so I hooked a Battery Tender Plus directly to the battery. The light that indicates charging flashes, and it never gets to the storage stage. I got an Optimate 4 charger last week and hooked it to the accessory port. It continually cycles between the Voltage Retention Test and Charging stages; it never gets to the Maintenance stage. Optimate tech support will not respond to my emails. Voltage on the battery tests fine, and it gives no indication of being bad or weak. What could be causing this? Link to comment
strataj Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 You say the voltage is fine, I hope you don’t have a charger connected when doing your reading. Is the voltage 12.8 or higher? You may want to take it to be tested (WalMart, Auto Zone will do), reading voltage is ok but a real load test could tell a different story. For all three chargers to have the same result something isn’t right… Jay Link to comment
dirtrider Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Afternoon Tlc Difficult to tell what you have going on there. With the canbus charger & the Optimate charger going through your power outlet it might simply be the new waterhead automatic socket shut down -- from the riders manual-- " The motorcycle's onboard electronics know when the battery is fully charged. The onboard socket is switched off when this happens". On the Battery Tender not working that sounds like a reverse hook up or a fuse/charger problem. It could be a bad battery but if it starts the bike OK then it should be re-chargeable. Remember the 2014 1200RT went to an AGM battery so your charger must be AGM compatible. Link to comment
tlc Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 The voltage, without the charger, is almost 14.0. The BMW charger worked fine till a couple weeks ago -- about the time I had the shock replaced. Before then the charger would go through the stages of charge, then stay at the highest charge level. Now it stays at the 0-1/3 charge level. The Optimate cycles from charge to voltage retention test and back, without ever reaching the maintenance charge level. Link to comment
dirtrider Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Evening Tlc If it worked OK UNTIL the shock replacement then I would suggest you talk to the dealer that did the work. Maybe they didn't reconnect everything correctly. How are you using the BMW charger? If through the power outlet then is it presently working correctly? Did the dealer do some sort of firmware update when they had the bike? Link to comment
tlc Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 Evening Tlc If it worked OK UNTIL the shock replacement then I would suggest you talk to the dealer that did the work. Maybe they didn't reconnect everything correctly. How are you using the BMW charger? If through the power outlet then is it presently working correctly? Did the dealer do some sort of firmware update when they had the bike? I use the BMW charger through the front accessory port. I turn the ignition on, plug the charger into the port, power up the charger, then turn the ignition off. I don't know whether the dealer performed a software update. Link to comment
weston Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Evening Tlc If it worked OK UNTIL the shock replacement then I would suggest you talk to the dealer that did the work. Maybe they didn't reconnect everything correctly. How are you using the BMW charger? If through the power outlet then is it presently working correctly? Did the dealer do some sort of firmware update when they had the bike? tlc: I don't know if this will help, but I had a similar experience with the BMW expensive charger plugged into the fairing port. Then I got an Optimate and plugged it into a lead connected to the battery instead of the fairing port. Now everything seems to be working properly. By the way, the manual says the fairing port shuts down when the key is off. That might have something to do with your disappointing experience! weston Link to comment
strataj Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 The voltage, without the charger, is almost 14.0. The BMW charger worked fine till a couple weeks ago -- about the time I had the shock replaced. Before then the charger would go through the stages of charge, then stay at the highest charge level. Now it stays at the 0-1/3 charge level. The Optimate cycles from charge to voltage retention test and back, without ever reaching the maintenance charge level. 14.0 sounds like a reading taken just after removing the charger, you should wait an hour (should be high 12's low 13). What's strange to me you are getting a 14.0 reading the battery seems to be fully charged. You appear to be connecting the charger properly with the "dance" needed for the can bus. I'd try connecting directly to the battery just to be sure. You should have the battery tested it may be bad and can't reach the level needed to put the charger into float mode. Good luck, I hope we are helping Jay Link to comment
dirtrider Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I use the BMW charger through the front accessory port. I turn the ignition on, plug the charger into the port, power up the charger, then turn the ignition off. I don't know whether the dealer performed a software update. Morning Tlc Look on page 133 of your riders manual -- "The motorcycle's onboard electronics know when the battery is fully charged. The onboard socket is switched off when this happens". At 14 volts I would imagine the onboard electronics thinks the battery is fully charged & has turned the power outlet off. Link to comment
tlc Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 I use the BMW charger through the front accessory port. I turn the ignition on, plug the charger into the port, power up the charger, then turn the ignition off. I don't know whether the dealer performed a software update. Morning Tlc Look on page 133 of your riders manual -- "The motorcycle's onboard electronics know when the battery is fully charged. The onboard socket is switched off when this happens". At 14 volts I would imagine the onboard electronics thinks the battery is fully charged & has turned the power outlet off. That's interesting. The BMW charger seemed to be working fine till a couple weeks ago. I plugged it (rather than the Optimate) into the fairing socket last night, and it seems to be working again now! After a while the charger indicates "full charge", and it's staying there. My dealer tried to test the battery, but his tester requires knowledge of a Yuasa battery number equivalent, and he cannot find a Yuasa model for a '14 RTW! Link to comment
KarlG Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Unless they use a different battery in the RT vs the K1600, (which I doubt), the battery is a Yuasa YT19BL-BS, BMW equivalent. Link to comment
strataj Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Real OEM shows the battery exclusive to the new RT Jay Link to comment
paRTy Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 The battery in my new 14'RT is an Exide AGM. Link to comment
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