Battery Tender on Canbus '06 R1200RT

[HappyonKolelemook]

I have a 06 R1200 RT with the CANBUS. I wnat to hard wire the leads for my Deltran Battery Tender Plus directly to the battery terminals and then connect the feed from the Battery Tender to the leads and charge the battery in the bike without removing the battery from the bike or disconnecting the bike electrics from the battery.

Anyone doing this without consequence? The BMW CANBUS charger is a bit pricy and useless on anything besides the Beemer.

The manual says to disconnect the battery before charging to avoid any damage to the CANBUS, but I cannot understand how this could happen with the ignition off. Is the CANBUS live even with the ignition OFF?

[marchyman]

Anyone doing this without consequence? The BMW CANBUS charger is a bit pricy and useless on anything besides the Beemer.

Lots of people do this. The only consequence for most is a charged battery. You can also charge through the accessory socket (which has nothing to do with the CAN bus) using the newest Optimate 4 charger. Search. There have been several threads on this topic.

The manual says to disconnect the battery before charging to avoid any damage to the CANBUS, but I cannot understand how this could happen with the ignition off. Is the CANBUS live even with the ignition OFF?

First: this has ZERO to do with the CAN bus. The CAN bus is how the various controllers on the bike talk to each other. Think telephone wires. Yes, the controllers are somewhat live even when the ignition is off, similar to your computer when sleeping.

So.... If your house is hit by lightning while the charger is attached to the battery and the charge miraculously makes it through the charger and the wimpy power leads to blow up your battery, causing concussive damage in addition to spreading battery acid all over your bike BMW can say "see, we told you not to do that".

Seriously... A malfunctioning charger could do bad things and the wording in the manual is likely for that purpose. That said, the only charger malfunction I've ever run into is a charger that failed to charge.

[racer7]

Probably something well over 95% of BMW owners of CANbus bikes charge through a pigtail like you describe becaasue the BMW charger is overpriced just like every other BMW accessory and the Optimate model that can subsitutute for it is new to the market.

The only comment I'd make about chargers is that the cheapy transformer types are obsolete and ill-suited to today's AGM and gel batteries. The multistage, solid state chargers are betterfor a lot of reasons.

I use an Extreme through an extra accessory socket wired to to the bike that connects to the unswitched side of my accessory fuse panel, an Eastern Beaver model. Those who have the Optimate like it. There are other similar multiphase designs but AFAIK only the 1 Optimate and the BMW model charge through the bike's socket..

[Atomicman52]

http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1357

This is the one I use through the front socket wired to the unswitched side of a Centech AP-2.

I believe it is just a rebranded Battery Tender Plus. Been using it for 2 years on my '09 RT

Works perfectly AND i HAVE NEVER REMOVED THE BATTERY FROM THE BIKE!

I decided I didn't want to futz around with the seat and pigtails everytime I wanted to connect or disconnect the charger. Rewiring the socket also allows me to charge my cell phone and plug in my heated gear. Well worth it!

[JT_R1200RT]

+1 on Deltran Battery Tender, I use the 4 bank unit with the 25' extension cables

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DTN-022-0148DLWH/

-JT

[Semper_Fi]

I have had a hard wired pig tail on my wife's 05 being charged with a Walmart charger for the last few years without any issues

[mariettaman29661]

I have a 06 R1200 RT with the CANBUS. I wnat to hard wire the leads for my Deltran Battery Tender Plus directly to the battery terminals and then connect the feed from the Battery Tender to the leads and charge the battery in the bike without removing the battery from the bike or disconnecting the bike electrics from the battery.

Anyone doing this without consequence? The BMW CANBUS charger is a bit pricy and useless on anything besides the Beemer.

The manual says to disconnect the battery before charging to avoid any damage to the CANBUS, but I cannot understand how this could happen with the ignition off. Is the CANBUS live even with the ignition OFF?

2006 GSA: I use a battery tender jr. wired to the battery. NO problems.

[tonk]

On a 2011 RT, if I disconnect the battery from the bike before connecting the battery to a trickle charger, will the complete loss of power affect the computer operation and displays when I restore power? I can't imagine why, but I don't know the system, so I tend to be overcautious.

[t6pilot]

+ 1 for optimate 4 plus can/bus around sixty dollars on line. Not a charger a battery conditioner had it for eleven months on my 2011 GS plugged in from accessory outlet by seat. Only issue is that when it cycles on allows power to outlet by handle bars turning on GPS. Removed GPS when not in use

[PGlaves]

On a 2011 RT, if I disconnect the battery from the bike before connecting the battery to a trickle charger, will the complete loss of power affect the computer operation and displays when I restore power? I can't imagine why, but I don't know the system, so I tend to be overcautious.

It won't harm anything but you will need to reset the clock, and a few other displays might reset too.

[32232]

It won't harm anything but you will need to reset the clock, and a few other displays might reset too.

My dealer advised the calendar for the service reminders will lose its setting and will likely need to be reset to remove the warning light.

[DBCasey]

Got one on order. The one I ordered said Optimate 4 Dual. I don't know if there's another Optimate 4 that doesn't work with our Beemers, but I after doing some research, I went with the Dual one.

I'm not sure if the Optimate 4 comes with a SAE plug that will fit into the accessory outlet of our bikes. I think it does, but can't say for certain. Once mine arrives, I'll update and let you know.

C

[tonk]

Thanks. Appreciate the help.

[marchyman]

... comes with a SAE plug that will fit into the accessory outlet of our bikes.

images.jpeg

Powerlet style plug. In the above image the powerlet/bmw/john deere style plug is on the top and the SAE is on the bottom.

[advenbob]

2007 GSA, I have two power outlets, both wired direct to the battery. Use the Battery Tender I have had for about 7 years now, no issues. Use a powerlet plug, plug it in, plug in the tender, and away we go. No need to wire anything direct to the battery, remove the battery, etc.

bob