I have a 996SPS. For a cold start can I start it while still connected and then unplug as soon as she's runing or will that damage the optimate or battery or both? Just thinking with these real cold days we have been having this might give the battery an easier time of it. Also thinking about making a little jump pack of some sort using another bike battery.
I don't think it will damage either the battery or the optimate. However, if you do and it does, let us know :wink:
An Optimate is not a booster and has no benefit in that usage. It keeps the battery in good condition so IT can do the starting as it is meant to...................... As for making some sort of boost pack using some other battery - just use any another battery.......................with jump leads..................or just buy a decent battery in the first place!
if using a conventional charger, the answer to this is always NO. as the charger would get damaged or blow a fuse if your lucky. I don't know why an Optimate would differ but it's a possibility.
Wow nelly....I have got a decent battery I am just trying to think of ways to make life easier you know mechanical sympathy and all that. I think it's fair to say these are not know for being amazing starters. What's wrong with trying to give the bike an easy life. If I said I have got a shit battery and I am to tight to buy and new one, then I can see what your saying.
there's very little risk of damage even if jumping from a car battery in this cold weather providing car engine is not running.
I thought Jim was using it purely as an exclamation like :- "Gordon Bennett!" such is the popularity of your name Neil!
I don't think it's a good idea to attempt to start the bike with an Optimate connected. I don't have knowledge of the undoubtedly sophisticated internal electronics of the Optimate, but it only takes a second to disconnect it so why risk it? The tiny charging current the Optimate provides will be dwarfed by the demands of the starter cranking anyway! Also, there is a possibility when using an external battery incorrectly, of potential damage to the bikes ecu, when the jump leads are connected because of voltage spikes occurring as the leads of the external battery are connected to the bikes battery. I think, but am unsure, that if the batteries are linked in the correct way with the ignition switched off this might not be a problem, but it's certainly something to bear in mind!
it's exactly about the 'spikes' John as you know better than me. If I ever do it I prefer the car battery to be around the 50 a/h preferably not run for a day and low to freezing temp. I don't disconnect leads until bike run for long enough to turn off, disconnect leads and then start under it's own steam preferably.
I've started my bikes loads of times over the years whilst still connected to my Optimates, and they still work. Never a deliberate thing, I just forgot to unplug them. The Optimate won't act as a booster, it's a battery tender and no more. The only thing I've seen on an odd occasion is the Optimate will throw up a fault, but switching it off and on again re-sets it. I wouldn't recommend it, but it doesn't seem to harm them :smile:
I wouldn't do it. You will gain nothing from leaving it connected as the Optimate output is so low, and you run the risk of damaging the charger.
My 748 IS an amazing starter, always goes instantly on first push of the button with ten year old battery and all electricals as it left the factory.
I've also inadvertently done it, the Optimate will trip out and show a 'fault' but works fine again as soon as it's reset. Optimate won't help start the bike though...
996SPS is a different kettle of fish - much higher compression. I know where the OP is coming from! I have often wondered about this question myself as I worry about always remembering to disconnect the Optimate before starting! I'll continue to disconnect but I'm slightly less worried about forgetting now having read nuttynick's post
Hi, I've got a bored out 996SPS which is now 1037cc and about 14:1 compression. I've never once worried about disconnecting my opitmate while starting and not had any trouble with it. They're quite clever so doubt you'll ever have trouble doing it. I hear what people are saying though that it might not give any advantage. First start from cold is always trouble though, and i've got the biggest amp battery i get in it without going to a race type or the new lithium type, which i still don't know enough about to think about yet.
hehe I have actually thought about getting a fan heater and sticking it under the bike to take the edge of on a cold start.
Buy a booster pack from halfords for about £40. I did and it has proved to be the best money spent, not only for the bike but for car and van. I have a plug on my boys Aprilia rrv 450 which allows me to plug in the booster set to assist starting when cold. Like this bloody weekend at Donny!
I have 8 optimates, 6 Optimate4 and 2 Optimate LiPO.. Ive used them for years and have never had any problems with them, from time to time in my workshop when fault finding its not practical to keep unplugging them from bikes with low batteries so I just fire them up with no problems the Optimate shows overload state on the LED then resumes its charge program Ive never had any problems! However yesterday oddly I was chatting about LiPO batteries to a supplier and he claimed they had a few optimates that were dammaged by starting? IMO the optimate would be faulty if it was unable to detect overload or reverse polarity! If your optimate fails to go into an overload state what happens when you get a fault with your battery does it just charge it to the point where it burst into flames or a ball of gas and acid! I can't speak for earlier models but I have had no problems with mine over the last three years. As for jump packs and boost chargers that's another matter...
