Silly question, will a unplugged optimiser drain my battery?

[Willy_westside]

So like a lot of people out there that aren't hardcore all weather riders like DrSnooSnoo, I suffer from low battery levels when my bike has been stood in the garage for long periods of rubbish weather. I've installed a cheap halfords optimiser which several of the reviews warned about leaving plugged in for days at a time.

I can turn the power to my garage on and off from the house without going outside so my plan was to leave it all wired up when ever i leave the bike then the night before I'm planning to ride (long ride or work) i can just flick the switch in the house and I'll be guaranteed the battery will be ready by the morning.

My question is this, by leaving it wired up to the battery with the power turned off could I inadvertently be draining my battery even more?

Thanks in advance
WW

[jaffa90]

Do you have any lights showing on the charger when unplugged?

[Fizzer Thou]

A friend had left his bike connected to an Optimate for several weeks,not realising that he had forgotton to switch it on.It drained the battery so severely that it had to be replaced.HTH
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Always have a 'Plan B'

[monkeybiker]

[A100man]

Trickle chargers are hateful devices. If you're leaving your bike for any length of time just disconnect the earth.
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Now: A100, SRX250, XJ598, FZ750, SL1000

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600, Skorpion, GT 250

[Matt B]

[DrSnoosnoo]

I reckon it would drain the battery. If, like mine, when I plug to the bike and not into the wall, the internal fan (of the charger) powers up, as do the LED lights. That takes power from the bike.

I'd have the leads out ready to be plugged in and plug it in for a day every week or something (perhaps that might be excessive) if I was leaving it for a long period.


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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Nobby the Bastard]

FFS, just ride the fucking bike regularly. Then you won't need to trickle charge it...
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[rubyhorse2]

i've used one for years on all my bikes.

Much better to be using one than not as they tend to the battery, not just charge it.

[DrSnoosnoo]

[Willy_westside]

That's what i suspected. I'll just unplug it when I'm not using it.
Thanks

[A100man]

[Willy_westside]

I can't be dealing with disconnecting. I have to remove my fuel tank and some fairing to get to the battery so not the easiest. Most of the time I don't plan on leaving it for a long time either. The weather will just turn crap and I can't be bothered going out in the wet and cold when i can sit in a nice warm car and sup a cuppa on my way to work.

[jaffa90]

You should have a permanent battery cable connection kit with the charger, this socket lead kit can be routed so that you can couple up with the charger without removing anything on the bike.

[temeluchus]

If you even need an optimate something is horribly wrong with your bike or battery.

If the bike is going to sit through winter or whatever, pullnthe battery off the bike and keep it somewhere warm. A cheap £4 wall wart trickle charge for a bit before putting it away and when digging out will be fine.
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[monkeybiker]