Optimate 2 weirdness

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Two bikes share one charger - one week on, one week off ('90s CB500 and '04 KLX250). Both have Optimate leads on their batteries.

When I swap to the KLX, the right hand green light and, next to it, the amber light come one - but not for long because once under way, the amber blinks out. Meaning it's now fully charged, and the Optimate will trickle in any additional charge as and when required. I assume.

However, when swapping back to the 500, the far left green light comes on. No amber light, no right hand green light.

So does that mean the 500's battery's knackered? Well maybe - except that yesterday I tried to start it and - although reluctant - it did fire up and idle (once nursed with a bit of throttle). So if the Optimate's trying to tell me I need a new battery, it's sort of fibbing.

But is that actually what it's doing, by refusing to flash me the green and neighbouring amber light and showing only the left hand green light? I thought may be I'd not fastened the dedicated Optimate lead to the 500's battery properly - but nah. It's fine, on tight. Can't see any problem with that at all.

Why's the charger playing nicely with the KLX but being weird with the 500? I tried googling shit like "Optimate 2 just showing one green light" and similar, but didn't get very far.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Fizzer Thou]

Try swapping the leads over

And check that the earth lead going to the chassis is clean
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[WD Forte]

Put a meter on it and check each batteries voltage before, during and after charge.
I have couple of smart chargers but always check them from time to time to see if they can still be trusted (cos they're foreign lookin)

Just after charge usually gives a very optimistic reading so compare that to next days reading.
The next day, a decent battery will show say 12.65V maybe more
12.5v or below will suggest it's tired/knackered
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