Battery connections - charging

Hi everyone,
The c800 has been sitting idle for a few weeks! yes I know should use it as much as the orange girl machine but its just not practical when filtering through mentally heavy London traffic.

Anyway went to crank it up yesterday and the battery was ALMOST dead, luckily not dead enough to wipe the trip computers but enough so the bike would not fire up.
Undid the seats etc etc to get to battery plugged in the basic charger "ring" I think a lidl job and after 3 hours later all good.

I don't have a garage or anywhere safe where I can just plug the bikes in and leave them on optimizers, I don't want to remove the batteries as I do like to jump on them when the weather is ok and use them as much as possible so my question is....

I want to do the mod several of you have done where by a tail lead is ever present sticking out from under the seat so I can just plug in/clamp on the charger occasionally and boost the battery without having to remove the seats etc BUT my charger only has bulldog clips!

I don't mind cutting these of and replacing them with a different connector but I don't know which ones are appropriate/safe?

So what guage wire should I use as the leads from the battery + and - terminals and can you recommend connectors that are water proof and safe to use to connect from them to the charger.

Many thanks J

Try these Justin. two different fittings!


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Optimate-3-4-Dual-Program-Accumate-Charger-Waterproof-Battery-Connector-Lead-TM-/351475970842?hash=item51d599b31a
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Optimate-3-4-Dual-Program-Accumate-Charger-Waterproof-Battery-Connector-Lead-SAE-/400697538206?hash=item5d4b6f369e

Thanks john but I don't have an optimate, the charger I have has normal bulldog clips so I will need connectors that I can use to replace them.

These are what's on the ends of my oximiser, any use?  www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Optimate-Accumate-Oximiser-Hotgrips-Battery-Charger-Connectors-1-PAIR-AK-V5-/301290504338?hash=item4626504092:g:fXcAAOSw~CRTraYH

Have you thought about a solar charger, something like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-4-5W-Power-Solar-Panel-Trickle-Battery-Charger-Fit-Auto-Car-Boat-Motorcycle-/181963634642?hash=item2a5de0b7d2:g:o~EAAOSwJcZWcV8Z

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Powered-Optimate-12V-Motorcycle-Scooter-Battery-Charger-Optimiser-Diagnose-/151819084392?hash=item23591f6268:g:J2gAAOSwiLdV-YoE

Thanks Andrew I like the solar idea but it would just be something else for the local scroats around here to steal!

Thanks sim I think they are what I need, if I get stingrays optimiser connections for the bike and your connectors to replace the clips on my charger that should do the trick?

  the solar panel idea, think I'll get one! 

hawktheslayer wrote:

Thanks sim I think they are what I need, if I get stingrays optimiser connections for the bike and your connectors to replace the clips on my charger that should do the trick?

Just get a those in the link for the end of the charger Gaylord, I have a spare connector with cap that'll attach to your bike, fb me your address and I'll send it the post this week 

Thanks sim.

The other down side with solar is they are not protected or have a cut off, so if you leave it plugged in in will continue to charge the battery even if its full! possibly not a good thing for the battery?

hawktheslayer wrote:

The other down side with solar is they are not protected or have a cut off, so if you leave it plugged in in will continue to charge the battery even if its full! possibly not a good thing for the battery?

True/False?..........Before I buy!

Skidalot wrote:

hawktheslayer wrote:

The other down side with solar is they are not protected or have a cut off, so if you leave it plugged in in will continue to charge the battery even if its full! possibly not a good thing for the battery?

True/False?..........Before I buy!

I leave mine plugged in all the time, it just maintains (sends pulses through or something like that) when it's fully charged, I'd have thought the solar one's would work on the same basis.

Yeah, say's at the bottom "No risk of overcharging"

Is that the expensive optimiser version or the cheap Chinese one too, couldn't see any safety protocols on the £15 job!

hawktheslayer wrote:

Is that the expensive optimiser version or the cheap Chinese one too, couldn't see any safety protocols on the £15 job!

Its no wonder to me that you can't see F*** all with the 'pea soupers' you get up there!

Just the optimiser one  the other £15 looks    that's in the clear air up North 

That's what I said!!! and the sun is still shining down here

Oh well! Thats the end of that idea then 

Skidalot wrote:

Oh well! Thats the end of that idea then 

Get the more expensive one ya tight wad! you'll be saving the planet too 

OR! get one of those £3 voltage monitors dave has and run it in line with the cheap solar cell, check once a day to see what the reading is and unplug when the battery is tapped out! genius

I have one like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Charger-OXFORD-Oximiser-900-GEL-MF-Acid-12V-/151800630545?hash=item235805cd11:g:4y4AAOSwRLZT18~p

for more than 7 years and it's great  
Always plugged on when i am not riding.
Worth the money i spent.