Trickle Charger - 2016 RT

[zenwhipper]

I am looking for information on what trickle charger to buy for my new RT. I just came from an FJR and I used a Battery Tender for years. But, I think, given the CANBUS system, one needs a special type of charger? Lastly- my RT did come with an SAE battery connector tucked under the right side of the trellis frame - I assume this is a direct link to the battery and this is where one would plug in a charger?

Grazi. Appreciate the help.

Scott

 

[pkpilot]

Battery tender

I am looking for information on what trickle charger to buy for my new RT. I just came from an FJR and I used a Battery Tender for years. But, I think, given the CANBUS system, one needs a special type of charger? Lastly- my RT did come with an SAE battery connector tucked under the right side of the trellis frame - I assume this is a direct link to the battery and this is where one would plug in a charger?

Grazi. Appreciate the help.

Scott

Many battery tenders come with a quick disconnect plug that hooks directly to the battery. Run that cable to a readily accessible place on the frame or under the seat. Don't bother with expensive connectors that go through the CANBUS. Simplicity is reliable.

 

[lee]

my RT did come with an SAE battery connector tucked under the right side of the trellis frame - I assume this is a direct link to the battery and this is where one would plug in a charger?

That's correct. With the pigtail going direct to the battery you can use your old battery charger.

 

[t6pilot]

Avoid the Canbus issues by running a pigtail, with fuse direct to battery
I put a BMW/Din plug in the panel behind battery on right side with a fuse, other location recommended is below the factory plug on right fairing. In either case no charging issues and doubles as connector for heated gear. Charger is a optimate4, both charges and conditions battery

 

[mehrten]

Lastly- my RT did come with an SAE battery connector tucked under the right side of the trellis frame - I assume this is a direct link to the battery and this is where one would plug in a charger?

Scott,

We don't have an RT, we have an RS Wethead.

Those SAE connectors can be for batteries or heated gear or...

None of the accessories or options BMW offered for the 2016 R1200RS called for an SAE connector to be installed.

If the SAE connector came with the bike you might want to ask where you bought it what the connector was installed for, just to know for sure.

Deryle Mehrten
Sierra Vista, AZ USA

 

[36654]

Scott,

We don't have an RT, we have an RS Wethead.

Those SAE connectors can be for batteries or heated gear or...

None of the accessories or options BMW offered for the 2016 R1200RS called for an SAE connector to be installed.

If the SAE connector came with the bike you might want to ask where you bought it what the connector was installed for, just to know for sure.

Deryle Mehrten
Sierra Vista, AZ USA

My dealer routinely installs the SAE connector on new bikes. I made this discovery after the purchase of a new pigtail with fuse.

 

[glenfeld]

Is it a gel battry?

Just a note - I wonder if the battery on your RS is a gel, and my experience is that a 'standard' tender may not be able to charge. May need a charger that acomidates a gel battery - there's something different there. Yea, I ended up buying one as the old tender wouldn't charge it.

A more informed person on the forum may explain.

Good luck

 

[zenwhipper]

Thanks for the comments. So -it looks like the dealer installed pig tail will do the trick by using a std trickle charger - cool. I'll just want to verify it goes direct to battery (and has an inline fuse).

Lastly- not sure how the RS information got into the thread. I swear to god my bike is an RT!

Thanks

 

[gloucesterman]

Check Fuse

Howdy,
My RT came with a coax plug to the battery. Check the fuse rating installed. Mine was only 3 amps and left me cold on my first long ride with the bike when it blew from my electric liner. 10 amps should handle everything including the wire going to the battery, air compressors, battery tenders, etc.
Later,
Norm

 

[36654]

Thanks for the comments. So -it looks like the dealer installed pig tail will do the trick by using a std trickle charger - cool. I'll just want to verify it goes direct to battery (and has an inline fuse).

Lastly- not sure how the RS information got into the thread. I swear to god my bike is an RT!

Thanks

The RT uses a different size AGM battery than the R/RS/GS models, but they all have a AGM battery.

 

[DaveMNH]

I have a '16 RT, I ran the fused connector for my gerbing heated clothing directly to battery and use that same connector for my battery tender.

 

[NowOrNever]

If for any reason you decide not to use the pigtail approach, the Optimate 4 is a Canbus charger that comes with a connector to fit the BMW. Easy to just plug in the accessory port.

 

[mikegalbicka]

If for any reason you decide not to use the pigtail approach, the Optimate 4 is a Canbus charger that comes with a connector to fit the BMW. Easy to just plug in the accessory port.

+1 works great

 

[Digtlartst]

+1 works great

++1

 

[pglaves]

If for any reason you decide not to use the pigtail approach, the Optimate 4 is a Canbus charger that comes with a connector to fit the BMW. Easy to just plug in the accessory port.

Even with the pigtail approach - the best way to go - the Optiimate is just fine. Do not overthink this. It is just battery charging.

 

[217don]

CAN Bus charger

I find this quite confusing. My BMW dealer gave me a nice discount on an otherwise very expensive charger, 77 02 8 551 897, for my 2016 R1200RT. It appears that it can be plugged into the onboard socket to maintain the battery over the winter. Anyone have any experience with this charger? I don't want to fry the CAN BUS (whatever that is). Also do you recommend Stabil in the gas on the new bikes? Bike will probably be idle now for up to 3 months.

 

[mikegalbicka]

Just plug it in and don't worry about it. You won't fry anything.

 

[Fastman]

Gateway BMW (St. Louis) installs a CTEK pigtail on every bike they sell. Been using a CTEK charger for years with no issues.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[BMW Triumphant]

I find this quite confusing. My BMW dealer gave me a nice discount on an otherwise very expensive charger, 77 02 8 551 897, for my 2016 R1200RT. It appears that it can be plugged into the onboard socket to maintain the battery over the winter. Anyone have any experience with this charger? I don't want to fry the CAN BUS (whatever that is). Also do you recommend Stabil in the gas on the new bikes? Bike will probably be idle now for up to 3 months.

You, and every owner of a bike that has a CANBUS, should read this article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN_bus

You might not be an electrical engineer and be able to understand 100% of the article, but you will get a darn good idea of what it is.

If you go to the SLC Rally, and the Optimate guy has a booth there as he did at Das Rally, stop and ask some questions. I found him very informative.

My bike came with a direct connection dongle and I use an Optimate 4 in the direct mode. I could use the CANBUS mode, but prefer a simple direct connection.

 

[rangerreece]

I find this quite confusing. My BMW dealer gave me a nice discount on an otherwise very expensive charger, 77 02 8 551 897, for my 2016 R1200RT. It appears that it can be plugged into the onboard socket to maintain the battery over the winter. Anyone have any experience with this charger? I don't want to fry the CAN BUS (whatever that is). Also do you recommend Stabil in the gas on the new bikes? Bike will probably be idle now for up to 3 months.

I've used the OEM charger for years. I am currently using it on my 2016 RT. I ride the bike into the garage turn the bike off, plug it into the oem socket, walk away; takes 1.5 seconds, the one I'm using now has lasted 4 years no problems, I highly recommend it.