Forum

[Gaz262]

I bought me one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oxford-Oximis ... SwZG9WjUNE

All you need to do is attach the wiring doubry to the battery terminals and from then on, it's just a case of unplugging/plugging in your Optimiser!



Have fun

[Bertie the Bullet]

Guess I have just been lucky, I bought Bertie in 2009, he has a bog standard Lead acid battery, he is used through the summer, In the winter I start him up every month or so and stick the battery on charge every now and again, have never had to change the battery and it has never gone flat.

[Beezabryan]

I have to wonder why the OP wants to mend something that is not broken?

[Rusky]

I have an Oxford Optimiser connected to my Absorbent Glass Mat battery on a 71 Bonneville upgraded to electronic ignition. As I have twice suffered from dropping a cell in lead acid batteries and needing to keep the revs high just to create a spark as a get you home fix the optimiser keeps the battery in perfect condition.At £50 they arnt cheap,however........keep your eyes open as Aldi sell a similar and in my opinion much better unit each spring. I know they work at least as well as I have two on other bikes. The big advantage with the Aldi charger is it costs just £15.

[Scalyback]

lithium bike batteries are different technology to mobile phones. Stuff a 5A car charger on it, wait 6-7 minutes for the battery to get to 95% charge and off you go!

The only chargers you should not use are those de sulphate ones, any other bit of £9.99 crap from council home base will do nicely, or a maplins solar charger worked quite well for a laugh!

[simon]

If your 1991 350 is the same as mine then its an old fashion Lucas style 6 volt alternator setup with a switched charge rate. This is a ghastly system and regularly cooks batteries and might do worse to gel or other tyoes. I suggest you up grade it relatively cheaply to a modern solid state regulator/rectifier which means that ordinary old lead acid batteries last for ages.

[funkyorange]

Thanks all for your help and advice.

I have been recently taking the battery out each time and trickle charging it. The battery I have seems to be ok doing this way.

Im going to buy a Oxford battery optimiser this will for the mean time keep it good condition.

Simon, I think the problem you describe might be the reason I'll see how it goes with the optimiser and get a new rectifier if this battery dosent last.

[funkyorange]

Beezabryan, fair point. didn't explain my whole story but cut a long story short i'm on my third battery!!