Howdy folks. It's good to be back in the GSpot. I haven't had a BMW for a few years. I just picked up a new Triple Black 2012 R1200GS. There is a Gerbings plug wired directly to the battery. Using an adaptor, is it OK to use a standard Battery Tender on this bike or do I need to buy the BMW charger that goes in to factory pigtail with the LED flashies on it? I use the Gerbings plugs with an adaptor to hook up Battery Tenders on all of my other bikes with no issues. Thanks in advance.
That will work fine. I put the powerlet socket wired directly to the battery in place of the factory bmw socket on mine. It is just a regular 12V battery.
Also, BMW uses state-of-the-art technology in terms of electrical circuits being tri-phased. Meaning, the circuit has a positive, neutral, and negative (ground). A BMW tender is required as a regular DC circuit battery tender will void your warranty and melt your electronics.
I have used a basic battery tender directly connected to my battery on my 2011 R1200GS (18,000 Miles) since I bought the bike new in Nov of 2011. NO issues. Here is the one I have.
Not to be a jerk, but what you're decribing is applicable to AC thoery? It seems you're really only decribing a single phase of which would require a HOT, NEUTRAL (AKA return) and GROUND (AKA Safety Ground). Typically most AC houseold systems are two phase "Y" Alternating Current. The Battery is 12VDC - no phase is applicable. Just Positive and Negative (ground). Regards, Kevin
I have a battery tender wired direct to the battery. Have done this on every year 12GS since they came out in '04. Anyone who says this isn't possible or is incorrect is WRONG!
So long as you run the tender directly to the battery there is no risk to the BMW electronics! No need for the BMW tender either. IMHO put the Battery Tender on the bike over night once a week and you are done. If you ride more than an hour straight, and do not do a lot of short trips all the time, a tender is not necessary. Jim
I have been using an older BMW charger (not the CANBUS type, I think it was around $40 or so when I bought it) connected to a SAE pigtail wired directly to the battery for over three years on my '09 GS. Zero issues. I plug my heated jacket liner to the same pigtail (no, not at the same time )
If you're takling DC you are correct, there is no phase involved. Most homes in the US are 110VAC 2 Phase "Y" 60Hz referenced to ground (208VAC referenced between phases) 150-200AMP service. Most commercial applications in the US are 110VAC 3 Phase "Y" (208VAC referenced between phases ) 200AMP + service. Ships (US) and mobile AC platforms are 3 Phase 110VAC "D" 60Hz Referenced between pahaes (AKA floating ground) (220VAC volts is stepped up via transformer). R, Kevin
I tried to head off the controversy in post #2 but every time this question gets posted it turns into advanced electrical theory and charging algorithm nonsense. It is just a 12V battery people!
Jim, shall I connect an ordinary tender directly to battery terminals without disconnecting anything?
Been using a battery tender direct connection to the battery on a 2012 12gs since new . 28000 miles and the battery is strong. Used the same setup on a 2008 RT before that. All is well
I wire directly to the battery on the GS and on the K-GT I had and no issues at all. I plug in the battery tender when the bike is in the garage.
I heard that you have to disconnect the wires before adding the tender to the battery. What exactly is the reason?