battery charging through accessory connection

Can anyone respond with the source for where I can purchase the correct adapter for the outlet in the left hand compartment. I have an adapter from battery tender that does fit the cigarette lighter sized outlet......however, it does not work. Where can I purchase the correct adapter?
Thank you,

It's a standard cigarette port as you mentioned and I found no problem using cell cables with the male end from my car. If you have inserted straight in until it stops I suspect your accessory cord may be faulty.
 
It's a standard cigarette port as you mentioned and I found no problem using cell cables with the male end from my car. If you have inserted straight in until it stops I suspect your accessory cord may be faulty.

I bought an Optimate accessory cable that has both a cigarette male end as well as the smaller euro end by using its adaptor.
 

grey.hound

New member
Ok. So I guess I need a battery tender. Went out today and the bike wouldn't start after sitting for a week without riding.

The question I have is what type charger do I actually get?

This will go into the 12v plug in the left side: Cigarette Lighter Adaptor

But what do I connect it to? Motorcycle

Thanks.
 
Ok. So I guess I need a battery tender. Went out today and the bike wouldn't start after sitting for a week without riding.

The question I have is what type charger do I actually get?

This will go into the 12v plug in the left side: Cigarette Lighter Adaptor

But what do I connect it to? Motorcycle

Thanks.

Are you 100% sure you don't have a cable hanging down at the front just below the right side panel? Most dealers want the easy way in the showroom and install a cable that costs probably a buck and time is too precious for them to take it out when the sell the bike. Cheaper than using the accessory socket for them.
 

grey.hound

New member
Checked and didn't find anything that looked like a tender connection.

Did find this in my garage though




Will it work if I buy the 12v adaptor?
 

exavid

Member
That outlet is NOT switched, it's always "hot." I know this because I leave my phone in there to charge up overnight while I'm sleeping in the tent and it works.

However, I had a second socket installed that utilizes the standard BMW plug on the handlebar housing. That way I can plug in an electric vest in the winter. That socket is also not switched, so I use that one when I plug in the battery tender.

I do much the same on my GT. I have Gerbing heated jacket liner and gloves so installed a coaxial socket on the handlebar housing along with a slot on top of the housing so I can clip my Gerbing dual controller on the left side of the handlebar and plug it into the socket right by the controller. A lead goes from the controller to my jacket liner. Works great, the temp control knobs are handy and the indicator lights showing heat level easy to see. Just takes a couple seconds to install or put back in the glove box. Heated gloves with the heating wires on the back of your hands along with heated grips for the palm side are just plain luxury in cold weather.
 

Sparkrn

Member
My 2014 GT does not have power to the left compartment all the time it is only hot when the key is on. This does not seem to jive with what other people are saying on the form. I have all the two accessory ports. the one in the center of the steering under the cover and the one above the front tire but where do I buy an adapter that plugs into that type of cord fitting. Are these electrical tales unique to BMW only or are they at common motorcycle use electrical hook up
 
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fritz

New member
That outlet is NOT switched, it's always "hot." I know this because I leave my phone in there to charge up overnight while I'm sleeping in the tent and it works.

However, I had a second socket installed that utilizes the standard BMW plug on the handlebar housing. That way I can plug in an electric vest in the winter. That socket is also not switched, so I use that one when I plug in the battery tender.

My 2014 c650GT scoot outlet is not hot when the ignition switch is off! Can I change it?
 

JaimeC

New member
They must've changed it in the 2014 model year. Wonder why? Maybe some users left something plugged in and forgot about it, and it drained their battery? It'd have to be in there for a long time though. Like I said, I charge up my phone in there overnight when I'm on a camping trip and always had plenty of power to start the scoot in the morning.
 
They must've changed it in the 2014 model year. Wonder why? Maybe some users left something plugged in and forgot about it, and it drained their battery? It'd have to be in there for a long time though. Like I said, I charge up my phone in there overnight when I'm on a camping trip and always had plenty of power to start the scoot in the morning.

Could very well be. Just wish the Operators Manual would have mentioned it. I went to connect mine up to a Battery Tender a couple of weeks ago and the port was dead on my 2015 GT also. I tested the adapter on another vehicle and it worked so I then tested my XM radio on the scooter to see if it would power that. Nothing (with key off). I went to the dealer and talked to them about it. The suggested turning on the key, inserting the adapter for the Battery Tender, then turning off the key. The Battery Tender then recognized that it was connected but when I turned the key to the off position, the LED running lights and the instrument panel display both remained on.

The Service Manager had installed a new air temp sensor a couple of weeks prior to this and he told me that he was sure he'd seen a charging connector up under the cowling. Thankfully it was there. I was unable to buy the scooter from my local dealer and so had to buy at another shop north of where I live. They must have installed the charger wire. That was kind of a surprise to me as I had ordered the bike and took delivery of it 3 days after it arrived at the dealer so it was never floored. At any rate, I can vouch that by 2015 anyway the accessory port is not hot when the key is off.

Praise CanBus! :rolleyes:
 
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hardright

Member
Get an Optimate 6. Connect the charging cable directly to the battery. Connect when at home to charge the battery.

Install a PDM60 so that you can program what appliances should only turn on when ignition is on. Leaving an always hot accessory port could open you up to people who will plug in and drain your battery (eg charging their phone).
 

drol343

New member
Port is HOT in one direction and COLD in the other direction?

I think the Port is HOT in one direction and COLD in the other direction!

I have a 2015 C650 GT. When I try trickle charge using the cigarette port in the cubby box, and I plug it in with the ignition OFF, it turns on all the lights like it's in accessory position and the charger seems to be blinking green, so I assume it's trickle charging.

But on the other hand, if I take my cell phone charger and plug it into the cigarette port with the bike OFF my phone will not charge. But if I turn the bike ON then the phone will charge.

This may make sense, as when I'm trickle charging through the cigarette port the power is going thru the charger, then, through the port into the battery. But when I'm trying to charge my cell phone, the power is coming from the bikes battery through the port into the phone. I'm no electrical genius, but these cases do seem "charging opposite" and could account for the ON and OFF situations.

I assume it is in my garage trickle charging right now, but I hope that the trickle charge is greater than the charge being drained by the lighting that's being turned on when I plug in the charger.

Any thoughts?
 

drol343

New member
This is what I experienced... but maybe the ON / OFF cycle you described is the secret code I inadvertently activated???

I think the Port is HOT in one direction and COLD in the other direction!

I have a 2015 C650 GT. When I try trickle charge using the cigarette port in the cubby box, and I plug it in with the ignition OFF, it turns on all the lights like it's in accessory position and the charger seems to be blinking green, so I assume it's trickle charging.

But on the other hand, if I take my cell phone charger and plug it into the cigarette port with the bike OFF my phone will not charge. But if I turn the bike ON then the phone will charge.

This may make sense, as when I'm trickle charging through the cigarette port the power is going thru the charger, then, through the port into the battery. But when I'm trying to charge my cell phone, the power is coming from the bikes battery through the port into the phone. I'm no electrical genius, but these cases do seem "charging opposite" and could account for the ON and OFF situations.
 

cpallenjr

New member
Some chargers (like my old BMW charger) and maybe some newer ones like the optimate can communicate with the computer which is never really off to open the port for charging the battery. That outlet normally will stay powered up for a few minutes after shutting the scooter off, and I have heard but never actually seen that some devices can keep the port powered indefinitely. Most people will connect a pigtail for the charger directly to the battery which may or may not be necessary depending upon the charger and accessories you own. The outlet has a current carrying capacity of 5A which is plenty for a small battery charger/maintainer, or to run a gps or charge a cell phone. It's not enough to reliably power a heated jacket or an air compressor.

You might already know this but the scooter (at least originally) has an AGM battery which requires different charging parameters than a lead-acid or gel-cell batter. To get the most out of your battery make sure you match the charger/mode to the battery type. Also, those little 1.5-2 amp trickle chargers are for maintaining a charge and can't usually charge a really dead battery. Same with your bike (or car's) alternator. Although it's hard on your battery to discharge down to 8V or so - it may be still ok even if your trickle charger doesn't seem to work. Have it tested, and try and hit it with a higher capacity charger before you give up on it.
 

Thom Davis

Member
If you do have to replace, I recommend a Li-ion. Then you don't have to (and should not) use a trickle charger or battery tender (those are bad for li-ion batteries). Li-ion are less than half the weight and take up half the space so you do have to stuff something in to keep the battery in place. But its worth the slightly higher cost ($100 at amazon).
 

drol343

New member
Trickle Charge via Accessory Port and Install Lead from Battery in Cubby

Trickle Charge via Accessory Port- No Go I have a 2015 C650 GT. When I try trickle charge using the accessory port in the cubby box my charger indicates no connection. If I turn it on it connects but all the accessory light, etc. are on. I tried this and believe it or not the battery that used to try to turn over ended up just clicking. So maybe the trickle charge puts out less than what the accessories take away. If I'm missing something here with trickle charging through the accessory port , please let me know.


Install Lead from Battery in Cubby I'm just going to install a separate lead from the battery. If you're not going to run a bunch of stuff off this… the cleanest way I can think of is just open the cubby door and you can drill about a 5/8 inch hole through the plastic side of the cubby and just run the connection right inside your cubby. No junkie stuff hanging off the bike.
 
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