General topics » Power connectors and battery chargers

Still learning my way around my new (to me) RS...

I don't know if it's standard or not, but mine has a dual USB port and a cigarette-lighter socket built in to the fairing; the cig lighter socket accepts my existing tyre pump and powers it up happily without objecting, so that's good. But what about about the other, different, socket on the side of the bike near the battery? Is that just a 'power-in' one for the BMW battery charger, or is that a power supply too?

Regarding maintaining the battery when the bike is not in regular use; it sounds like the RS is in particular need of that because of all its electrickery, right? I do already have an electronic trickle charger which has served me well on my previous bike, but it needs to be hooked up direct to the battery terminals, which it seems will be a bit of a pain to do routinely with the RS. Can I get hold of a plug for my charger to connect direct to the bike, or will I likely blow up my RS if I try that!?

I notice from the labels on the auxiliary fusebox under the pillion seat that the previous owner seems to have had an Optimate. I also notice some extra plugs and sockets on the bike - there's a 3.5mm in-line socket under the rider's seat (circled yellow in my photo), and a 3.5mm plug tucked inside the fairing (circled red). I'm assuming those two are connected, but haven't tested for continuity yet. There's a further unconnected plug (circled green) under the fairing; though that looks like part of the bike's wiring harness. Would any of these connectors be related to battery chargjng, maybe via an Optimate? Or could that have plugged in to the bike's bespoke socket? Would be grateful for any insight!


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I replaced the existing DIN socket with a 16 amp job wired direct to the battery and used the redundant Canbus supply for a USB socket and voltmeter which is good for sat nav and charging phones and my camera. It means that you can use accessories which can draw 5+ amps, like a mini compressor, without the Canbus going into a sulk and the USB socket / LED voltmeter switches off after 5 minutes so no battery drain. You can also charge your battery via the DIN socket without needing to buy a Canbus specific Optimate!

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Zitat von Tony101 im Beitrag #2

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I replaced the existing DIN socket with a 16 amp job wired direct to the battery and used the redundant Canbus supply for a USB socket and voltmeter

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Compressors seem to work fine ...... until they're under load and then the Canbus throws its teddy out of the pram. A Din socket is what's on your side panel on the right hand side of your bike.

Freddy, The DIN socket under your right leg is the only thing that is original to the bike. That is on the CanBus and has a max of 5 amp draw. It also shuts down a few minutes after the bike is shut off. Not useable for charging unless you have the trick CanBus charger.

The sockets and plugs you are finding on the bike were added by the previous owner, so we can only guess from here. The fuse box shown in your first post was added also. Normally this is powered from the battery and would offer both switched and unswitched supplier for user added items. You will need to check to see if the front mounted socket is unswitched. If it is, then use that for charging with your normal tender type charger.

Wot he said. Did you not get the manual with the bike? Naughty. For charging through the DIN socket you will need a BMW charger or other canbus compatible charger like the Optimate.

On my 2016 directly above what they call the battery cover on the left side as your sitting on the bike, or the sidestand side. There is an SAE connector that I have not really looked into yet but it looks stock, and looks like it goes directly to the battery, do to it's location.
I do not find this anywhere in the manual.
Gator

Thanks everyone; it's all gradually making sense now! Yes I do have the manual, however it's not the clearest on this topic; plus there's some confusion on my part due to a fair few (useful) extras having been fitted by the previous owner leaving me unclear which is which (so I seem to have at least 4 sockets when the manual assumes there's just the one).

Presumably a safe option if I don't want to dump my perfectly good charger in favour of a £££ optimate or BMW CanBus-compatible device, I can just connect a semi-permanent cable to the battery, leading to an in-line socket under the seat to hook up to my charger, couldn't I (if I can't track down Gator's mysterious SAE socket!)

Am realising that my new status of BMW ownership isn't one for tightarses, is it?! (I knew that beforehand, but as a Yorkshireman it just goes against the grain!)

Zitat von gator im Beitrag #7

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On my 2016 directly above what they call the battery cover on the left side as your sitting on the bike, or the sidestand side. There is an SAE connector that I have not really looked into yet but it looks stock, and looks like it goes directly to the battery, do to it's location.
I do not find this anywhere in the manual.
Gator

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I guess that makes good sense as I could not find it in the manual, but the previous owner was quick to point it out. he did not know anything about the DIN connector that is talked about in the manual but doesn't specify a location as is very stealthy.
Gator

I guess that makes good sense as I could not find it in the manual, but the previous owner was quick to point it out. he did not know anything about the DIN connector that is talked about in the manual but doesn't specify a location as is very stealthy.
Gator