Faulty Optimate Battery Charger Fixed

[boy lex]

I just wanted to share this on the off-chance that it helps someone else with the same problem.

My bike went flat the other day and so I reached for the optimate and plugged it in. 24 hours later the light is still yellow/amber saying it's charging. 48 hours later, the same. Voltage reads 12.25V across the battery at all times.

I tried a few things like wiggling connectors, and eventually replacing the apparently sometimes dodgy connectors entirely, but nothing was working.

I was looking up new chargers and didn't fancy shelling out for a new one, so I took the old one apart...

Turns out one of the capacitors was shot. The big 2200µF job that I guess filters the charge current. Not hugely obvious, but a small amount of electrolyte residue at the bottom.

Swapped it out and bingo - battery voltage rising nicely.

Cost of new charger - £50

Cost of new capacitor - £1.09

While I was looking for the answer I saw that a few people had the same issue, but they'd all ended up back at the shop/in the bin, so hopefully the google spiders will do their job and this may end up being of use to someone!

Cheers!!

[mudster]

I've just bought a new Optimate 3+ to replace my original which has gone faulty. I'm going to take the old one apart now and have a look and see if I can fix it. It'll do as a spare.

Thanks for the post.

[Oldred_V8S]

boy lex said:

I just wanted to share this on the off-chance that it helps someone else with the same problem.

My bike went flat the other day and so I reached for the optimate and plugged it in. 24 hours later the light is still yellow/amber saying it's charging. 48 hours later, the same. Voltage reads 12.25V across the battery at all times.

I tried a few things like wiggling connectors, and eventually replacing the apparently sometimes dodgy connectors entirely, but nothing was working.

I was looking up new chargers and didn't fancy shelling out for a new one, so I took the old one apart...

Turns out one of the capacitors was shot. The big 2200µF job that I guess filters the charge current. Not hugely obvious, but a small amount of electrolyte residue at the bottom.

Swapped it out and bingo - battery voltage rising nicely.

Cost of new charger - £50

Cost of new capacitor - £1.09

While I was looking for the answer I saw that a few people had the same issue, but they'd all ended up back at the shop/in the bin, so hopefully the google spiders will do their job and this may end up being of use to someone!

Cheers!!

Nice one Filed for later

[Ewan-73h4r]

Hi

i hope you're still around! - same issue so looked for 2000uf capacitor online - what operating voltage cos there seems to be many options (ps non techy but want to try it and can solder)

cheers

Ewan

[Paper Lawyer]

My Ctech optimate packed up a few weeks ago and, after some internet investigations, I discovered the selector switch was the issue. A very cheap fix via the wonders of ebay to buy a replacement switch and solder it on (even with my poor soldering skills). Read the comments to this youtube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1NRN2u8d5E

[PositronicRay]

Paper Lawyer said:

My Ctech optimate packed up a few weeks ago and, after some internet investigations, I discovered the selector switch was the issue. A very cheap fix via the wonders of ebay to buy a replacement switch and solder it on (even with my poor soldering skills). Read the comments to this youtube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1NRN2u8d5E

Thanks, bookmarked.

My button has started to fail, it takes multiple pushes to change functions, wondering if a squirt of switch cleaner may help.

Anyone know of a neater solution than a dangling switch.

[m996tt]

Went to use my Optimate the other Day and found it dead, checked fuse and found it ok.

So opened it up to have a look see inside and found a dead spider fried inside. There
was no fuses inside so I peeled back the cover on the transformer and found a thermal fuse
that had blown, just a heads up in case yours is kaput.

[boy lex]

Ewan-73h4r said:

Hi

i hope you're still around! - same issue so looked for 2000uf capacitor online - what operating voltage cos there seems to be many options (ps non techy but want to try it and can solder)

cheers

Ewan

Youch! Do you know what. I must be getting old cos it's only 4 years later and I only vaguely remember doing this! Sorry - wish I could be more helpful!

I would have thought there's a voltage marked on the capacitor that you're removing - so as long as you're above that it should be fine.

[s8mac]

m996tt said:

Went to use my Optimate the other Day and found it dead, checked fuse and found it ok.

So opened it up to have a look see inside and found a dead spider fried inside. There
was no fuses inside so I peeled back the cover on the transformer and found a thermal fuse
that had blown, just a heads up in case yours is kaput.

just did the same to mine ad it dont work can you remember wher the duse was please i know undr the black but where any chance please

[Keithinnotts]

Crikey... 11yrs on and I'm reviving this thread😁
So, I have 5 of these Optimate chargers now, and three are broken ( in a way that sounds similar to the OP ).
The most defunct of them has been in a box at the back of the garage since about 2010.
The most recent one packed up a couple of months ago.
I contacted Techmate/ Optimate to see if they recognised that there is an issue here? They said that they offer a repair for £30 for each one, plus postage costs. Then I distinctly detected a disparaging remark in the advice that most don't find the repair service economical 🤔
So, with those 3 broken ones, I'm pursuing another option at the moment, and will post the outcome in due course. I know that I've found a very helpful local technician to look at them, here in the East Midlands.
Needless to say this though, I thought that these chargers were supposed to be quality; they were certainly dear enough. But I won't be buying any more Optimates in the future ( Ive bought a couple of Oxford branded chargers, to be going on with ).
More anon...