Optimate Battery and Bike Tester

[BigBikeMad]

I found this little gadget... what I liked about it is that is tests the alternator as well as the battery...

I have the Optimate 3 on my K1300GT and this just clips onto the same lead - so no need to even disturb the battery when checking. =D>

https://youtu.be/PlaOewU0g_U



Dave

[Rob Frankhamr]

This is just a LED linear voltmeter. You can do the same test with a digital multimeter for a third of the cost and do a lot more besides...

The other thing is that the video is wrong. This doesn't test the battery's cranking power (just it's voltage during a start, which is notwhere near the same thing) or really it's health (which is it's capacity to hold charge). It shows voltages under various very limited conditions and that's all.

Rob

[BigBikeMad]

I love it!

I also posted the wrong version of the video which did not include the testing of the charging system.

Here is the correct version

https://youtu.be/PlaOewU0g_U

[Rob Frankhamr]

I gathered you were impressed...

Unfortunately, I would still say that it is overpriced and tells you nothing that you can't see from a simple DVM which you can pick up just about anywhere for a tenner. The DVM will also give you a whole host of other functions involving vehicle electrics, mains and low voltage battery systems. I tend to carry a small DVM when I'm going any distance and this item wouldn't tell me anything more than I could tell from that.

Rob

[DEEP DIVER]

At work we used clip on amp meters to measure amp charge and starting draw, like this type. You just clip them over any of the battery cables on a straight part of the cable . And a DVM to measure volts.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Durite-0-534 ... SwOd9duB~X

[Mjolinor]

Thsi is what I use for measuring big current:
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/clamp-me ... %3Atrue%7D

[DEEP DIVER]

Thsi is what I use for measuring big current:
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/clamp-me ... %3Atrue%7D

We used them on the electric fork trucks to check the drive motor current. But a bit big for a motorcycle.

[Mjolinor]

Ah, yes. The resolution aint much cop for small currents but with thin wires I just wrap the wire round the clamp then divide the result by the number of times I went round. :)

[BigBikeMad]

I gathered you were impressed...

UInfortunately, I would still say that it is overpriced and tells you nothing that you can't see from a simple DVM which you can pick up just about anywhere for a tenner. The DVM will also give you a whole host of other functions involving vehicle electrics, mains and low voltage battery systems. I tend to carry a small DVM when I'm going any distance and this item wouldn't tell me anything more than I could tell from that.

Rob

Fair enough - each to their own! =D>