OptiMate - "helping your customer to choose the right charger"
TecMate has created a rider-friendly webpage that lists the 2024 range of OptiMate battery chargers for powersport applications - designed to help the rider choose the right charger for their needs and their budget.
It arranges the OptiMate range by three levels - Easy, More and Best - according to function, popularity and the rider's battery knowledge.
The EASY Group
The OptiMate DUO battery charger concept has been developed for the "modern rider" who, most likely, will not know technical details of the 12V battery in their vehicle - they simply want a cost-effective battery maintenance option.
All OptiMate DUO battery chargers can charge and maintain a stored vehicle's 12V battery. More specifically, they can automatically charge and maintain a 12V Pb/lead-acid (flooded, VRLA, AGM & GEL) or a 12.8V/13.2V LFP Lithium (Lithium Ferrous Phosphate/LiFePO4).
All the rider has to do is connect the DUO to their 12V battery and it will automatically adapt to the battery type and take care of it.
The Bronze series OptiMate 1 DUO is the most popular choice, with OptiMate 2 DUO offering 2A of charge current for a faster charge. OptiMate 2 DUO is also available in a two- and four-station format.
If riders do not have AC power where their vehicles are stored, the Off-Grid series includes solar powered and DC to DC powered options. The OptiMate SOLAR DUO 10W is ideal for maintenance of any 12V powersport battery, with the 20W and 40W versions offering a faster charge.
The OptiMate DC-DUO sources power from a 12V vehicle system or separate 12V battery, ideal if the vehicle is stored in underground parking or the rider wants to charge a 12V battery on the go (e.g. powersport vehicle on trailer or at the racetrack). It can also reset the smart BMS (Battery Management System) of a LFP lithium battery.
The MORE Group
These chargers in this group are battery-chemistry specific - which enables them to apply the correct recovery mode to bring the connected dead-flat battery safely back to life.
This group is popular with motorcycle OEMs or knowledgeable riders who prefer a battery charger that is designed for the specific battery in their vehicle.
The Silver series OptiMate 3 can save, charge, test and maintain a 12V Pb/lead-acid (flooded, VRLA, AGM & GEL). OptiMate 3 is also available in two-station and four-station format.
The LITHIUM series OptiMate Lithium 4s 0.8A can reset the BMS and then save, charge, test and maintain a 12.8V/13.2V LFP (Lithium Ferrous Phosphate/LiFePO4) lithium-ion battery. It is also available as a four-station option.
The BEST Group
The Gold series OptiMate 4 Quad programme has all the features of the EASY and MORE group combined into a single smart battery charger, and it can maintain the battery of a BMW motorcycle via its CAN bus controlled 12V socket. This makes it the popular choice of BMW motorcycle riders and riders of other brands that prefer a single battery charger that can do it all.
OptiMate 4 Quad offers four selectable programmes to save, charge, test and maintain 12V Pb/lead-acid (flooded, VRLA, AGM & GEL) or a 12.8V/13.2V LFP Lithium (Lithium Ferrous Phosphate/LiFePO4) battery directly, in or out of the vehicle, or charge, test and maintain via the CAN bus controlled 12V socket of BMW motorcycles.
Two models are offered, and both are identical in operation. The standard OptiMate 4 Quad programme includes a handlebar hanging hook, a set of battery clips and a separate fused battery lead harness. The OptiMate 4 Quad programme Premium edition also includes the SAE-to-DIN plug adapter that enables connection to the 12V power socket on BMW and Triumph motorcycles.
TecMate CEO Martin Human says that "no matter the choice made by the rider, all OptiMates in the line-up share features such as 'no supervision required' automatic operation, 'connect and forget' 24-7 battery maintenance and eco-friendly efficient power conversion technologies that reduce electricity usage, i.e. the rider's battery is kept in tip-top shape at the lowest cost."
TECMATE