Overcoming Parasitic Drain in Your Motorcycle
Finding the source of high parasitic drain in a motorcycle is time consuming and frustrating. Modern motorcycles have additional ' always on ' components requiring power to remain at ready for the( theoretical) convenience of the rider. Any motorcycle with key fob and / or electronic settings( e. g. suspension, mode settings) that need to remain in memory, will naturally have a higher parasitic drain. The most recent trend of factory fitted luggage that can be unlocked by a key fob, adds even more complexity that can lead to unintended higher drain. A modern BCM / ECM( Bike / Electronic Control Module) has a stand-by mode during which current draw should be very low, ideally in the sub 20 mA range, but it takes just one slightly malfunctioning component t( e. g. luggage locking relays, alarm system), or a keyfob stored on / near the parked motorcycle, to fire that BCM up to active status, resulting in a higher draw, sometimes up to 1 amp. This is without considering that electrical aftermarket accessories can also add to parasitic drain. Says Martin Human of TecMate: " the consequence of high parasitic draw left unattended in a parked vehicle is a deep discharged battery that will suffer permanent damage, the deeper the discharge the higher the level of damage it may suffer. " Not only can that mean a new battery, but it also results in rider disappointment and frustration that usually boils over to blaming of the vehicle and / or the dealer that sold it. Recommending the right charger for the job and the problem is very likely fixable- if the parasitic drain is less than 1 amp. For context, a parasitic drain of 100 mA results in a loss of 0.2 Ah daily." Martin ' s experience and research with motorcycle electrics has resulted in an ever-evolving range of TecMate battery chargers, maintainers and conditioners that can meet the rider ' s needs and deal with parasitic draw issues.
6 A Ampmatic lithium
The OptiMate 2 DUO delivers 2 Amps of charge current, designed to overcome high parasitic drain, whether it is unintended or deliberate. It also charges and maintains both lead-acid( flooded / VRLA / AGM / GEL) and lithium( LFP / LiFePO4) motorcycle batteries. It is TecMate ' s BRONZE category charger perfect for the rider that might say ' I have no idea, nor do I care, what battery I have ', I just want to keep it charged and ready. OptiMate 2 DUO also comes in a two-station and four-station format. If a smarter battery charger is required, one that can additionally save ' dead-flat ' batteries from as low as 0.5V then the OptiMate 4 Quad Program delivers 1.25 A of charge current and is the " ultimate charger for the discerning rider that prefers to choose exactly the right mode for their motorcycle. " If faster charging of any 12V lead-acid battery is a requirement, the OptiMate 6 Ampmatic( TM36x series) is the right choice. With its Ampmatic software, not only does it adjust current from its maximum of 6 amps to a lower level to match the size or condition of the connected battery, it also regulates charge voltage to ambient temperature, necessary if the battery is stored in extreme temperatures( below-10 ° C or above 35 ° C)- voltage is adjusted lower when hotter, higher when colder. " The ' 6A Ampmatic ' lithium equivalent is the OptiMate Lithium 4s 6A( TM39x series) with a unique Lithium Ampmatic software that also adjusts current according to battery size or condition, as well regulating charge current in extreme ambient temperatures( below 0 ° C or above 40 ° C). This product is globally recommended by both Honda and Suzuki for lithium engine start batteries in their vehicles. " Sometimes ' more power ' does solve the problem!"
OptiMate 2 DUO
TECMATE Tienen, BELGIUM Tel: + 32( 0) 16 805 440 www. tecmate. com www. optimate1. com
OptiMate 6 Ampmatic
28 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER- AUGUST 2025 www. AMDmag. com