American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 225 April 2018 | Page 54

New battery activation made
easy – and fast!
New battery activation is important to guarantee
new batteries will deliver their rated power and
cranking amps for longer than the warranty offered
by the manufacturer - but doing so is never a dealer’s
favorite way to spend time!
One thing dealers don’t have in abundance is time.
New battery activation can take a long time, and
when under pressure to have a new vehicle ready for
a customer within hours, it is an often overlooked but
important aspect of pre-delivery preparation.
Since the 1990s TecMate has made battery
activation easier for dealers and OEMs alike. Many
motorcycle OEMs recommend TecMate’s OptiMate
PRO-S battery charger and tester and the OptiMate
PRO-4 4-bank version – both have automated
battery activation and reduce the task to the level of
‘quick and easy’.
After the acid pack has completely drained into the
battery and a sealing strip has been fitted, they
activate a new battery within an hour - and do so
easily - all the technician has to do is Select NEW and
connect the battery. Done! Yes, it really is that easy!
During NEW activation OptiMate PRO’s unique
Ampmatic charge method and pulsing absorption
mode fully activates all six cells and brings the battery
from 70% to full charge within an hour or less. The
green TEST light confirms the new battery is charged
and ready for fitment.
For new factory activated batteries that may have
been in storage for up to a year or more, there is a
2A and 4A selection that allows more time if needed.
The best practice for factory activated batteries is to
recharge every three months, in order to prevent
‘killer’ sulphation build-up weakening the battery. If
a battery did sulphate to the point that it does not
hold charge any longer, OptiMate PRO’s two-step
recovery mode can bring it back from as low as 2
volts.
New products in stock at Drag Specialties
Predator 2-up seat
Smart dealers will, of course, know that fitting an
OptiMate cable O-01 weatherproof battery lead
allows them to upsell the customer on an OptiMate
battery saving maintainer, so they don’t ever have to
experience that battery being returned ‘under
warranty’. OptiMate O-01 cables are available in four
packs, a jar of 20 and even a box of 100.
There’s nothing worse than wa