Trickle battery chargers - recommendations?

[Split_Pin]

Right I fed up of buying a new battery for the Coupe every year after laying it up over the winter so who can recommend me a decent make? Seen a Sealy one for 30 or a cheap one that looks like a phone charger with crocodile clips for 4. I need two.

[Jazoli]

I use ctek ones for the bikes and an aldi one for the car, the aldi one looks like a rebadged ctek anyway, no issues for many years usage.

[Split_Pin]

Cheers chap.

[gordonbennet]

I've used the CTEK and had several Lidl/Aldi equivalents.

They do the same job, but after a while the Lidl ones won't select mode for you, whilst the ctek which is older is still going strong.

Lidl jobbies roughly 1/3rd the price but seem to last 1/3rd as long.

 

Maybe its me buggering 'em up somehow.

[cobblers]

Ctek are the ones to go for. Either that or just take the negative terminal off the battery and it should last 6 months no probs.

[Jifflemon]

I spent a bit of cash and bought one of these:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-Heavy-Duty-Workshop-Dual-6v-12v-12A-Fast-Slow-Car-Battery-Charger-RCB312-/262229161171?hash=item3d0e1374d3:g:d1AAAOSwwPhWjtUE

 

My thinking behind it was that the jump start and fast charging settings are pretty bloody handy for when I discover that despite the battery being "on charge" for several days, the other half has decided to switch the socket off at the wall. 

 

its a really nice bit of kit and had zero problems with it.

[Kiltox]

I spent a bit of cash and bought one of these:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-Heavy-Duty-Workshop-Dual-6v-12v-12A-Fast-Slow-Car-Battery-Charger-RCB312-/262229161171?hash=item3d0e1374d3:g:d1AAAOSwwPhWjtUE

 

My thinking behind it was that the jump start and fast charging settings are pretty bloody handy for when I discover that despite the battery being "on charge" for several days, the other half has decided to switch the socket off at the wall.

 

its a really nice bit of kit and had zero problems with it.

Isn't 3A still a bit fast for a trickle charge?

[Jifflemon]

Ah missed the trickle charge bit!

[Split_Pin]

Cheers guys. After posting this up I have since heard that just taking the battery out and keeping it somewhere warm can work, so that's what I think I will do.

 

I suppose that's how Halfords store them!

[Jifflemon]

All batteries have a self discharge rate; its dependent on type of battery, state of charge, ambient temperature etc. 

 

Storing batteries in colder environments is actually better for them, because self-discharge is a chemical reaction and tends to occur more quickly at higher temperatures.

 

A trickle charger just adds sufficient current to match the self discharge rate, maintaining a constant float charge. The downside is you'd need to it connected to the battery constantly (and thus, the mains constantly).

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I have had a CTEK charger for quite a few years now - it has been excellent. The mode button is a bit dodgy these days though, so I wonder if the Lidl one is actually an older CTEK model and they have solved the problem on newer ones?

 

My Jag is bizarrely gentle on batteries - it takes months for it to discharge, even without a charger. I have no idea why it should be so good.

[Split_Pin]

My Astra ruined a brand new Bosch battery over last winter, totally drained in 6 months and wouldn't even take a sniff of charge. It's fine when in use though.

[gordonbennet]

I have had a CTEK charger for quite a few years now - it has been excellent. The mode button is a bit dodgy these days though, so I wonder if the Lidl one is actually an older CTEK model and they have solved the problem on newer ones?

 

My Jag is bizarrely gentle on batteries - it takes months for it to discharge, even without a charger. I have no idea why it should be so good.

 

Wish the Merc was like that, its always flattened a battery in about 2 weeks, not alone in that, previous E320 petrol W124 has done the same, not cheap shit either currently sports a Varta Silver.

[dollywobbler]

As mentioned, no need to remove the battery, just take the negative lead off. 

[Tamworthbay]

I use a bottom of the range check I got free with a practical classics subscription many many years ago, it lives connected to the Capri and works well. There is a little adaptor that lives on the car and you just plug it in.

[Alusilber]

I bought a CTEK MXS 3.8 for the 924 off Amazon for about £50. Only really used it to charge up a flat battery once, but looks like a good bit of gear. Comes with short leads you can permanently attach to the battery posts so no need for the crocodile clips.

 

Also got a £15 Richbrook "Dis-Car-Nect" battery isolator that lets you connect/disconnect the earth lead without spanners.

[Royale80]

I've got an Aldi one-still working although if it has been on and you want to change the mode you have to turn it off for an hour or so.

 

I use a solar panel in my Range Rover- the battery is over 11 years old. Seems to work-will start easily if left for a few weeks whilst on holiday.

 

Steve

[Split_Pin]

As mentioned, no need to remove the battery, just take the negative lead off.

One car is outside under a cover though, was thinking it would be best to take the battery inside?

[Jifflemon]

How for is the car from a PowerPoint though? Is it feasible to bag it on charge, say, once a month? If so, I'd make some fly leads from the battery that can connect to the charger.

[pshome]

Start/mode button failed on my Ctek after 3 years of occasional use making it useless, not recommended.

[Noel Tidybeard]

7 amp maypole one has been doing my shizzle for some years- they only do 3 amp* version these days

 

*edit 4 amp*

[Bfg]

I use a solar panel in my Range Rover- the battery is over 11 years old. Seems to work-will start easily if left for a few weeks whilst on holiday.

 

Steve

 

 

I have an old solar charger, that I bought with the boat, which I think is rated at 5amp.  On a sunny day a voltmeter reads over 15v with both connected to a small battery.   Is 5amp too much just to leave connected for weeks ?   And if so -  if I leave it in the car half-shaded will that be a safer bet ? 

 

And does anyone know how to check if it will back drain when the sun is in (I know it shouldn't but as I say this panel over 10 years old).

 

I'll be leaving my Chrysler Voyager for three weeks soon, and with built in motion / alarm detectors I'd rather not come back to a wasted battery before winter.  And because of said alarm, having to re-code the radio, and because the vehicle will be in airport parking - I'd rather not have to disconnect the battery. 

 

Thanks, Bfg

 

EDit : photo below added for further information

 

oops just noticed it says 24v !

[cobblers]

15v for more than a couple of hours is definitely bad news for the battery.

[colino]

Lidl el cheapo charger is still going strong and hooked up permanently to the Jag that will be looked at, sometime.

Plenty of youtube videos on the mode switch repair that appears to afflict the ctek/lidl/aldi chargers, although maybe the affected cteks are actually Chinese ebay knock-offs.

[Bfg]

Cobblers ..Thanks !

[hpi_matrix]

These are decent if you can find one cheap: https://www.gumtree.com/p/car-part-accessories/gunson-12v-automatic-car-battery-charger/1178827086

[Split_Pin]

Solved. Meganes battery is causing a slow turnover on the cold mornings so the one from the Astra is going in.

[cobblers]

Cobblers ..Thanks !

Put a diode inline with the solar panel and you'll drop 0.7v across it making it easier on the battery A 1n5401 will do the trick, they're pence off ebay. Put it in the Positive lead with the stripe towards the battery.

[SgtWilson]

The other bit of information you need is which lead to put the diode in......😸

[drum]

I like the idea of a solar trickle charger.

 

http://www.tradecounterdirect.com/product/sealey-solar-power-panel-12v-1-5w-spp01_battery-maintenance.html?gclid=CLvhvsXuwc8CFVQo0wod9a4P5A

 

Would it work on, say, three batteries connected in parallel?