My scooby doesn't get driven very often currently. I,m thinking about leaving a trickle charger attatched to the battery.
Anyone use one here? any recommendations? Any pitfalls?
Car is in the garage, ideally I would like to close the bonnet and set the alarm, thanks in advance

 

No much good if it's dark in the garage but I use one of these.

12V VOLT CAR BATTERY CHARGER SOLAR PANEL POWER NEW on eBay, also, Solar Panels, Gadgets, Consumer Electronics (end time 12-Mar-09 13:30:00 GMT)

 

This is the one i use.

CTEK XS 3600 Battery Charger and Maintainer

I can still close my bonnet and alarm the car. Just tuck the cable between the headlight and the wing.

 

I use optimate and accumate (I have one of each; Accumate does 6v and 12v for my bikes whilst the Optimate is better at de-sulphating and recovering neglected and discharged batteries).

I certainly would not reccomend leaving a lead-acid battery on a "dumb" trickle charger. It needs to have proper current AND voltage control to prevent gassing-off excessively (which gradually reduces its maximum capacity, eventually making it too weak to start thecar)


Everything you need to know about batteries...and then some: Car and Deep Cycle Battery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

Another vote here for optimate, use it mainly on the bike battery and sometimes on the car. It will recover batteries from deep discharge and prevent the sulphation build up over long periods.

 

i also use one of these,and they are great,you can leave it plugged in for months,and it charges and maintains the battery.Has won awards for its quality..

 

CTEK XS3600 Battery Charger Conditioner FREE DELIVERY on eBay, also, Other Car Accessories, Car Accessories, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 04-Mar-09 21:18:06 GMT)

bought one yesterday turned up today.

 

Looks like I have an answer, cheers guys.

 

Hi,

I have a couple of Battery Chargers which i highly recommend.

Have a look!

This one for 12V batteries from 1.2 to 120 Ah capacity

Designed for use with Gel and Lead Acid Batteries, Sealed, AGM or Flooded
Fully microprocessor controlled, automatically diagnoses, Recovers, charges and maintains batteries for months.

12V Automatic Battery Charger Electronic on eBay, also Tools Equipment, Accessories, Motorcycle Parts Accessories, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 05-Mar-09 13:25:27 GMT)


And this one designed for use with 12 Volt or 24 Volt Gel and Lead Acid Batteries, Sealed, AGM or Flooded

12V batteries from 14 to 230 Ah capacity and 24V batteries from 14 to 120Ah capacity

7 step fully automatic charging program, fully microprocessor controlled. Automatically selects battery voltage, diagnoses battery condition, recovers, charges and maintains batteries for months.

12-24 Volt Automatic Battery Charger Electronic on eBay, also Tools Equipment, Accessories, Motorcycle Parts Accessories, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 20-Mar-09 21:11:09 GMT)

 

C-TEK gets my vote, used for weeks on end and works great

 

trickle chargers are fine mate just disconnect the battery from the car mate , vent the battery and charge 6 hours a week would be plenty pal.
You can leave the battery in the usual place just disconnect the leads i say this from experience as once all the digital side of the electrics was fryed though leaving a charger all connected up and had to replace dash

 

C-Tek is a conditioner, so only on charge when battery falls to 95% and turns back off when recharged to 100%. Can be left connected permanently.