daveriley123

iTrader: (1)

What are all you guys using? Car is parked on a drive but very close to house an power socket. Im a bit warey of using full socket power with the car being outside tho. What do you all think. Cheers

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Battery Brain.

http://www.batterybrain.co.uk/products.php?cat=5

300gnspitzer

You can get a solar powered trickle charger, only about £20. If your lighter socket is live with the ignition turned off you can plug it in there or you can clip it on the battery terminals then lay the solar panel on the dashboard. I don't know if it would be powerful enough to charge a flat battery but I know it will keep a good battery running an alarm topped up.

Trinity

iTrader: (28)

I tried every single one of the solar chargers, from the cigarette lighter ones to the more expensive OBD2 ones. Destroyed my battery on both accounts, drained it to the point the doors wouldnt open.

Will probably work if you hook it up to the battery directly, but its hassle having to disconnect it when you want to drive.

PhilWrx100

Hi. I'm using a Ctek 3.6amp trickle/ intelligent charger. So if I don't use the car for a week or so, I can plug it in for a few hours. It won't over charge the battery and will condition it also. I'm not sure about those solar chargers as I had a 1.5watt type and it did nothing (in my opinion). The large ones might be better.


Phil

Forester XT owner

I use a trickle charger that I purchased from Lidl for @ £14.


Allegedlyly it is a CTEK clone and has served me well with no problems.


It should not overcharge the battery or drain it.


They usually have them on offer just before and then also after Winter. At that price they sell out very quickly. I believe that ALDI also sell them from time to time


Have also used a 12 Volt Solar Charger which does manage to keep the battery topped up. The output power is 4 Watts and although it won't charge a flat battery it is better than those 1.5 Watt chargers. You can buy much more powerful solar chargers but then you need to have a controller with it.

I have my solar charger hard wired to the battery ( not with crocodile clips ) with the cable routed into the cabin above the dash. Simply place the charger on the dash and plug it in when not using the car for a week or so.

daveriley123

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for all you replys, they are much apprciated. Think im going to for for the bronze level one from battery brain.

Steve's Sti

iTrader: (2)

Ctek never fails mines is plugged in unless im out in the car

thenewgalaxy

CTEK FTW

Maz

iTrader: (34)

If you use the car occasionally then I'd go for that. If it's a daily driver then go for the one with the remote connect/disconnect.
That's what I went with. Great bit of kit and no more flat battery! You lose your radio presets but it doesn't bother me. It was just good not to have to charge the battery anymore.

dpb

Iv got CTEK M100. For boat battery. ( deep cycle Trojan )

daveriley123

iTrader: (1)

Very rarely use the car ( prob only twice a month). Alarm is driving me mad when its on the verge of being fully drained. Allways seems to be in the middle of the night. Dont really want to have to charge everytime i want to go out as mostly at the spare of the moment when its a nice day an im not working.

MrQaud

another +1 for the Ctek charger.

I had it on my TT, just left it permanently connected when not using the car. Now I've got the scoobie, it's on that. It has a short cable which you connect to the battery permanently and the end has a waterproof connector which you connect to the charger cable. When you want to drive the car, just disconnect the connector and poke down the side of the battery...
Think it cost me £50 from Amazon.

daveriley123

iTrader: (1)

Looks like the ctek then. Lots of good reviews an £20 cheaper. Thanks chaps.

Inviroman

iTrader: (2)

I use this one MXS 5.0T with the in car connector that shows battery state, nice a simple plug in.

theboywhippo

iTrader: (3)

Another vote for Ctek here, same install as Inviroman...



The little indicator thingy is a perfect fit in one of the classic coin holders

Paul.

daveriley123

iTrader: (1)

I have a uk blob sti. There is a blank where the auto ic spray button would be on a jdm. Hopefully it could go in there

SirFozzalot

That's what I use too. Great bit of kit.