All you garage types.....
#1
All you garage types.....
Which battery charger?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Master-Cha...91393061&rt=nc
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUTOCHARGE...91393061&rt=nc
The top one is the dearest, but doesn't seem to be a smart charger, the bottom two do.
Ring and Sealey, I've heard of.
Anyone use any of the above and can comment?
Ring Automotive RCB312 Fully Auto Battery Charger Metal Case, 6/ 12 V, 12 A: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Master-Cha...91393061&rt=nc
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUTOCHARGE...91393061&rt=nc
The top one is the dearest, but doesn't seem to be a smart charger, the bottom two do.
Ring and Sealey, I've heard of.
Anyone use any of the above and can comment?
#2
Scooby Regular
or you could look at a CTEK MXS 3.8 or one of their other ones
http://www.ctek.com/gb/en/chargers/MXS%203.8
I have one and it works a treat
http://www.ctek.com/gb/en/chargers/MXS%203.8
I have one and it works a treat
#4
Scooby Regular
Think I got mine off Amazon or Ebay, can't remember which now.
They have a maintenance mode which kicks in following a charge cycle if left connected, I use it when I'm away for extended periods. Suppose it depends on your use requirement, but from what I've read they will charge from flat but they are not fast chargers.
They have a maintenance mode which kicks in following a charge cycle if left connected, I use it when I'm away for extended periods. Suppose it depends on your use requirement, but from what I've read they will charge from flat but they are not fast chargers.
#5
or you could look at a CTEK MXS 3.8 or one of their other ones
http://www.ctek.com/gb/en/chargers/MXS%203.8
I have one and it works a treat
http://www.ctek.com/gb/en/chargers/MXS%203.8
I have one and it works a treat
#6
And another vote for ctek - quality kit
Something like - http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-mxs5.0.php
Something like - http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-mxs5.0.php
Last edited by PJA; 02 February 2015 at 07:37 PM.
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#11
I bought the CTEK MXS 5.0 about a year and a half ago - really excellent charger/conditioner. I use it every couple of weeks on the GB270 wagon to 'maintain' the battery - seems to work really well and is so much better than Draper/Sealey and so on. Just used it on our new Volvo XC90 which battery went flat after tinkering with DVD's/stereo and such - 800 A battery and fully charged and conditioned in one night so works brilliantly. Also has/does a check for battery condition.
Worth every penny (IMHO)
Worth every penny (IMHO)
Last edited by henrysmith; 03 February 2015 at 08:17 AM.
#13
Just been onto C-Tek.
First off, their charger won't even "see" the battery if it's flat. completely discahrged, which mine almost certainly is
Secondly, they will not honour the warranty of any of their charger bought off ebay
They make big play of "price match" on their site, but there's the get-out.
Not for me, I don't think.
First off, their charger won't even "see" the battery if it's flat. completely discahrged, which mine almost certainly is
Secondly, they will not honour the warranty of any of their charger bought off ebay
They make big play of "price match" on their site, but there's the get-out.
Not for me, I don't think.
#15
Optimate 4. Very good bit of kit! its even revived what were previously thought to be knackered batteries for me.
Get the hardwire plug aswell and hide it in the grill for convenience.
Get the hardwire plug aswell and hide it in the grill for convenience.
#17
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Just been onto C-Tek.
First off, their charger won't even "see" the battery if it's flat. completely discahrged, which mine almost certainly is
Secondly, they will not honour the warranty of any of their charger bought off ebay
They make big play of "price match" on their site, but there's the get-out.
Not for me, I don't think.
First off, their charger won't even "see" the battery if it's flat. completely discahrged, which mine almost certainly is
Secondly, they will not honour the warranty of any of their charger bought off ebay
They make big play of "price match" on their site, but there's the get-out.
Not for me, I don't think.
Think Ctek has a problem with counterfeit copies...which are rife on eBay.
My Optimate does detect batteries below 4 volts...it goes into suphation mode if it does. Think the minimum is 2volts. Although most batteries I have below that voltage are shagged and lost at least their half of their usefull Ah capacity once "recovered" (i.e a 100amp hour battery is now just 50amp hours, still starts cars fine, but useless for anything else).
Its easy enough to get these charger running on a totally dead battery though...I've previously jumped a small 12v alarm battery across the dead lead acid battery and the charger detected it, started charging, then after a minute removed the alarm battery.
The idea of these chargers is they can be left on all the time so you don't **** your battery up by letting it go below 11volts (and yours will be fecked).
I personally wouldn't touch a non-brand, Ring or Sealey battery boiler (or anything made by Sealey...90% of their stuff is re-branded chinese junk). Unless it was £20 and just used for bulk charging which is all they are good for....I've got a few old chargers for that job, never use them now.
#18
Yeah, thanks for that Ali, I value your opinion as someone on the ground, as it were.
I've virtually come to the conclusion that nowt will renovate my exisiting battery, so will get a decent one and probably the C-Tek MXS5.0, leave the permanent connection on the Scoob.
Then it can be wall-mounted and used for the other cars if necessary.
NOW I'm into nearer £120..........you can't win.
I've virtually come to the conclusion that nowt will renovate my exisiting battery, so will get a decent one and probably the C-Tek MXS5.0, leave the permanent connection on the Scoob.
Then it can be wall-mounted and used for the other cars if necessary.
NOW I'm into nearer £120..........you can't win.
#19
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (51)
The optimate charger can also help repair shagged batteries.
mine is left on all the time and just ticks over keeping the battery optimised. It goes into different stages automatically to check the health etc and charges in different ways depending on the condition of the battery.
mine is left on all the time and just ticks over keeping the battery optimised. It goes into different stages automatically to check the health etc and charges in different ways depending on the condition of the battery.
#20
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (7)
+1
Not sure what number it is but I have an optimate conditioner charger, it must be getting on for 9yrs old and still going strong, kept my Type R battery alive for 4yrs and the blobs battery for the best part of 2 years and I'm still on the same battery now another almost 2yrs later, so gets my vote.
Not sure what number it is but I have an optimate conditioner charger, it must be getting on for 9yrs old and still going strong, kept my Type R battery alive for 4yrs and the blobs battery for the best part of 2 years and I'm still on the same battery now another almost 2yrs later, so gets my vote.
Last edited by ditchmyster; 03 February 2015 at 11:27 PM.
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