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Need a good trickle charger

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Old 29 March 2013, 06:58 PM
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-shane-
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Default Need a good trickle charger

Guys I need a good trickle charger, my classic impreza seems to be have a problem starting in the morning and after a full day at work, if I drive the car stop for petrol it starts straight away. It turns over and starts and dies start it again and its fine normal revs low for a split sec and its normal, on an average week the car is doing 10 miles a day Monday to Friday and then sits in the garage all weekend unless I get a chance to go for a drive,

I'm thinking the battery might just need to be kept on a trickle charger, can anyone recommend anything?
Old 29 March 2013, 08:52 PM
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apac
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Hows about a battery conditioner. Look up CTEK battery conditioner they are about £50 iirc
Old 29 March 2013, 08:58 PM
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CTEK CTE-MXS5.0 5A 12V Car Battery Charger: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike CTEK CTE-MXS5.0 5A 12V Car Battery Charger: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
Old 29 March 2013, 08:58 PM
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F1 CJE UK
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As above CTEK

You can get a contractor to fit to the car to make it easy to unplug.
Old 29 March 2013, 08:59 PM
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pop to Lidl`s, they had a cracking conditioner for £13,
I have had 1 for a while now and its spot on.
Old 29 March 2013, 09:16 PM
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I tried a couple out and found this to be spot on.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300880788399?redirect=mobile

Used to leave it on for weeks and sometimes months at a time.
Old 29 March 2013, 09:23 PM
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Make sure when you drive it you have the lights on as well otherwise there won't be enough of a drain to kick the charging circuit into action.
Old 29 March 2013, 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by ditchmyster
Make sure when you drive it you have the lights on as well otherwise there won't be enough of a drain to kick the charging circuit into action.
Thought that only applied to newages with those stupid 'smart alternators'. I never had any issues with my classic.
Old 29 March 2013, 09:44 PM
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Cheers guys will take a look, I've just had a look at the car last used yesterday and on the apexi before starting its showing 11.3 is that a little low?
Old 29 March 2013, 11:09 PM
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Originally Posted by -shane-
Cheers guys will take a look, I've just had a look at the car last used yesterday and on the apexi before starting its showing 11.3 is that a little low?
+1 for CTEK

Old 29 March 2013, 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by ditchmyster
Make sure when you drive it you have the lights on as well otherwise there won't be enough of a drain to kick the charging circuit into action.
+1
Old 29 March 2013, 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by simb 2
+1 for CTEK

Cheers mate do u recommend a particular one?

Do you think 11.3 v is low another to cause the car to struggle when starting?

If I use the car a few days in a row is it safe to plug in in every time I park up
Old 29 March 2013, 11:21 PM
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I have the CTEK3600 that works a treat, but this one look very similar in spec and operation

http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Cotech-...er/Pr182692000
Old 30 March 2013, 12:34 PM
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Cheers guys will be buying one,

Is 11.3v before starting likely to cause problems starting?

I didn't know about the lights I will keep them on :-)
Old 02 April 2013, 06:46 PM
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CTEK XS 0.8 12V 1.2A - 32A 6-Stage Battery Charger:Amazon:Car & Motorbike CTEK XS 0.8 12V 1.2A - 32A 6-Stage Battery Charger:Amazon:Car & Motorbike

Any good?
Old 02 April 2013, 07:06 PM
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Looks very similar to mine
Old 02 April 2013, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by JonMc
Looks very similar to mine
Nice one think ill buy it, still not used car and its now showing 10.8v so take it car will struggle to start.

Would it be best to wait to get battery conditioner on it, or can I just stick a jump pack on the battery and start it that way
Old 02 April 2013, 09:19 PM
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Battery voltage is usually termed as 12.5 = poor, 12.6 = good and 12.7 = Excellent. Any battery with an 11 volt or 10 volt charge is going to struggle if able to start at all on a cold start.
Old 03 April 2013, 12:32 AM
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Have u considered the battery might be done/knackered, so y not buy a new battery? trickle charging will work for a few months if ure lucky or until u get stranded when it wont turn it over at all.
Old 03 April 2013, 01:38 PM
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Halfords do one for 25pounds. Ive lot one. Use it when car is parked up longer than 3days. Just plugs In like a phone charger.
Old 03 April 2013, 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by bioforger
Have u considered the battery might be done/knackered, so y not buy a new battery? trickle charging will work for a few months if ure lucky or until u get stranded when it wont turn it over at all.
I have thought about it but this is the battery is has

http://www.optimabatteries.co.uk/en/...-on-right.html

Cost about £150 2 years ago so shouldn't really be knacked just yet.
Old 03 April 2013, 03:56 PM
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Love my C-tek
Best money I ever spent

Spec C battery plus 2k miles a year (max) needs it!

Last edited by B4D HK; 03 April 2013 at 03:57 PM.
Old 03 April 2013, 06:48 PM
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Seconded!
Old 03 April 2013, 10:06 PM
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Got myself a CTEK as well.

Nice bit of kit and works well.

I got the MSX 5.0 by the way

Last edited by SirFozzalot; 03 April 2013 at 10:09 PM. Reason: Model number added
Old 03 April 2013, 11:05 PM
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all you need
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_255205
Old 04 April 2013, 10:11 AM
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Sounds much more like a knackered battery than needing a trickle charger to me.......
Old 04 April 2013, 11:27 AM
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Yep sounds like the battery has had it. Shouldn't be going down to 10v over the weekend. Have u tested the acid in it with a refractometer? Also check you have no 'dead' cells
Old 04 April 2013, 09:37 PM
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It's now on a trickle charge so will see what happens, the led is saying battery charging and the option for dead battery isn't on
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