Battery Conditioners

[raceboy]

As I seem to be using my car less and less (which kind of makes you wonder if spending a shed load of cash on a new one is a good idea ) I think I ought to invest in some sort of Battery Conditioner to keep it in tip top shape so it's ready to go on that sunny sunday once a month when I get chance to use it
Anyway I've seem them at anything from £11.69 to £70.00 I'm guessing theres quite a bit of differance between those 2 units but how much different can they be
So what are you lot using, and just what is the difference

[simpo two]

I have one of these:

www.calamander.co.uk/batteryconditioners/airflow.htm

Fits on the garage wall (or hangs on the side window), plugs into cig socket. Worth every penny for the peace of mind.

[david010167]

I have an Optimate, which is wired in the boot. I simply plug the car in at night and the Conditioner keeps the battery in tip top condition. I have no idea what model it is as the previouse owner fitted it, but it certainly works well.

BTW: I shut the boot with the cable sticking out of the boot and plugged into the wall, thus keeping te car secure and it allows me to arm the alarm with it all connected up.

David

[kojak69]

I think you will find the Optimate is from Leven, priced at £45. I got one a few months ago.

www.leventechnology.co.uk/

[herbie hammer]

Have a dekko at the Leven catalogue as thats where I got mine from and they deliver quickly as well

HH.

[raceboy]

So what does the £70 Leven one do that the £45 one doesn't, at £70 I'd expect the thing to have a cup of tea waiting for me in the car
And what does the £45 leven one do that the £11 one doesn't

[satman]

I have the Accumate fitted by Castle TVR, (part of the purchase deal i hassen to add, so not sure of their fiited price). They recommend the accumate as you can leave it connected for longer periods of time without cooking the battery. It also senses when the battery is in need of a top up and automatically recharges till optimum charge is achieved.I think the accumate is available from leven and looks fairly easy to install.

[leventech]

If anyone would like an explination of the difference between the AccuMate v AccuMate PRO v OptiMate please call us. Tel: [phone]

[redboy]

I have the Optimate from Leven with the optional cigarette lighter lead (no wiring in etc) which has worked fine on my Griffith for about 2 years now.

[simpo two]

satman said:

you can leave it connected for longer periods of time without cooking the battery. It also senses when the battery is in need of a top up and automatically recharges till optimum charge is achieved.

All 'conditioners' do that - that's what separates them from ordinary battery chargers and trickle chargers.

[Ballistic Banana]

I have an Optimate 3 which I swoop between my CBR600 and my Griff, had it about 2years and it has been excellent.
Have used it to bring a dead battery slowely back to life properly rather than boost charging which i dont think does teh cells much good..

BB

[kojak69]

The standard Accumate (not optimate as I originally said) will do fine for what you want.

One thing to bear in mind. Dont try trickle charging the battery in the car using a 'normal car charger' similar to the ones from Halfords/Argos, if the ampage is over 7amps. I got one first and then read somewhere regarding my cerbera, that this could damage electrical components in the car. I guess its similar with your Chim. Hence the decision to go for the Accumate from Leven.

[bassfiend]

Ballistic Banana said:

I have an Optimate 3 which I swoop between my CBR600 and my Griff, had it about 2years and it has been excellent. Have used it to bring a dead battery slowely back to life properly rather than boost charging which i dont think does teh cells much good.. BB

Seconded - boost charging a flat battery causes a huge amount of stress on the cells by creating a rapid temperature rise within the cells and excessive gassing.

If you do have a completely flat battery then bringing it back slowly is far less likely to destroy it in the process!

Phil

[Ffirg 005]

Leventech - your commercial restraint is acknowledged and appreciated, but please post the model differences here as I and maybe others are also interested in what more you get for the extra £££s.

Don

[tonyrec]

I would be very interested to know too.

[kojak69]

According to their brochure, the pro has a built in cooling fan, detachable handle, and the option for a thermal probe, what ever that is.

[chimburt]

i find the alternator quite good at keeping the battery in good condition.....

use the bloomin thing!

[RAW-SEWedge]

I got a unit from Halfords for less than £20. I leave it connected all the time when the car is not in use and I've never had the battery go flat yet.
I do try and use the car at least once a week thou' for at least half an hour.

[Ballistic Banana]

chimburt said:

i find the alternator quite good at keeping the battery in good condition..... use the bloomin thing!

Yeah Very True, But mine would go dead after four days.
It is used a fair bit but less during Winter, these are also battery conditioners, so when you are using all the electrics this time of year they can be of help to the battery thus extending its life expectancy.

Simon

[GreenV8S]

Running the battery flat isn't going to do it any favours regardless of how gently you recharge it - best avoid it in the first place, which these conditioners would do of course. If you don't have permanent mains power where the car is garaged, this isn't an option. But one thing that works almost as well is the Priority Start automatic battery isolator advertised in the back of Sprint. This also protects you from those silly lights-left-on problems. (I'm not associated with Priority Start, other than as a happy customer.)