Battery conditioner - questions

[tvrforever]

Ok so the trusty Optimate has failed to keep the charge in the Chimaera for the first time in years...

So a couple of questions :-

1) Planning to stop trickle charging via the lighter socket and move to a dedicated charger point - which system have people used and like etc? I've seen Leven have a system (http://www.leventechnology.co.uk/index.htm) but so does Accumate (http://www.accumate.co.uk/it020005.htm), and comments?

2) Re point 1, where have people found the best place to mount the charging connector?

3) I'm planning on an Accumate, but should it be an Accumate (http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.htm) or an Accumate Pro (http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010004.htm)?

Thanks

[leorest]

Has the Optimate failed or has the battery reached its end of life? It's possible you just need a new battery and then to continue as before.
I've used an Accumate on a Wedge for years with no problems. It's not man enough to charge a completely flat battery but that's not what it's designed for so more of an observation than a slight.
These widgets have always been a bit overpriced IMHO for what is little more than a cheap low current trickle charger. My previous method was to use a normal battery charger on a timer set to come on for half an hour per day. Worked perfectly.

[Guillotine]

std accumate is fine for any TVR and will recover any but the most "stuffed" batteries, but the battery still has a finite life.

The ciggy lighter option is usually the best as it is an easy fit when leaving the car, but the unit also has a small permanent battery mounted lead that is accessible from the footwell, or if extended, the glove box etc.

Mine is on the std ciggy lead, with the unit wall mounted nexar to the drivers door. On parking up it just plugs into the ciggy (actually an extended flying lead from the battery as most of my interior is not currently fitted.

The std accumate is rated to all TVR specs, and has charged mine for 9 years. The last 4 or so have been to a Race Gell battery, which it has also dealt with, with no problems.

Andy

[andykart]

Hi, I had same problem this year with the trickle charger never quite charging the battery after being fine in the past. Went to start the TVR few weeks ago and battery was dead. New battery sorted it out. Last one was only 18 mths old too so having charging current checked out as the problem started after long journey to south france so could have been over charging it. So check battery is ok first!!

[andykart]

oh, forgot to say i used to use the cig lighter but the fuse kept going in the trickle charger - it was prob the duff battery but anyway i just fitted the leads sirect to the battery so i could be sure of best charge connection. You dont need special kit just two wires and connector which my charger came with.

[RIP_puffsorted2]

My Accumate is hardwired in the battery via ring connectors and the cable run along the floor by the side of the Pioneer CD Changer cable to the unit in the boot. Means I can just back the car into the garage, pop the boot, plug in the Accumate and leave the boot ajar.
Worth the half hour running the cable as now its just completely hassle free.

[Gas Man]

I have found that it is best to turn the Optimate off at the mains and then connect to the battery.
Then switch on at the mains to reset the computer to charge correctly.

I once just plugged in to a bike battery and it cooked the battery!
I think it got confused unplugging from one bike and swapping over to the other bike?