MX5 Westco Battery - Charging with Halfords Charger

[BBRTurboDave]

Hi all,

As an avid Pistonheads fan, and with a pretty quick MX5 (when it works) that has been off the road now for too long, I am after a bit of advice please.

I have 2 x flat Westco batteries for my MX5, and now that it is back on the road (or will be when battery is charged!!) I need to charge the battery...

I have read a few posts on this but am now slightly confused and want to check something before I attempt to charge the battery and end up burning my flat down!!

I bought a Halfords charger that claims to be fine for lead acid, gel batteries. However the two switches are for choices between:

1) Battery Type: "Standard" or "Sealed"
2) Vehicle Type: "Bike" or "Other".

I know it is sealed, and that I have a car (!)... So far so good - but the charger does not illuminate the light showing charging, unless I flick to "Bike". So it is now "Sealed" and "Bike" to show charging...

Can anyone please advise whether this is correct for this charger/battery combination for some reason, as I am confused (probably for obvious reasons specified above, as I am reasonably sure the MX5 is a car (!)), or if I have just bought an incompatible charger?!

Thanks for any advice!

Dave

[mad4amanda]

from experience a halfords charger will not charge a completely flat battery. I found out by talking to the buyer for halfords that as a safety feature it will not charge unless it detects a voltage, so if the battery is completely flat it wont charge! I bought an optimate 4 which is the reccomended charger for a westco battery from my local bike shop worked perfectly took 36 hours to charge.

[Ian_sUK]

That charger will be fine for that battery but if the battery has stood for a while whilst flat it will be knackered.

[BBRTurboDave]

Thanks both for your responses,

Both batteries have indeed stood for a while whilst the car has been off the road so it is probably fair to say both have sat whilst flat - especially the one I am trying to charge (thought I would try the one that was out of the car already, for ease, but that may not have been the best option).

Will see how this charges and keep checking every 5 mins to ensure no fires - this may be tricky for the duration considering MX5 Parts state it needs 5-7 days! Hopefully if not getting hot within a few hours I will be OK to leave unattended for a bit longer.

If anyone has experience with this specific charger that would be great!

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[mekondelta]

Seem to remember that WestCo batteries needed a special type of charger (trickle charger). I had 2 on mine, both went flat after long period without use and both never really recovered. Reverted to a standard battery and never looked back. IMO they're not worth the hassle.

[BBRTurboDave]

Thanks, I know what you mean - still, this charger does claim to have the ability to trickle charge gel batteries so it "should" work ok. Aware that it may not do it as battery could be knackered, but also confused as to why it needs setting to "bike" - maybe this is the correct option for gel batteries requiring trickle charging?

Maybe should just return and get an Optimate charger.. Sounds like a way forward.

Edited by BBRTurboDave on Thursday 9th September 19:36

[mad4amanda]

BBRTurboDave said:

Thanks both for your responses,

Both batteries have indeed stood for a while whilst the car has been off the road so it is probably fair to say both have sat whilst flat - especially the one I am trying to charge (thought I would try the one that was out of the car already, for ease, but that may not have been the best option).

Will see how this charges and keep checking every 5 mins to ensure no fires - this may be tricky for the duration considering MX5 Parts state it needs 5-7 days! Hopefully if not getting hot within a few hours I will be OK to leave unattended for a bit longer.

If anyone has experience with this specific charger that would be great!

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Yes i bought that charger and it would not charge my westco battery as it was completely flat hence my call to the buyer!
I then bought the optimate which worked fine.
I still have the halfords fully auto as well as it will do a bulk charge quicker on the BMW battery