battery conditioners

[loon]

Anyone recommend a battery conditioner for a 4.5 cerbera ? Have seen a few around, but not sure which is the better one. Any suggestions please ?
Tony.

[viper]

I've got a couple of Optimate's, great things I leave them plugged in all the time, believe they work the battery rather than just keeping fully charged unlike some of the other brands. Throughly recommend one

[adrian jaye]

yep for sure,
cant remember the make of my own one, I own 2

There are 2 types

type 1: is a battery conditioner, what it does, is keeps the battery trickled charged always at 14 volts

type 2: is called a battery exercisor, what this does is it charges the battery to again 15 odd volts, then it cuts out, it monitors the battery and when the voltage falls to a point were it needs re-cgarging <12 odd volts I think> it proceeds to re-charge, ad-infintum.

Now I've had no problems with either, though have been told that type 1 is better in the long term for your battery.

make sure the charger you get has got some kinda monitoring sytem and can't accidentally "overcharge" your battery

HTH

Adrian
Porsche 944 s2 cab

[johnelliott]

I bought a Halfords unit about a year ago for £20. It stays connected to my garage battery continuously, the battery supplies my inspection lamp so fair bit of drain every now and then, and the battery remains ready for jump starting if ever needed.
Works fine, no problems so far

John

[All Terrain]

Is it me or batteries only have a number of cycles of charge discharge? a so called life. Surley this excersising shud shag your battery!?!?

[darrent]

Hi Loon,

Just bought one myself for the Cerb, got it from the TVRCC website - it's basically the Leven technology charger. Actually plugs into the fag lighter socket in the cab so no messing about going under the hood. Seems very good. Cost is about £45 + socket adapter.

www.tvrcc.com/acatalog/TVRCC_Catalogue_Battery_Chargers_plus_other_misc_products_27.html

[icamm]

I've got a couple of Optimates as well. See www.accumate.co.uk/

[jj_work]

Yep - I also run an Accumate from Leven - top bit of kit, recharged a dead Chimaera when I brought it and also trickle charges whilst the car sits in the garage. A must buy is the optional cigarette lighter adapter, saves all the fiddling about with the battery... Just plug it in and forget about it.
jj

[kend]

All Terrain said: Is it me or batteries only have a number of cycles of charge discharge? a so called life. Surley this excersising shud shag your battery!?!?

Lead acid batteries do not have a life as per number of cycles, abuse is the normal killer, such as letting voltage get too low or poor maintenance. if you look after the battery by using a conditioner, checking electrolyte levels, keeping charging system in good condition then they will last a long time. my current battery has been going since 1998 in a occasional used car
NI-cad batteries used in small portable appliances suffer battery memory

[Spoonman]

I chose a CSI Airflow (01635 569569) in favour of the one everyone else seems to have. Can't for the life of me remember why, but it works bloody well, no matter how long I leave the car. Shame the car won't idle after it's been left standing though...

[loon]

Thanks for the advice and ideas guys, Optimate seems to be the one most people rave about then!
I"ll get the order in now.

[fergusd]

The airflow one is the same as the one Lotus supply if you buy a float charger kit from them, I also use one (not bought from Lotus) and can't fault it.

Some links : www.elise-faq.info/content/electrical/index.php#TrickleChargingSystems

Fd