Accumate Battery Charger
Discussion
Need some advice please. Last weekend I fitted an Accumate charger lead to the Chim battery and connected it up. The battery is fairly new so there should be no problems in the near future but I've had one fitted to my classic for many years now and find they work well, giving a small trickle charge as needed. (I had 12 years out of the last battery in the MG!)
The orange light came on straight away, as expected, so I left the setup in place for a couple of days, expecting the light to turn green overnight. Last night on checking, the orange light was still orange. Inside the car I could see the ignition light was on, together with the four small coloured LEDs around the heater controls. What's that all about?!?
As soon as I opened the door all internal lights went out. I left the setup for a further half an hour and the the ignition light came back on again. (no keys in the car so ignition not turned on and alarm not armed) So I've unplugged it and left it alone for now.
Has anyone else experienced this with a battery conditioner? Not being an electrician, does anyone know what on earth (!) is going on here and what may need to be done to remedy the problem? Any advice greatfully received.
The orange light came on straight away, as expected, so I left the setup in place for a couple of days, expecting the light to turn green overnight. Last night on checking, the orange light was still orange. Inside the car I could see the ignition light was on, together with the four small coloured LEDs around the heater controls. What's that all about?!?
As soon as I opened the door all internal lights went out. I left the setup for a further half an hour and the the ignition light came back on again. (no keys in the car so ignition not turned on and alarm not armed) So I've unplugged it and left it alone for now.
Has anyone else experienced this with a battery conditioner? Not being an electrician, does anyone know what on earth (!) is going on here and what may need to be done to remedy the problem? Any advice greatfully received.
I thought this would avoid any strange behaviour...Can't help with the strange behaviour, except to say that I connect my Accumate via the cigarette lighter and have no issues at all. It's very sensitive - the slightest discharge will see it go back to orange. So it could simply be that you've got some undiscovered discharge happening somewhere.
Incidentally, a significant advantage of going in through the cigarette lighter is that it's fused. If the Accumate shorts internally, or if the cable develops a short, then all that'll happen is the cigarette lighter fuse will blow. If you're connecting directly you should really fit a fuse, preferably near the battery end of your cable.
Incidentally, a significant advantage of going in through the cigarette lighter is that it's fused. If the Accumate shorts internally, or if the cable develops a short, then all that'll happen is the cigarette lighter fuse will blow. If you're connecting directly you should really fit a fuse, preferably near the battery end of your cable.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Can't help with the strange behaviour, except to say that I connect my Accumate via the cigarette lighter and have no issues at all. It's very sensitive - the slightest discharge will see it go back to orange. So it could simply be that you've got some undiscovered discharge happening somewhere.
Incidentally, a significant advantage of going in through the cigarette lighter is that it's fused. If the Accumate shorts internally, or if the cable develops a short, then all that'll happen is the cigarette lighter fuse will blow. If you're connecting directly you should really fit a fuse, preferably near the battery end of your cable.
Thanks David. The lead is also fused so no problem on that one. I may try the cigarette lighter route with a suitale lead (haven't got one currently) although I did consider this method could cause more problems than a direct connection. Perhaps TVR reverse logic works on this one... Incidentally, a significant advantage of going in through the cigarette lighter is that it's fused. If the Accumate shorts internally, or if the cable develops a short, then all that'll happen is the cigarette lighter fuse will blow. If you're connecting directly you should really fit a fuse, preferably near the battery end of your cable.
Still curious though why such a strange thing should happen.Very odd. I use a similar piece of kit from CTEK and mine, like yours , is hard wired to the battery terminals with a mini plug in the charging lead to connect & disconnect. I cannot explain why your car behaved oddly in terms of spurious lights but I do find that the alarm system on my Chim will keep the orange light from moving to green. If I leave the car unlocked I have no problem.
As I use a lockup some times during the year I have fitted a battery isolation switch to one terminal which sorts out the above problem. The problem in doing so is that it is a bit hard to get into the car if the battery has been isolated. There is an obvious way involving the roof but the other method is to leave a trailing lead plugged into the cigarette lighter with the bare ends accessible but hidden from the casual eye. You only need connect a pocket-size 12v battery to provide sufficient power to trigger the door switch...
As I use a lockup some times during the year I have fitted a battery isolation switch to one terminal which sorts out the above problem. The problem in doing so is that it is a bit hard to get into the car if the battery has been isolated. There is an obvious way involving the roof but the other method is to leave a trailing lead plugged into the cigarette lighter with the bare ends accessible but hidden from the casual eye. You only need connect a pocket-size 12v battery to provide sufficient power to trigger the door switch...
You say no keys in and not locked, so not alarmed.........but you don't say what kind of alarm you have. My Meta will have the immobiliser working, locked or not - could that be the source of your discharge (assuming its nothing to do with Mike Oxgreen 
), and hence the reason why the sensitive trickle charger keeps charging? Presumably your MG was invented before immobilisers?
), and hence the reason why the sensitive trickle charger keeps charging? Presumably your MG was invented before immobilisers?Quietlybonkers said:
You say no keys in and not locked, so not alarmed.........but you don't say what kind of alarm you have. My Meta will have the immobiliser working, locked or not - could that be the source of your discharge (assuming its nothing to do with Mike Oxgreen ), and hence the reason why the sensitive trickle charger keeps charging? Presumably your MG was invented before immobilisers?
Indeed, the only imobiliser on the MG is a block of wood in front of the wheels! Chim alarm is original factory item (Meta, I guess) so yes, the immobiliser is working all the time. As you say, this could be the small discharge (nothing to do with The Doctor's problems!) which prevents the Accumate going green. (unlike mikeox..., no never mind! ), and hence the reason why the sensitive trickle charger keeps charging? Presumably your MG was invented before immobilisers?
) That logic certainly seems reasonable. However, there are many previous posts on PH from Chim and Griff owners who have successfully used this device so is it really that sensitive? (I know the interior light on the MG is enough to overide the trickle charge when the door is opened and turn the light yellow again but that's a regular festoon bulb, not a small LED.)
My trusty Tiv mecahnic says he has come across the problem before and suggests it may be the that the Accumate is powering the ignition side of the positive terminal rather then going to the battery. He says the fix is to simply undo, twist and re tighten the battery clamp to ensure all the wires are in direct contact with the terminal. It's certainly worth a go and I will try this as soon as I get 5 minutes to stick my head into the passenger footwell with a spanner in my hand. (Anyone know what size spanner I should take with me into this dark place, to save my poor old back?)
Sorry te resurect an old thread but I'm only a little further forward on this one. Am now charging through cigarette lighter. None of the original ignition light problems (hooray!) but the Accumate light is still on orangs and will not go green after 6 days now. I can only think that the immobiliser and/or clock is casuing a small discharge as nothing else is 'on'. Could it be that I have a particularly sensitive Accumate charger? Anyone else have these problems?
Perhaps a CTEK charger/conditioner is the answer, although I don't want to keep spending money just on the off-chance of finding the solution. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Perhaps a CTEK charger/conditioner is the answer, although I don't want to keep spending money just on the off-chance of finding the solution. Any suggestions gratefully received.
I have the same problem, and am using an aftermarket lighter connected to the Accumate, into the original socket.It's not as good a fit as the original lighter, and if it doesn't go to green in a reasonable time I either wiggle it or remove and replace it into the socket which seems to make the connection.
skiver said:
I have the same problem, and am using an aftermarket lighter connected to the Accumate, into the original socket.It's not as good a fit as the original lighter, and if it doesn't go to green in a reasonable time I either wiggle it or remove and replace it into the socket which seems to make the connection.
Well bu@@er me! Just been out to the garage and given the plug another push into the (factory fitted) cigerette light and guess what - I've got a green light!!! Thanks skiver for this technical tip! 
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