Leaving battery charger connected?

[Nick P]

Is it ok to do this on a permanent basis?

I mean, whilst the car sits all week without being used.(obviously not whilst driving)

[that daddy]

what type is it?if its an optimate you can leave those on 24/7

[zumbruk]

If it's a dumb charger, no. It will electrolyse all the electrolyte away and destroy your battery. If it's a conditioner, then yes, that's what they're designed for.

[Nick P]

that daddy said:

what type is it?if its an optimate you can leave those on 24/7

its not an optimathingy, but the current decreases with time. so i presume that by the time it's been on a couple of days its only trickle charging anyway.

[that daddy]

Nick if its a trickle charger i would not leave on charge for more than 12hrs,you will boil the guts outa the battery.the only ones safe to leave 24/7 are the conditioner type optimate etc,if in doubt please read the instructions concerning there use.

[peter miller]

I leave mine on charge via the cigarette lighter socket in the door virtually on a perminant basis throughout the winter. I have the Carcoon intelligent battery conditioner(simmilar to the Optimate unit)which varies the charge rate to maintain optimum charge. I dont think you can use any other sort of charger left on in this way, even the trickle chargers can damage the battery if they are not able to recognise a full charge.

[chim666]

peter miller said:

I leave mine on charge via the cigarette lighter socket in the door virtually on a perminant basis throughout the winter. I have the Carcoon intelligent battery conditioner(simmilar to the Optimate unit)which varies the charge rate to maintain optimum charge. I dont think you can use any other sort of charger left on in this way, even the trickle chargers can damage the battery if they are not able to recognise a full charge.

Me too - wot 'e said!

[Nick P]

i've turned it off. it had been on about 24 hours, so hopefully no harm done. but to be honest i was going to change the battery soon as it's on its last legs.

[K4TRV]

chim666 said:

peter miller said:

I leave mine on charge via the cigarette lighter socket in the door virtually on a perminant basis throughout the winter. I have the Carcoon intelligent battery conditioner(simmilar to the Optimate unit)which varies the charge rate to maintain optimum charge. I dont think you can use any other sort of charger left on in this way, even the trickle chargers can damage the battery if they are not able to recognise a full charge.

Me too - wot 'e said!

Agreed!!

Optimates's etc and the new range of chargers in Halfrauds (the black one £29) are highly recommended esp when you get a New Batt. They will lengthen the life of your Battery if connected when the car is out of use even a few days.

Trev McM

[Nick P]

K4TRV said:

chim666 said:

peter miller said:

I leave mine on charge via the cigarette lighter socket in the door virtually on a perminant basis throughout the winter. I have the Carcoon intelligent battery conditioner(simmilar to the Optimate unit)which varies the charge rate to maintain optimum charge. I dont think you can use any other sort of charger left on in this way, even the trickle chargers can damage the battery if they are not able to recognise a full charge.

Me too - wot 'e said!

Agreed!!

Optimates's etc and the new range of chargers in Halfrauds (the black one £29) are highly recommended esp when you get a New Batt. They will lengthen the life of your Battery if connected when the car is out of use even a few days.

Trev McM

so halfrauds do a cheap version of the optimathingy?

[2Munkys]

K4TRV said:

chim666 said:

peter miller said:

I leave mine on charge via the cigarette lighter socket in the door virtually on a perminant basis throughout the winter. I have the Carcoon intelligent battery conditioner(simmilar to the Optimate unit)which varies the charge rate to maintain optimum charge. I dont think you can use any other sort of charger left on in this way, even the trickle chargers can damage the battery if they are not able to recognise a full charge.

Me too - wot 'e said!

Agreed!!

Optimates's etc and the new range of chargers in Halfrauds (the black one £29) are highly recommended esp when you get a New Batt. They will lengthen the life of your Battery if connected when the car is out of use even a few days.

Trev McM

That's interesting ref' the item Halfrauds are selling as I've just bought one (black charger £29 as opposed to their small trickly charging thing). I asked if it would be safe to leave on during the week and was told that this particular type is. I'm hopin'so. Not used it for such as yet though.

[captiv8ed]

Nick,

Have a look at the TVRmonster site. They were recently (and still are I think) doing optimates with lighter plug for £39! Much cheaper than a lot of places. Depends if you need the extension cable or not. I'm lucky - my drivers door is right next to a socket when the cars in the garage so it suited me to a tea.

You could also consider using a timer plug with your (pardon the pun) CURRENT(!) chrger.

[K4TRV]

Nick P said:

K4TRV said:

chim666 said:

peter miller said:

I leave mine on charge via the cigarette lighter socket in the door virtually on a perminant basis throughout the winter. I have the Carcoon intelligent battery conditioner(simmilar to the Optimate unit)which varies the charge rate to maintain optimum charge. I dont think you can use any other sort of charger left on in this way, even the trickle chargers can damage the battery if they are not able to recognise a full charge.

Me too - wot 'e said!

Agreed!!

Optimates's etc and the new range of chargers in Halfrauds (the black one £29) are highly recommended esp when you get a New Batt. They will lengthen the life of your Battery if connected when the car is out of use even a few days.

Trev McM

so halfrauds do a cheap version of the optimathingy?

Not exactely the size of an Opitmate, but the same electronic gubbins.

The "black" Halfrauds one is an electronic charger for permanent connect to different types of batteries - small motorcyle ones; gel type golf buggies and normal car batteries (switchable). It is larger and has a greater output (7 Amps max)than the Optimate (one and a bit amps??) and equivalents. It will charge a full-sized battery in 10/12 hrs, whereas Optimate will, but take for ever, days !!

You pays your money.......

Trev McM

[Al 450]

To be perfectly safe you'd have to design a charger specifically for an individual battery but any conditioner, not charger will be safe to leave on for ever and a day realistically.

Damage can occur to a battery if overcharged as it will overheat and emit flammable gas but the real damage is done when battery voltage drops and is left low (>10-11v) for a period of time. The plates sulphate and the battery capacity is reduced.

A good conditioner should drop both voltage and current when the battery is fully charged (and go into trickle mode) although for optimal conditioning it would require intelligent adaptation according to various factors such as vehicle quiescent/baseline current drain. This is the difference between a £50 conditioner and an industrial automotive style £1000 power supply.