S1 Elise trickle charger

[Rollin]

I have an Optimate charger but apparently this can't be left connected to the battery whilst the battery is still fitted in the car. Is this true?

If so, is there anything I can have fitted to the car to allow me to keep the battery topped up without having to remove it or disconnect it?

[Bebee]

I fitted one of these, best thing I did, easy to fit and easy to reach to turn off if you're not using car for a while.
Trickle charger never worked for me, and was a hassle.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Isolator-Switch...

[Pearcy]

Have one connected to my early S1 with no problems (just a basic Aldi/Lidl one), Fitted the connectors with the moulded plug and just tuck the lead out of the way under the front inspection panel when I take the car out.

[Rollin]

So with something like this, there's no need to disconnect the battery if I wire in the eyelets of this to the terminals and connect the plug to the charger?

http://www.elise-shop.com/ctek-xs08-battery-charge...

[johnymac]

I have a ctek trickle charger on my early S1. I connect it through the cigarette lighter and it works perfectly and has done so for years - even if I have left the battery too flat to start (I share it between cars).

[Rollin]

OK thanks for that.

I was under the impression that leaving battery connected to the car could cause problems with battery or car electrics.

[Mike-tf3n0]

There is a very similar thread running on the VX.org forum at the moment, it seems that a number of us leave our VX220s permanently on charge via the lighter socket without any problem. Yes, the car is an S2 under the skin but I don't think there is any relevant difference to an S1 with regard to charging. There is one important point and that is the charger must be an intelligent charger, Ctek / Commutech etc, not a trickle charger as there is a risk of cooking the battery if it is connected long term to one of those.

[Thorburn]

Had my Optimate connected to the car for years no problem.

What you shouldn't do is crank the engine with it connected, or plug it in with the engine running.

[Red Firecracker]

My garage has no mains, so I was reliant on a solar panel to keep the battery topped up. I say keep the battery topped up, what I mean was I was reliant on a solar panel to reassuringly blink a nice blue LED occasionally whilst doing absolutely nothing else of any use.

In the end I fitted one of these;

https://www.batterybrain.co.uk/

which has been fantastic.

[Bebee]

I put my Lotus away in Nov last year, I turned the battery isolate to off....

It started first turn on Friday!

No need for a trickle charger...............

[jondude]

The Optimate was designed to cope with in situ charging of the most sensitive motorcycle electronics of the 80s.

So you can leave it connected to the S1 for as long as you like. Keep in mind due to it being made for bikes, it is very slow with the charging but once the battery is charged, it will float between cranking charge and a little under for as long as connected.

I had one connected to my S1 for a year while overseas. Started 1st time