Battery conditioner/tricklecharger reccomendations

[crofty1984]

Hello all,
I'm looking for a trickle charger. The Lotus won't be run again for a few months (until I can get a cambelt tensioner) and seeing as I bought a brand new battery, I don't want to knacker it.
Can anyone reccommend a good cheap trickle charger/conditioner?
They seem to be either a fiver or forty quid.
My colleague also wants one for his Traction Avant, just something he can plug in and forget for a few months, so you'll be helping two people for the price of one!

[kambites]

Mains powered or solar?

[HustleRussell]

I use an Optimate 3, very effective so far.

[y2blade]

I've used Optimates for years...no complaints at all.

[crofty1984]

Sorry, plug-in.

The optimates do look good. I'm assuming that a cheap trickle charger always provides a low level of charge regardless and the optimate-type stuff has some kind of feedback mechanism?

[HustleRussell]

crofty1984 said:

Sorry, plug-in.

The optimates do look good. I'm assuming that a cheap trickle charger always provides a low level of charge regardless and the optimate-type stuff has some kind of feedback mechanism?

Yeah it monitors and tops-up as necessary... I usually find that I plug it in and the yellow 'charging' light comes on, and then after a few hours it goes green to indicate 'charged', it then stays green and occasionally goes yellow again when topping up. It desulphates the battery as well which is apparently a good thing!

[kambites]

crofty1984 said:

Sorry, plug-in.

The optimates do look good. I'm assuming that a cheap trickle charger always provides a low level of charge regardless and the optimate-type stuff has some kind of feedback mechanism?

I think the difference in terminology is between "charger" and "conditioner". A charger just supplies a constant potential difference across the terminals; conditioners do cleverer things to try to be kind of the battery and use less electricity.

[sparkyhx]

CTEK ones are great and 'waterproof' I've had one permanently on mine for 3 years now

[BFG TERRANO]

I have I solar battery maintainer and its great. I think it was about 20 quid from a caravan dealer. Brilliant bit of kit and the leads are quite long which helps.

[cuprabob]

I've used both Optimate 3 and 4 for years without any problems

[y2blade]

BFG TERRANO said:

I have I solar battery maintainer and its great. I think it was about 20 quid from a caravan dealer. Brilliant bit of kit and the leads are quite long which helps.

We have a Solar one (from Maplin iirc) on the XC90, does the job as it is kept away from any mains power.

[PlayersNo6]

The 'Ultimate Speed' trickle charger from LIDL. Appears to be a clone of the CTEK but a lot cheaper at around £15. They only seem to have them occasionally though.

[BFG TERRANO]

y2blade said:

We have a Solar one (from Maplin iirc) on the XC90, does the job as it is kept away from any mains power.

It's great for only a twenty! It does make it clear its for maintaining a good battery rather than charging a flat one. This is does very well indeed.

[sparkyhx]

PlayersNo6 said:

The 'Ultimate Speed' trickle charger from LIDL. Appears to be a clone of the CTEK but a lot cheaper at around £15. They only seem to have them occasionally though.

yeh its lowest speck on (battery size) and its NOT waterproof. But for a small car and a dry garage its supposed to be bargain. When they are in stock a message usually goes round the car forums pretty quick.

[BliarOut]

sparkyhx said:

PlayersNo6 said:

The 'Ultimate Speed' trickle charger from LIDL. Appears to be a clone of the CTEK but a lot cheaper at around £15. They only seem to have them occasionally though.

yeh its lowest speck on (battery size) and its NOT waterproof. But for a small car and a dry garage its supposed to be bargain. When they are in stock a message usually goes round the car forums pretty quick.

My one of them is I in use all the time. Alternator is gone on the BMW so it's getting heavy use at the mo. When its not doing that its busy keeping the TVR topped up. Brilliant bits of kit

[Vixpy1]

Ctek here, need to get another one as tired of swapping it between cars

[m44kts]

I have a Halfords automatic one on my Mini, its in a dry garage and on a timer plug set for an hour in the morning and an hour at night. It's functioned fine for 4+ years now. First powers up into full charge mode for a minute or 2 then into maintenance mode.

I also bought one of the LIDL Ultimate Speed ones, that's currently charging my Chevy Pickup, again, seems absolutely fine bit of kit for not a lot of money, once charged, that does maintenance mode too.

[SMGB]

I have an ancient Oximiser and got one of the amazing Lidl ones after a tip off on here that they were getting stock. When an MG midget owner in the local club was having staarting issues I sorted his car out and we nipped up to Halfords to get a conditioner, they had a cheap and cheerful plug top one for not much money which has now worked well for several years.

[Ullevi]

C-tek ones are excellent quality.

I've had one for 3 winters, and it keeps the battery tiptop when the car is not being run much. Not the cheapest, but very recommendable.

[Dr Slotter]

Another vote for C-Tek here.