Battery Charger / Accumate?

[robertjp]

Can anyone recommend a battery charger to leave plugged in whilst the car is sat on the drive?

I can park in front of the garage so leaving it plugged in isnt a problem, but need to be able to disconnect quickly in the morning before work.

I have heard accumate mentioned, i have seen two versions available from Leven Technology, but dont want to be spending £70!!!!

The £45 looks better but i am not sure...

Can anyone help please?:confused:

[budaholic]

I can definately recommend the Accumate. I leave mine plugged in all the time the Cerbs in the Garage. Been away for 2 week hols and come back to a car I know will start.

Another thing.... might be worth a look on eBay too. I bought mine on there brand new for only £27.

If you don't use your garage, it might be a good idea to do what I did and fit a charging socket somewhere. Mines on my front number plate. See my previous post here www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=6&h=&t=134263



>> Edited by budaholic on Monday 3rd October 23:03

[njw 77]

Agree with bud. I have the cheaper Acumate and havent had a problem with starting (plenty of others) in over a year. My car lives inside so I use the cigar lighter option...get in, pull out the charger, throw it out the window (no, not really) and away I go



Also agree with bud about ebay. Paid £45ish for mine via the TVRCC(IIRC), then got 2 for my dad (greedy bassid) off ebay at about £28 each. Keep bidding on different ones until you get one at the right price (was bidding on 6 at the same time, but they where only £10 each at the time)

>> Edited by njw 77 on Monday 3rd October 23:06

[mick_coupe]

Have a look here,www.mandp.co.uk/offers.aspx?offers=offer&title=SPECIAL+OFFERStowards the bottom of the page

Mick

[jimothy]

I bought a solar one from Maplin for £10. PLugs into the cigar lighter socket and sits on the dash. Easily removed for a drive.

[harrow_chim]

jimothy said:

I bought a solar one from Maplin for £10. PLugs into the cigar lighter socket and sits on the dash. Easily removed for a drive.

And probably does 9/10 of b*gger all. Cheap solar chargers generally put out less charging current than the alarm uses - but then I suppose every little helps.
Nick

[Roy C]

I've been using an Airflow Battery Conditioner for 7+ years and it has been very successful in prolonging the life of 2 batteries.
www.airflow-uk.com/battery-conditioner.htm

I'm in the fortunate position of having a garage with a power supply close to the battery (front offside in an S) with the plug connector hidden above the inner wheel arch. Whatever charger you buy, it is important to check the electrolyte levels in the battery.

[anonymous-user]

I use the air flow, fitted by my TVR dealer. £70 inc fitting.

[zenkar]

Accumate is what you need.
I have used it on a regular basis. Never had even a small problem.
The perfect tool.

[robertjp]

Thanks everyone, Accumate it is going to be, particularly after the tips regarding ebay...

Rob

[Vipers]

budaholic said:

I can definately recommend the Accumate. I leave mine plugged in all the time the Cerbs in the Garage. Been away for 2 week hols and come back to a car I know will start.

Doesnt seem to say much for Cerbs, on the subject of battery charging if you need it plugged in all the time. I work offshore 6 weeks at a time, my car sits stationary in the driveway during that time, for the past 9 years, and a variety of cars, never ever had a problem starting first time when I get back. Why do Cerbs suffer like this? is it a design fault.... just curious. (Wish I had a cerb to try it out - had a test drive once, fab).

[squirrelz]

It's common to all GRP cars isn't it? The fact that the car isn't a common earth point, so there's always two runs of cable instead of one, and you get bad earth leakage.

[NJW 77]

Vipers, its not just cerbs, its all TVRs, and maybe as Squirrelz says, maybe all grp cars. Certainly had the same prob with my Griff. Having said that, dont remember such a problem with my wedge years back, but the time is long and the memory is clouded

[Vipers]

NJW 77 said:

Vipers, its not just cerbs, its all TVRs, and maybe as Squirrelz says, maybe all grp cars. Certainly had the same prob with my Griff. Having said that, dont remember such a problem with my wedge years back, but the time is long and the memory is clouded

Interesting thanks for that, GRP cars a! wonder if the Scimitar suffered.

All the same, TVR'r are terrific cars, still remember my one and only test drive in the then new Cebera when TVR came up to Aberdeen...... fantastic, managed a factory visit with my son after that, also fantastic.