Battery Conditioners - any good or gimmick???

[andy-w]

just been to machine mart to buy a battery charger (last one has died!!!) and they had these battery conditioners that plug into your lighter socket and have a solar panel. They are supposed to charge your battery.

I was just wondering if these things are any good or just a gimmick???

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Andy

[trackcar]

not sure about the solar chargers, but the mains powered conditioners are worth their weight in gold

[Parrot of doom]

You can't beat an alternator....

[the dodger]

I know that N17 TVR uses a solar powered job as there's no power where he parks. He's left it for weeks and always fires up no prob. I have a trickle charger (Draper Battery-Mate £15) which counteracts the drain of the immobiliser and I use it if the car isn't used for 2 weeks or more. 'Conditioners' are 'smart' chargers, sensing the drain and compensate cyclically (drain/charge) which helps mainatin battery life.

[david beer]

I use a solar thingy, you have to check the output though. Whilst all are capable of matching the drain, the baby ones need daylight all day and night, you get what you pay for ! Andy, i do hope you drove the Chim there !

[bjwoods]

If you've got a garage, mains ones are excellent.

HAve an accumulate one (conditioner type) - see leven website.

And got 5 years out of my first battery.

B

>> Edited by bjwoods on Sunday 6th November 20:20

[andy-w]

david beer said:

Andy, i do hope you drove the Chim there !

Didnt drive it over the weekend as i was charging the battery....BUT....i used it to get to work today!!! Very happy with it...apart from now i have a fault code on the diagnostics reader (44) near side lambda sensor kaput!!!).

Might see about getting one of these chargers...

[blujay10]

Glad you are back on the road after all your recent troubles, mate.
I use a trickle charger from Halfrauds. Did the job over the summer when the car was left for 2 1/2 weeks. Use it on my other car when I'm using the Chim. Cost £29.99 only down side is no cigar lighter option, otherwise great.

[V8 Kieran]

Accumate (and similar) are brilliant - full charge when needed, and sense when full, then maintenance charge as required. Leven Technology supply them £45.00.

If you need a cigarette lighter connector, assuming you have a mid line connector, you can get just the ciggy thingy from Leven at £9.00 - just swap over ends.

[zumbruk]

Before I bought a conditioner, I was getting about 8 months out of a battery - car batteries *really* don't like being deep discharged. Go away on holiday, come back & car battery flat as a pancake & refusing to accept charge. Get a new one on warranty, start from beginning.

Since I bought a conditioner, I've not had to buy a battery, some 5 or 6 years.

[russ_chim]

Hi,

Can definitely recommend the solar trickle charger. I was away for 5 weeks and it started up first time when I got back. The one I have is from Maplins and is American made, cost about £20.

I would recommend using it at all times as it keeps the battery topped up at times. As someone pointed out, battery life can detoriate if not kept fully charged.

One tip, and speaking from experience, try not to leave them on display, eg on top of a cream dashboard as they look expensive and your local toe-rag may decide to help himself to it, causing a lot of damage!!

[andy-w]

well thats it i am sold....going to get one tonight after work. Got to be worth £20 of anyones money....!!!

[griffter]

blujay10 said:

I use a trickle charger from Halfrauds.

Does it buzz even when 'maintaining' as opposed to 'charging'? Mine does - Halfords said this was normal, but I'm a bit scared to leave it (which of course is the whole point of it) in case something overheats.

[blujay10]

Yes it buzzes and I was a bit concerned as well. However, I've been using it with no problems throughout the summer so I guess its ok. Keeps the Volvo and the Peugeot well boosted as well so it gets plenty of use.

[jonathant]

FWIW my first battery lasted about five years and that's with NO conditioner. During that period it had been deep discharged twice - both because of a broken 100A fuse. Never had any problems with leaving my Chim for a couple of weeks.

I *do* have a conditioner, but only really plan to use it when I go away for long times. It probably helps that I use my car every day.

[Graham]

Mine was great untill the fuse on the input side went, and it then slowley at totaly discharged my expensive gel battery which is now large paper weight !!!