Battery Charger/optimiser

[Griffrich]

What's the best battery charger to get for the Griff and how easy is it to fit? Mine hasn't really need one for nearly 4 years now as it gets driven fairly regularly, however after a recent shoulder op it hasn't been driven for nearly 8 weeks and the battery is not turning the engine over. What be the best to get guys?

[Troogly]

I'm running an Accumate - which is pretty good and have a good name in the industry. Lots of PHers have these. Might also be worth checking out CTEK too. Both get good press. Think they are in the £40-£50 bracket

These are battery conditioners which keep the battery topped up and in good health through a constant charge (with automatic cut-off).

[moorcroft]

If you decide to go with an accumate, check out www.thegreenreaper.co.uk, their selling them for £35 including delivery!!! Very good price. By the way I use an Accumate and think there great, does the job it says on the tin!!

[Englishman]

I have both a CTEK XS3600 and Accumate Optimate in continuous use when I'm not driving the cars. Both have worked fine for several years. The CTEK device is a little lighter and more compact. It has also won a number of awards. If I were buying again I'd go on price between the two.

[Ballistic Banana]

I have owned an optimate for around 8 years and used to move it between my Motorbike and TVR and its still going strong. Has even brought dead batteries back to life over a couple of days and them batteries have carried on working well to...

ON an a Belated Happy New Year to everyone..I have been sunning it in Jamaica and Miami for the last few weeks Yeah Mon!!

BB

[The Moosehunter]

I can't remeber the exact details, but I think the more modern batteries (certainly my replacement Bosch one) can not be charged properly with an Accumate as they do not handle one of the elements now in used in manufacture (possibly silicone ?? - don't quote me on that)

It was for this reason I bought a CTEK and it has performed faultlessly for the last 2 years, freeing up the Accumate for the bike. As stated they carry quite a good reputation, and only a little more than the Accumate

Just a heads up and maybe worth looking into prior to purchase

Cheers

Moose

[ESDavey]

I also have a CTEK 3600 which is excellent. I have the 2-pin connector connected to the battery & hangs free in the passenger footwell.

The only thing I do in winter is run the car until the fans cut in then mark the tyres, turn around outside & re-park checking the wheels dont land in the same place !

[Hedgehopper]

I also bought my Accumate from the Green Reaper. Good price and quick delivery, works well too. To be really convenient, you either need to charge through the cigarette lighter socket or in my case I fitted a fused power socket in the glove box, this is then also handy for charging the 'phone.

[Mr MoJo]

I use an Accumate and would highly recomend one to anyone. I also have a 2-pin connector from the battery into the passenger footwell. Makes connecting and disconnecting a whole lot easier what with the Griff battery where it is !!

[mmalbon]

I also use an Accumate with the cigarette lighter adapter - brilliant, so easy. And it works perfectly!

[Griffrich]

Cheers for the advice chaps! I'll let you know how I get on!

[Griffrich]

mmalbon said:

I also use an Accumate with the cigarette lighter adapter - brilliant, so easy. And it works perfectly!

Sorry if this sounds a bit thick but does this mean that you just plug the accumate directly into the lighter socket and it charges in the same way without any need for accessing the battery?

[Ballistic Banana]

Yes, Thats how i do mine no problems. Some come with ( or you can buy as an extra) two other types of leads, one with crocodile clips on and another with terminals that you can bolt straight on to the battery. I had my bike Hard wired and used the cigar lighter adapter for my car..

BB

[Toffer]

I hard-wired battery cables via a footwell connector to a temperature charge compensated float-charger into the Griff. I used a domestic rubber three pin connector, with the socket on the battery side. Using the earth pin for positive (+) and the return pin for minus (-), you get a very inexpensive first-mate/first-break connector on the positive (normally would be earth pin) terminal. To avoid any damage, always turn off the mains (240VAC) utility supply to the float-charger before disconnecting the battery. Using a float-charger helps prevent sulphation of the battery plates caused by leaving a battery discaherged or through chronic under re-charging. However, there is evidence that extended periods of float charging also creates ‘dendritic’ sulphation. At the end of the day, infrequently used weekend cars will normally require a new battery in less than four years. Hope this helps?

Edited by Toffer on Wednesday 7th January 15:04

[lockhart flawse]

I have recently acquired an Accumate although not soon eneough to avoid a battery failure which lead in due course to me attempting a battery change. Total nightmare - I didn't mind fiddling around in the footwell and even got one of the floor bolts back in first go but trying to re-stow all the electrical gubbins on and around it was no fun. And I shorted something out although I have just heard that it's nothing serious according to the garage. Relief.

Anyway - when the battery is fully charged you get a green light on the Accumate; are you then supposed to leave it connected with the green light showing for days on end if you're not using the car? I assume so but could someone pls confirm?

L.F.

[Ballistic Banana]

Yes I believe so. They are battery Conditioners rather than chargers and will keep the battery at its best but small amounts or occasional charging.

BB

[RichB]

Griffrich said:

mmalbon said:

I also use an Accumate with the cigarette lighter adapter - brilliant, so easy. And it works perfectly!

Sorry if this sounds a bit thick but does this mean that you just plug the accumate directly into the lighter socket and it charges in the same way without any need for accessing the battery?

Yep, dead simple... no mucking around required. Plug it in, switch it on - green light, leave it on job done.

[Guillotine]

lockhart flawse said:

Anyway - when the battery is fully charged you get a green light on the Accumate; are you then supposed to leave it connected with the green light showing for days on end if you're not using the car? I assume so but could someone pls confirm?

L.F.

Yes, plug it in and forget about it.

All winter if you want.

doesn't affect the battery, alarm, ecu. Park up, plug in, go away.

Rev polarity, bad earth, over/under charge prtected inteligent unit. 3 charge states.

[Griffrich]

Cheers for the advice guys. Got my accumate and cigar lighter adapter and after 4 days or so the charge light went green and she fired up first time after about 10 weeks without starting up. Well chuffed!!