Trickle charger

[martin.webber]

Does anyone know if you can get a trickle charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter - just to stop the alarm from draining the battery

>>> Edited by martin.webber on Saturday 8th November 17:53

[Trefor]

Optimate - you can get them from Leven/TVRCC amongst other places. I'm sure there are others which are cheaper, but I've been using an Optimate for years - leave it on all the time when the car's in the garage.

[shadowninja]

I use a solar panel one (as I've said for the last 3 years around this time and just before summer on PH )

[kojak69]

Leven.

www.leventechnology.co.uk/

[drum4it2]

shadowninja said:

I use a solar panel one (as I've said for the last 3 years around this time and just before summer on PH )

Yep, I just got one of these too - works in cloudy conditions & suits me as I have a carport not a garage! Only 20 quid.

[Voltaire53]

martin.webber said:

Does anyone know if you can get a trickle charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter - just to stop the alarm from draining the battery >>> Edited by martin.webber on Saturday 8th November 17:53

AIUI there are quite a few but I recommend one that's hardwired and connected through the boot (as per mine) so you just plug it into the mains and it keeps the battery in perfect condition.

A few quid extra but worth it IMO ...

[simpo two]

Voltaire53 said:

I recommend one that's hardwired and connected through the boot (as per mine) so you just plug it into the mains and it keeps the battery in perfect condition.

I just plug mine (Airflow) into the cig socket and it keeps the battery in perfect condition. And I don't have to open the boot...

(Have to say 'Voltaire' is a good name for dicussing chargers)

[calvinhutt]

I just bought one from Halfords - Draper Battery Master - for £20. Yet to see how it does its job, no fancy LEDs like the old one to show state oif the battery, just one LED to show "power on".

[bouffy]

I have the Leven one. I will also be ordering the cigarette lighter adaptor...it's a real pain in the neck havign to connect it to the battery.

Everyone knows that you have to be a contortionist in the Moscow State Circus to reach the battery in a Griffith / Chimaera. Ouch!

Can't remember how much the charger was, but the adaptor is about £9 + P&P I think.


>> Edited by bouffy on Monday 10th November 09:21

[pbrettle]

Yeah, got the Leven one (though not through Leven) and it works a treat. In fact my battery was undercharged anyway, now it keeps it topped up nicely. One thing I would say is that the alarm seems to draw a lot of power and as a result you could be systematically draing the power in the battery if you use it infrequently..... you can get away with it for sometime, but those big V8's take a bit of a boost to start and its a case of fine, fine, fine, fine, not fine.... no middle ground...

[M@H]

I like the sound of the solar one... where would you get one from..?


Cheers,
Matt.

[raceboy]

M@H said:

I like the sound of the solar one... where would you get one from..? Cheers, Matt.

Heres one, pluked off google so know nothing about them

[M@H]

Looks good.. thanks

[beano500]

Yup - like the idea of the solar charger, gonna give that a go!

Am a bit concerned that for nearly three years I have been garaging the car and using it virtually every day. Have moved and am now out in the open and using it a couple of times a week. Will it remain reliable and faithful, or think I've abandoned it?!!!

[pbrettle]

beano500 said:

Yup - like the idea of the solar charger, gonna give that a go! Am a bit concerned that for nearly three years I have been garaging the car and using it virtually every day. Have moved and am now out in the open and using it a couple of times a week. Will it remain reliable and faithful, or think I've abandoned it?!!!

Nah, it will probably be fine. Mine doesnt get used that frequently and its perfectly OK. Ok, a little bit of fettling here and there does help. But the more you use it the better.... however, the caution that the experts and dealers say about leaving them standing is somewhat mared by what they have to fix - I mean, there are plenty of owners out there who use them for three months a year and lay them up for the rest - strangely expecting them to be perfect when they start the car up after 9 months....

At least once per week and a good blast every 10 days hasnt caused any issues with mine....

[andy43]

For the tight-wad...I've got a Halfords/Draper jobbie which seems to work, with a Maplin cig lighter plug soldered onto the end - total cost under £25 and dead easy to plug-and-play. Don't think its as clever as a proper Accumate one, but I run the car at least once a week even in the winter just to p!$$ the neighbours...sorry, just to warm the engine thru...

[M@H]

andy43 said:

For the tight-wad...I've got a Halfords/Draper jobbie which seems to work, with a Maplin cig lighter plug soldered onto the end - total cost under £25

The solar one's only £19.99 inc delivery and that has the ciggy socket already.... for the tight-wad

Matt.

[m142 yum]

I ordered one from leven on thursday and it was delivered Friday. Call Leven and ask for Julie. She was really helpfull and also threw in an extension lead for the connector to the Cig lighter.

[simpo two]

m142 yum said:

I ordered one from leven on thursday and it was delivered Friday. Call Leven and ask for Julie. She was really helpfull and also threw in an extension lead for the connector to the Cig lighter.

On my Airflow one they said in the instructions that the length of the lead musn't be altered. I guess the lead length is proportional to the amount of mA arriving at the end, but I'm surprised it was that critical.

[andy43]

The solar one really IS for the tight wad - you're making your own free electricity. Bargain. Just need to get me one of those new-fangled water-into-Optimax machines now...