Trickle Chargers

[Dr Imran T]

Chaps, my battery is completly flat in my track car. It needs charging and I was advised by a garage to trickle charge it.

Is there anything specific I need to look out for when I purchase one?

Are these ok?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CTEK-Trickle-Pulse-12v-Batte...

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

Thanks

[herewego]

Some chargers won't charge completely flat batteries as they have to detect a voltage before they start charging. It is possible to fool them by connecting another battery for a while until they get going, but it is a nuisance.

[rudecherub]

in my experience trickle charging is great to keep a battery charged, but if you have flattened your battery completely you need to take it to a heavy duty charger, even starting the car and running it won't bring the charge back up to optimum level.

[Caruso]

Avoid the Clarke one, it is just a trickle charger. Whereas the other one seems to be a proper battery conditioner which you can leave plugged in optimise the condition of the battery. Don't recognise that particular brand but an Optimate is a similar price and are very well regarded.

[Dr Imran T]

herewego said:

Some chargers won't charge completely flat batteries as they have to detect a voltage before they start charging. It is possible to fool them by connecting another battery for a while until they get going, but it is a nuisance.

Ok understood. I believe that Ctek charger does charge completely flat batteries. I will check the spec. again.

cheers

[Digger]

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-xs3600.php

Highly recommended little charger!

[Viper]

i run x3 optimate trickle chargers, they are great peices of kit

[Dr Imran T]

Digger said:

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-xs3600.php

Highly recommended little charger!

Rather similar to the XS800 that I suggested in my first post?

In a nutshell chaps - are the cheap ones best avoided?

[E30M3SE]

Viper said:

i run x3 optimate trickle chargers, they are great peices of kit

+1.

[retrorider]

Digger said:

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-xs3600.php

Highly recommended little charger!

+1 very good quality too...

[Trommel]

CTEKs work very well.

I also have one of the £11.99 Lidl ones which does exactly the same thing (the only issue is that it needs manually resetting if the power is cut, the CTEK continues where it left off).

[CaptainSlow]

out of interest what is the approximate running cost of one of these?

[Dr Imran T]

Just checked the spec. of the Ctek XS800 and it states:

Product Description

Features ·
Four step, fully automatic switch mode model. ·

Charges lead-acid batteries (Wet, MF, GEL and AGM) from 1.2Ah to 32Ah, 1.2-100Ah maintenance charging. ·

Maintenance pulse charging increases battery life and gives superb performance. ·

Charges even drained batteries. ·

Pulse recover of slightly sulphated batteries. ·

Low back current drain, low ripple and input voltage independent (220-240V). ·

High efficiency: 85% ·

Delivered with two interchangeable connection leads, one with clamps, and one with eyelet terminals. ·

The charger can be connected for months, ideal for seasonal vehicles. ·

Compact design with mounting holes for permanent assembly. ·

Can anyone confirm that it is up to the job of charging a totally flat battery for my coupe?

[Digger]

When was the car / battery last charged/used?

[tr7v8]

CaptainSlow said:

out of interest what is the approximate running cost of one of these?

Say once charged it is around 0.5A which is around 7watts. So multiply by 8766 & you get 61.4kWh which at 10pence a unit (bit high but good enough) then it is £6.14 for a year. Low enough costs for you

[Trommel]

Dr Imran T said:

Can anyone confirm that it is up to the job of charging a totally flat battery for my coupe?

I'd go for the XS3600 or 4003.

You might need to start off charging it in parallel with another battery if it's totally flat.

[CaptainSlow]

tr7v8 said:

CaptainSlow said:

out of interest what is the approximate running cost of one of these?

Say once charged it is around 0.5A which is around 7watts. So multiply by 8766 & you get 61.4kWh which at 10pence a unit (bit high but good enough) then it is £6.14 for a year. Low enough costs for you

hmm don't know, that is two pints of the local ale.

[Dr Imran T]

Digger said:

When was the car / battery last charged/used?

Car has not been used for a good 4 months. I put a brand new Bosch battery in it and then did not start or use the car for sometime. The battery is totally flat and even the immobiliser light has gone out

Thus it is a brand new battery that has lost its charge and has never been recharged, naturally I don't want to damage the battery and was advised to slow charge it..

[liner33]

I have a Ctek charger and whilst its great it wont charge a full drained battery as i found this weekend

[Dr Imran T]

liner33 said:

I have a Ctek charger and whilst its great it wont charge a full drained battery as i found this weekend

Maybe I should scrap this idea of getting a trickle charger and purchase a regular charger then.

Once charged, then a trickle charger would come into play correct?