Which trickle charger?

[SonicHedgeHog]

Griff arrives soon and I need a trickle charger. Can someone please explain why I should spend £40 when I can get one for a tenner?

Thanks.

[LaserTam]

I think I am right in saying that something like an Accumate is more a conditioner rather than a trickle charger. Senses when the voltage drops and starts topping it up, then will cut out again. Your £10 jobby probably just keeps on giving, which I imagine probably doesn't do the battery any favours. I could be wrong, but thats my stab at why its worth the extra £30ish.

[Bassfiend]

I bought my ex-boss an Accumate for his 355 that was used very infrequently and was pretty much always flat when he wanted to use it ... absolutely fantastic bit of kit.

Just ordered one for myself earlier today even though I already have a Halfords maintenance charger which came with the Chim and I have nothing against other than I'm a bit of a fan of the Accumate/Optimate...

Phil

[.Mark]

A Halfrauds one has been keeping my battery in tip top condition for the last 2 years or so. Gets my vote.

[Bassfiend]

I'm just a charger snob...

Phil

[BliarOut]

Wait till Aldi/Lidl has them on special offer!

[.Mark]

Bassfiend said:

I'm just a charger snob...

Phil

Yeah, well.

[Bassfiend]

.Mark said:

Bassfiend said:

I'm just a charger snob...

Phil

Yeah, well.

Hey - you want to see the list of tools I've compiled so far that I "need" (but not yet purchased)...



Phil

[.Mark]

Surely that's every tool produced Phil isn't it?

You know...just in case?

[Pursyluv]

Based on the advice of a number of PH members i have just ordered a 6v/12v AccuMate from e-bay £39.99 with free delivery - called a battery charger, but is in fact a conditioner as it only tops the battery up as and when required

[Viper]

ive had several Optimates for about 10 years, great peices of kit and highly recommended, have left one connected four 5 months witout unplugging, no probs at all.

I think they actually make battery last longer as well, i replaced a factory battery which was 8 years old and regularly had the optimate connected to it, they battery was still going strong

Edited by Viper on Tuesday 5th January 21:25

[Bassfiend]

.Mark said:

Surely that's every tool produced Phil isn't it?

You know...just in case?

Halfords have some lovely "through hole" socket sets at the moment with lifetime warranty ... and Machine Mart is becoming a second home...

Phil

[Demondad]

Viper said:

ive had several Optimates for about 10 years, great peices of kit and highly recommended, have left one connected four 5 months witout unplugging, no probs at all.

I think they actually make battery last longer as well, i replaced a factory battery which was 8 years old and regularly and it was still going strong

Had my accumate connected and on for 3 years, uninterrupted, in a cold concrete garage, (other than when driving her of course) and still going strong. Trust your instincts.

[lwt]

I am using a CTEK conditioner. Very well made but caution if you are in an area prone to power interruptions is that when you switch it on, you have to press 2 buttons to select the conditioner mode. So if the mains gets interrupted the conditioner stops working until you either notice that the light is not on or you try to open the car and the battery is flat So I would buy something simpler next time, but its so well made that might be a while.

Ian.

[Steve H]

I have the Aldi/Lidl one, works great and was only £12 if I remember correctly

[jimed]

I've got a CTEK XS800 which is plug in and forget - there aren't any buttons to press (as per above) and it just sits there switching on and off as needed. It is allegedly a clever bit of kit as it doesn't just switch on when it "conditions" the battery (ie charging but in a clever way) as it cycles the charge voltage or something which can apparently help to extend the life of the battery. Very handy for the Griff as it plugs into the ciggy lighter socket and is connected whenever the car is left in the garage. The Accumate is also said to be very good and is also a battery conditioner I think rather than just a charger which switches itself off/on.
Jim

[lazyitus]

My Accumate works a treat on the Griff.

[Viper]

optimate also works fine through the cigerette socket

[blitzracing]

BliarOut said:

Wait till Aldi/Lidl has them on special offer!

They are in next week, on the 14th of Jan. These are technically just as good as the Acumate (they have the same micro processor controlled charge cycles- not just a trickle charger) and very well constructed for a whole £12.99, plus they have have a low temp charging mode as an extra. Dont be a snob !

[Bassfiend]

.Mark said:

A Halfrauds one has been keeping my battery in tip top condition for the last 2 years or so. Gets my vote.

Oh yes - I just remembered why I wasn't using the Halfords one that I have...

...firstly the wallwart "adapter" has cracked open and secondly I butchered the charging lead for it and use it for plugging in a voltmeter to keep an eye on the battery voltage.

Phil