Using a trickle charger

[cheese99]

My battery keeps going flat, and I will replace it at the next service, but, if I buy a trickle charger from Leven can this be plugged in via an extension lead from the house as the car isn't garaged, or in this damp and wet weather is there a big risk of blowing a fuse in the car or house?

[gary judd]

hi the trickle charger can be pluged into the cigarete lighter so every thing can put inside the car all only the wire from your extension lead will be outside open to the elements, hope thies answers your question just plug in and forget i use one its great car starts first time everytime. gary and cerb

[cheese99]

Thanks.

I guess you feed the cable into the cockpit through the engine someway? It's weird though, you're using the cig. lighter that is charged by the battery to charge the battery? I know it works but it sounds mad!

[gary judd]

hi again i know it sounds mad to charge the battery through the cig lighter but it works believe me .the first time i used it i was a bit dubious but it works a treat.if your extension lead is not too thick your door will shut. you will need the cig adaptor from leven. gary and cerb

[cheese99]

thanks fot the additional info. I'm gonna try and get one Monday and drive to Leven and pick one up if they have it in stock.

cheers

[JonRB]

cheese99 said:It's weird though, you're using the cig. lighter that is charged by the battery to charge the battery? I know it works but it sounds mad!

The way you say it sounds mad, but the cigarette lighter isn't charged by the battery, its connected to the battery, so you are simply connecting your charger to the battery via the cigarette lighter socket.

[cheese99]

Ah, that's what I meant. You're using the battery to charge itself? No?

[RichB]

Errr. no you are using your household 13amp mains power supply to power to the charger which in turn charges the battery. And because you are talking about 240 volt/13amps make sure the charger and plug socket etc. for the extensoin cable are all well tucked inside the car with only the cable exposed to the elements. Even then make sure you don't trip over it or push your lawn mower over the flex! Good luck. Rich...

[Keith P]

Even worse than all that is that the cable feeding the trickle charger from your house is unlikely to be rated for this type of use. Make sure you have a RCD or similar in the plug socket in the house & DO NOT touch the cable sheath whilst live!

Regards

Keith P