battery chargers

Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:00

ThreadID: 47853 Views:2147 Replies:6 FollowUps:7

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TD100

Hi People,i have looked in the archives at chargers till my eyes said enough!i am looking for a charger to put on my cruiser which spends alot of time sitting to the point where the batterys wont or almost wont start it(2 x optimas as mains in parralel 100 s T/D)vehicle hardly gets used but i dont want to let the batterys contiually be flattened to the point where they fail,some sort of 2 or 3 stage should be sufficient?i also want something of reasonable quality so your opinions are appreciated,cheers Paul

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Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:17

Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:17

Paul, I have a CTeK 25 Amp charger. Great piece of kit. For the particular purpose you have described a 7 Amp should be enough though.

Other good brands include Projecta, Xantrex and I believe Jacar have a reasonable one at a pretty good price.

Fridge and Solar often have some good deals on chargers:
www.fridge-and-solar.net/
Have a look under chargers or specials

Norm C

AnswerID: 253235

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:41

Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:41

I don't use Optimas - just have twin wet cell batteries that I leave paralleled most of the time. And like you, my vehicle sits in the shed for weeks.

My solution is to have a long twin lead (thick wire) that hooks up to a $99 Jaycar 20A, 13.8V regulated power supply. The lead hooks up to a power outlet in the car, so I don't have to lift the bonnet and takes a few hours to put charge back in to the battery. I watch the digital volmeter on my dash, and when it gets to 13.8, and the digital ammeter I use on the powersupply has dropped to under 2 amps, I know the batteries are pretty much charged. If I forget to disconnect, there's no dramas, as the float charge of these batteries is 13.8 anyway. I do this every few weeks.

Its simple and works for me.

AnswerID: 253239

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 22:38

Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 22:38

I bought a 25A PowerSaver - 3 stage (bulk-absorption-float) - you can choose wet or gell battery plus 3 float voltages. About $350 delivered by courier.
Seems a good unit - I'm often topping up my batteries - my car too sits in the shed a fair bit now. Couple of notes - this unit has heat sinks on the side plus a cooling fan, but the thermal overload starts cycling when the ambient temp gets over 35C
(common in the hot dry season, in the top end - when you need it the most). Also, the current draw fluctuates in bulk mode, and plays hell with the Eco throttle on my gennie (during bush travel) - I have to run the gennie flat chat, until it goes to absorption mode.

AnswerID: 253269

Reply By: SARocks - Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 08:09

Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 08:09

we were recommended by the local CSIRO office to buy the Jaycar 16A battery charger $169 Batteries we thought were stuffed have come back to life that the Projecta would not charge. Have these chargers fitted to the standby vehicles and gen sets and no more battery failure probs. Dont pay crazy prices for Ctek as Jaycar do a better job.

AnswerID: 253298

Follow Up By: Axel [ the real one ] - Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 10:34

Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 10:34

Crazy prices and a better job ?? please substantiate ,as it would seem as it is only an opinion ,not real proof in any shape or form.

FollowupID: 514411

Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 16:29

Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 16:29

In my 'opinion' if it does what it says, Eg. 'Fully automatic switch mode, car battery charger utilises a 4 stage rapid charge design to optimize the life and performance of lead acid/GEL batteries. The pulsed current charging system allows batteries to accept up to 15% more energy than typical charging methods. Once the battery is charged, the unit switches to "maintenance" mode to keep the battery in peak condition' - then it's worth a try, it's definately cheap enough, and that's unusual.

BUT and there often is a but....
if you want to charge the battery/ies on a vehicle not used for a long period of time the "budget" priced 1 or 2 amp Solar panel mentioned above or a similar system wired direct to the battery will do this job admirably, and can be used where there is no external 240v electrical source, out in the bush or in the garage.

FollowupID: 514451

Follow Up By: wheeleybin - Friday, Jul 20, 2007 at 09:09

Friday, Jul 20, 2007 at 09:09

Sorry to be a prude but how do you get a solar panel to work in a garage or am I reading in something that I shouldnt.
ian

FollowupID: 514564

Follow Up By: Muddy doe (SA) - Friday, Jul 20, 2007 at 21:17

Friday, Jul 20, 2007 at 21:17

maybe one would think somewhat laterally and put the panel on the rool of the garage with the wire coming in through a window or door frame or air vent or something! These things do come with cables as far as I know.....

FollowupID: 514683

Follow Up By: Muddy doe (SA) - Friday, Jul 20, 2007 at 21:18

Friday, Jul 20, 2007 at 21:18

roof even!

FollowupID: 514684

Follow Up By: wheeleybin - Saturday, Jul 21, 2007 at 07:55

Saturday, Jul 21, 2007 at 07:55

Laterally thinking I would consider that due to the small cable size normally on panels of small capacity one would have a limit to location and length of cable due to voltage drop so I hope the roof is close or it would be a waste of time and money.
Ian

FollowupID: 514719

Follow Up By: Brew34.5(SA) - Saturday, Jul 21, 2007 at 09:02

Saturday, Jul 21, 2007 at 09:02

IS this unit able to be mounted in any way? Looks good value for $.

FollowupID: 514728

Reply By: Robin Miller - Friday, Jul 20, 2007 at 10:36

Friday, Jul 20, 2007 at 10:36

Hi Paul

Many of above mentioned methods are fine however their are specific products designed to that that exact job.

E.G. $49 retail , Jaycar MB3600

Robin Miller