"Smart" Battery Chargers

Can't help with "other products" bit, but can give a positive experience for the XS7000. Had one for almost 3 years now and no problems and gets used a LOT.

Geoff

To "maintain" full charge in a Deep Cycle battery just connect up a 5 Watt solar panel and sit the panel in the sun.
Costs nothing to run and is mistake proof. (no regulator)

A benefit is you can take it away with you in the bush and have the same charge going into either your Crank battery or DC battery.

To "re-charge" the DC use a larger Solar panel & regulator.

I bought a Power Saver 25A, 3 stage smart charger - the blue one - (from Derek - he advertises on this site) - far as I can see Durst just put a sticker on the one seen on their site. Check pricing here and there - Durst were "right up there" far as I recall.
The charger runs well for me - you can choose various voltages and nominate wet or gel batteries - the only snag is that the thermal cutout will turn it off within a few minutes, when you you are charging in hot weather (often when you need it the most, for fridge backup). Even in the shade, if the ambient is in the mid 30's, it'll cut out quite soon - quite a bit of heat generated in the first of the charge stages - the heat sinks on the side can't cope in that weather.

Hi Kim

To maintain a 12V lead acid battery in a storage situation any constant voltage power supply at 13V8 with a current capability of 500mA or more will do the job. I'll have a look around and see if I can find something suitable for you. A smart charger at $X00 is serious overkill for battery maintenance.

Mike Harding

This system will get a rasberry because its too low tech!

What I do is use a conventional 3a./240v. charger connected to the mains via a 24hr. programmable timer.

If the battery is in good nick, fairly full charge to start with, set the timer for about 1hr./day.

I have recently done this with my two "home" vehicles whilst we were away for 4 months over winter (left connected to the vehicles for alarms/clock etc.). Came home to find batteries fully charged, ready to go.

Works well for me. furph.

Like Mike said, the 7000 is overkill, I have the 3600 which does fine for me for a similar application, Incidentally I know a bloke who runs a bit of machinery, once the season is over he removes the batteries from all of them and links them together on a 3600 ctek....
I think the 3600 can easily do what you ask
NickR

Hmmmm,,,,,,,,,,,always something to be gleaned on this site whereever one looks.

I'm about to fit a small rate 240/12 volt charger into the Chevissan and the comments about "high temperature cut outs" have made me have another think about where to place it.

Good one, thanks,

Bilbo