Battery Charger Advice please

[Howard]

Ok ladies and gents....

Following on from my previous flat battery thread , i am going to buy a battery charger..... so , i would like some recommendations from your good selves please .....

I don't need a charger that will jump start a big rig, and as usual , being a government employee , i am on a budget (£30-£40 ish) .....

I just want a charger that i can occasionally use to charge my car and the wifes Ka should the need arise, you know extension lead over the front lawn , bonnet half open sort of thing...

Is it as simple as just going to Hellfrauds or anything else i should know.....

 

[KLP 92]

I use a Halfords one, bought it 2 years ago in the half price sale. Have had no probs so far, paid £20 for it.

 

[BTB 500]

To be frank, you shouldn't need a battery charger. If the vehicle battery won't hold a charge for a couple of weeks, or turn the engine over on a frosty morning, then it's pretty much had it. It's not going to get any better, so you might as well replace it now! Last winter the batteries went on both my SL and my VW

 

[Howard]

Batterys only 1 year old, i drive approximately 7-10 mins each way , usually with lights, blowers, heated rear window, stereo etc on...

Also, sitting in traffic, brake lights are on constantly, seatbelt presenters etc. all adds up...

The battery is ok, i just don't drive enough to put the charge back into it that is taken out on the journey..

I read somewhere, that it takes 20 mins of driving to put back in the battery what you take out on startup, not including all the other things mentioned above, hence a 10 min journey each way is leaving me with negative 20 mins charging each day, so its going to run down....

I don't mind putting it on charge for half a day once a week or so....

 

[Brian WH]

The battery is ok, i just don't drive enough to put the charge back into it that is taken out on the journey..

I read somewhere, that it takes 20 mins of driving to put back in the battery what you take out on startup, not including all the other things mentioned above, hence a 10 min journey each way is leaving me with negative 20 mins charging each day, so its going to run down....

I don't mind putting it on charge for half a day once a week or so....

You are right Howard, and wise to have a standby Charger as you do very short journeys.

I do even shorter ones than you, and need one too. But have survived as my car has two batteries, and if the first one goes Flat I can still start it on the second but I loose all my Auxiliaries including Heating.

 

[BTB 500]

If you only have a 10 minute drive then I agree you have a problem. Having had cars in the past with centre zero ammeters on the dash (so you can see when the battery is being drained rather than charged) I am pretty careful ... always go down to sidelights if stopped in traffic, for example. Stereo isn't normally a big deal - it's lights, heated screen(s), heated seats, etc. You don't drive around with front fogs on all the time, I hope?!

Anyway to answer your original question, check out the Argos catalogue. They are tops for value ... I got a fully automatic charger which I use for 12V leisure and gel batteries, it was the most expensive one they sold (the simple car-only chargers were cheaper) and I think it was £29.99.

 

[Howard]

No i dont drive about with the fogs on all the time ....... i grew out of that when i sold my mk1 Golf !! LOL

Argos sounds wicked, i've still got some vouchers that i was given last year for my birthday .... :bannana:

Cheers Bill

 

[230K]

Hi

Keep a watch at your Lidl store,(you do have them over there?) i got one for around a tenner last year real heavy in a metal case etc just like the one your dad used to have if you know what i mean.

230K

 

[Howard]

Yeah we've got Lidl's here, i'll keep my beadies peeled, as you say they have some great bargains sometimes.....

Cheers

 

[pammy]

We just have a cheap n cheerful that I think we prob got from Halfords but must be ten years old if not more. Always handy coz you never know especially now the weather is demanding all the heating bits to be on

They don't usually have very long leads though so you might need to think about how you're going to make that work if you're not going to be removing the batteries when a quick boost is required.

 

[Will]

Two silly questions:

Is the battery filled correctly? (if applicable)
Is the alternator healthy?

Ok, a couple more Are you sure that there is nothing draining the battery down, and lastly, if it's only getting low after a week, what about one longer journey at the weekend say to charge the battery and give the car a bit of a clear out?

I've got an old Gunson (I think) battery charger, been good as gold for years
Any of the cheapie ones will be fine for the job I reckon.

Good luck mate

Will

 

[andy_k]

it's worth getting an automatic one that switches off when the battery is fully charged - that way you minimise the risk of damaging the battery with over charging.

Andy

 

[nigel cross]

As mentioned earlier to check the battery is getting enough charge you need a digital voltmeter. Start your car and then stick tha voltmeter accreoss the positive and negative , you should expect about 13.2 volts.
Another way to check battery is when you stop at night check voltage and then again in morning. If down the battery coulb be on the way out or something is draining the system The trouble with this time of year is the cold weather reduces the specific gravity of the battery acid there-by reducing the battery voltage.
:bannana: :bannana:

 

[Dieselman]

Howard you need a bike not a battery charger.

Driving 7-10 mins can't be far.

 

[Howard]

Far enough that you wouldn't want to be doing it at 5.30am (3-4 miles)

especially in the cold, i get up early enough as it is, without having to leave another half hour to bike it, although i do bike in in the summer.......

 

[grober]

Tooled Up

I have found this company quite efficient in the past. http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=20372

 

[dougal74]

I have found this company quite efficient in the past. http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=20372

Good company, for larger engined cars and diesels a charger which can deliver more than 14.4A on a slow charge is the best for the job (apparently).

 

[RJIF]

you could do what im going to do, i have and upgraded MB battery and its healthy but im going to buy a solar powered trickle charger (12V) from WWW.MAPLIN.CO.UK the unit is of course solar powered and set up to avoid overcharging so wether i use the cars battery supply alot or dont use the car for some time there will always be a sustained charge in the battery. i would suggest for a proper battery charger though an OPTIMATE trickle charger that does the same thing via mains connection - multi volt settings,anti overcharge and health of battery indicator.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Howard you need a bike not a battery charger.

Driving 7-10 mins can't be far.

Twice my commute! Heater going, sub pumping, Xenons on......you sure your battery is ok?

Last time I looked at chargers in Halfords they were rated by engine size - or maybe that was just the ones that you could charge up on the mains and use to jump start your car - it has to be said that is the best idea IMO and if I were to buy a charger I would get one of those.

Battery in the Rover died at Christmas and I was lucky it was at home and I did not need it really that day.

 

[Howard]

Got a charger from a friend who had bought a big one, then didn't need it so it was brand new....

Battery (after checking reciepts) is 14 months old so should be nothing wrong with it, just short journeys with lots running.....

Has been ok since, i put it on charge while i'm at home about 1 day every two weeks and its fine