Battery charging advice needed

[Mercy1]

As my car sometimes stands idle for quite a few days, I was thinking of buying a new battery charger in case of emergency. I would want to charge the battery in situ but the handbook says:

Only charge the installed battery with a battery charger which has been tested and approved by MB. These battery chargers allow the battery to be charged while still installed.

Can anyone recommend a charger which complies with this advice? Indeed, would I cause a problem if I used my old trickle charger in situ? Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[brucemillar]

I use a halfords maintenance mode charger. I think that Aldi do a good maintenance charger..

 

[Mercy1]

I use a halfords maintenance mode charger. I think that Aldi do a good maintenance charger..

...just looked up the Halfords charger and it looks ideal. do you charge the battery in situ without disconnecting any leads??...

 

[brucemillar]

...just looked up the Halfords charger and it looks ideal. do you charge the battery in situ without disconnecting any leads??...

I do and I have never had a problem with it. I just leave it switched on and it does it's stuff. Check the Aldi ones though. There were some people on here who rated them.

 

[24 VRT]

My Merc can sit around unused for a week or so at a time, so I use a CTEK conditioner to keep the battery topped up. Can't fault the CTEK, and you can buy quick connector leads which attach to the battery posts to make connection and disconnection of the conditioner unit quick and easy. If you buy these, just be careful that you don't disconnect the battery supply to the car when you install the connector lead onto the battery posts, as you may then need the security code for the radio - and you know you can never find that when you need it!!

 

[johnsco]

I often use my home-made battery charger on the W210 with the battery connected.
I usually connect it to the little brass + connector on the LHS inner wing near the ABS unit.
The negative lead goes to the chassis stud on the inner wing just next to the + connector.

 

[Chrishazle]

My 968 stands idle for weeks at a time, I always connect up a battery conditioner like the CTEC mentioned above - been doing this for about 10 years, never had a problem, the battery in my coupe when I sold it was 9 years old and still going strong.

 

[Mercy1]

...thanks all - handbook says to connect charger leads to the jump start connections under the bonnet - never to the battery posts.
any observations??...thanks again