Hallfords Battery Charger - any good ?

[Mr. B]

Has anybody purchased a maintenance charger from Halfords for £24.99 ?

If so any good ?
It states that you can't connect the earth to the battery - is that normal ?
How long can you leave it connected via the croc clips without disconnecting the battery ?

 

[EuroCarParts]

Mr b

You'll need to be a bit more detailed, other than 24.99

With chargers yiu get what you pay for. Is it an intelli model (auto on and off) anx does it have different settings (or 1 constant charge) as these all factor in to the performance.

What are you intndung to use it for? Maintaining a good battery, reviving an old battery or as an emergency fast charge to start a car?

Patrick

 

[Mr. B]

EuroCarParts - thanks for the reply I tried to paste the exact charger but it it wudn't work yesterday. So I will try again ...

HALFORDS MAINTENANCE CHARGER PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The Halfords Maintenance Charger is easy to use & maintains the battery at the optimum charge level.

It is ideal for infrequently used vehicles such as classic cars, motorcycles, caravans and boats and can be left connected for extended periods, helping to protect the battery against damage when stored.

The Halfords Maintenance Charger is suitable for use with 12 volt lead-acid and maintenance free batteries, including gel batteries and the two colour LED display indicates the batteries state of charge.

FEATURES & BENEFITS OF HALFORDS MAINTENANCE CHARGER

Ideal for infrequently used vehicles such as classic cars, motorcycles, caravans & boats
Safe, convenient & easy to connect
Can be left connected for extended periods
Helps protect the battery against damage when stored
Protected against overload & reverse polarity
Two colour LED display for indicating battery state of charge
Suitable for 12 volt lead-acid & maintenance free batteries, inc. gel batteries
12 volt x 750mA maintenance charger
Switches automatically between normal & maintenance charging
Weight: 7.1kg
Dimensions (LxDxH): 60 x 85 x 85mm

Halfords | Halfords Maintenance Charger

Hope that helps.

I will be using it just to top up the battery when it's parked in the garage for weeks at time during the winter period.

I didn't want to disconnect the battery for alarm / radio / remote reasons.

Many Thanks

 

[EuroCarParts]

EuroCarParts - thanks for the reply I tried to paste the exact charger but it it wudn't work yesterday. So I will try again ...

HALFORDS MAINTENANCE CHARGER PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The Halfords Maintenance Charger is easy to use & maintains the battery at the optimum charge level.

It is ideal for infrequently used vehicles such as classic cars, motorcycles, caravans and boats and can be left connected for extended periods, helping to protect the battery against damage when stored.

The Halfords Maintenance Charger is suitable for use with 12 volt lead-acid and maintenance free batteries, including gel batteries and the two colour LED display indicates the batteries state of charge.

FEATURES & BENEFITS OF HALFORDS MAINTENANCE CHARGER

Ideal for infrequently used vehicles such as classic cars, motorcycles, caravans & boats
Safe, convenient & easy to connect
Can be left connected for extended periods
Helps protect the battery against damage when stored
Protected against overload & reverse polarity
Two colour LED display for indicating battery state of charge
Suitable for 12 volt lead-acid & maintenance free batteries, inc. gel batteries
12 volt x 750mA maintenance charger
Switches automatically between normal & maintenance charging
Weight: 7.1kg
Dimensions (LxDxH): 60 x 85 x 85mm

Halfords | Halfords Maintenance Charger

Hope that helps.

I will be using it just to top up the battery when it's parked in the garage for weeks at time during the winter period.

I didn't want to disconnect the battery for alarm / radio / remote reasons.

Many Thanks

Hi Mt B

750mah is VERY small charge - iand this model appears to be single stage.(There is no way you could use it as a 'normal' charger at that rate - however as a constant charge it would do the job.

I use this one DHC 12v Intelligent Battery Charger - 5 Amp
Its a 5aH intelli charger (it will dip down to 500aH when just maintaining a battery and will raise to up to 5aH when required) It can also be used to restore flat batteries, or simply charge a low battery.

The DHC one works out at less than 30quid with the forum discount

Patrick

 

[Mr. B]

EuroCarParts - many thanks.

With your charger can the -ve lead be attached to the battery or does it have to be earthed elsewhere on the veh.

I don't understand why the Halfords one says the -ve can't be attached to the battery.

Or is it me just being thick ??

Regards

 

[EuroCarParts]

Truthfully, I didn't check the instructions *embarassed face* mine stayed on the -ve terminal (ps I had it connected for about 2months straight)

I can't see a technical reason, to connect it to the body rather than battery (surley the negative lead goes to the chassis anyway?) - to answer this, maybe one of the other guys should step in.

*disclaimer* the above was done my my own cra, with my own charger - you should always follow the manufacturers instructions especially in case of a fault or a warranty claim.

Patrick

 

[Dave Richardson]

Why not buy the tried & tested Ctek charger, brill piece of kit

 

[EuroCarParts]

Yup, companies like CTEK and DHC make their living selling intelli chargers, althought the DHC brand is new in the UK (we have only been supplying it for 18mths) its a grand piece of kit!

 

[jaymanek]

CTEK or Accumate are the ones I use, never ever had an issue and they are in use 24/7

 

[24 VRT]

Another vote for Ctek battery conditioners - got two in use with no issues after many years. Plus they can be connected to the battery terminals - they should come with a quick release connector arrangement so that once the shorter cable is attached to the terminals, then its a simple job to hook it up and disconnect when you want to take the car out for a run.

 

[BTB 500]

Accumate user here - have used mine continuously for over 5 years now (SL is hooked up to it whenever it's not being driven). I find the wall mounting bracket particularly handy.

 

[IanA2]

I've been using Accumate ever since Bill recomended them. I now have one for each car and also for the ML500 Countax AMG !!

Never let me down.

 

[Mr. B]

Thanks for all the advice re battery chargers BUT unfortunately for me I had already purchased the Halford unit prior to post. If it's crap I will get shut and purchase one of the above.

My final question is - Is it OK to attach a maintenance charger to the battery whilst the battery is still in situ with the +- leads still attached ??

Regards

 

[Mercy1]

Thanks for all the advice re battery chargers BUT unfortunately for me I had already purchased the Halford unit prior to post. If it's crap I will get shut and purchase one of the above.

My final question is - Is it OK to attach a maintenance charger to the battery whilst the battery is still in situ with the +- leads still attached ??

I agonised in the same way as you are doing - and finally settled on the CTEK. Difference is that Halfords specifically do NOT recommend charging with the battery in situ, whereas the CTEK specifically says it's OK with their model (check out their website).
My CTEK is now on the garage wall and it pulse charges my little used C350 most of the time.

(If you chop the Halfords model, I bet you'd nearly get your money back on Fleabay!)

 

[BTB 500]

I've been using Accumate ever since Bill recomended them.

I got the tip originally from a TVR dealership, who supplied one with every car they sold (on the basis that many were going to be driven quite infrequently).

 

[jaymanek]

Thanks for all the advice re battery chargers BUT unfortunately for me I had already purchased the Halford unit prior to post. If it's crap I will get shut and purchase one of the above.

My final question is - Is it OK to attach a maintenance charger to the battery whilst the battery is still in situ with the +- leads still attached ??

Regards

Yes its fine if its the intelligent type that shuts off when its charged..

 

[24 VRT]

Is it OK to attach a maintenance charger to the battery whilst the battery is still in situ with the +- leads still attached ??

There's a difference between battery chargers and battery conditioners. Chargers are designed to quickly charge up a battery and will keep on trying to charge it until such time as they are disconnected.
Conditioners like Ctek will also bring a battery up to full charge, albeit more slowly, but will then shut off until the battery voltage drops a little when they will once again kick in to bring the charge level back back up - they will then continue this 'cycling' until further notice.
Therefore, for a car that's going to sit unused for long periods of time, a conditioner is whats needed - unless you are happy to let the battery run flat then use a charger to revive it, but that's not good for the battery.

 

[sinewave]

If you've only had it 5 mins Mr B why not just clean it up and take it back and say it's not what you needed.

Doubt a big firm like Halfords with Spotty Herbert behind the till will give a toss and you'll get a full refund!

 

[Mr. B]

I appreciate all of your comments and I can confirm that he Halfords charger has been returned and I am awaiting delivery of a CTEK MXS 3.6 3.8A 12V Multi-Functional 4-Stage Car Battery Charger.

Thanks again

 

[Mercy1]

I appreciate all of your comments and I can confirm that he Halfords charger has been returned and I am awaiting delivery of a CTEK MXS 3.6 3.8A 12V Multi-Functional 4-Stage Car Battery Charger.

Thanks again

I went for that one - good charger, you won't be disappointed especially if you get it installed in a garage...