Trickle Charger

[IanA2]

I've always used Ctek, on my bike and at work on race cars. They are very good, however one important point is that if you unplug the ctek from the mains while it is connected to the battery, it backfeeds itself and will flatten the battery. I bought a top of the range one and it still did it.
My dad has used an accumate for about 5 years on his weekend car that sits in the garage for weeks on end. He likes it so much he's now wired it up to the mains...

I would say it's worth using the fly lead on your car, then you can just plug it in rather than clamping it on each time. Much tidier and safer.

From the little I remember from my fiddling about with electric stuff; surely that wouldn't be an expensive fix?

Sum kinda bridge diode or summit, innit

 

[nb_racing]

From the little I remember from my fiddling about with electric stuff; surely that wouldn't be an expensive fix?

Sum kinda bridge diode or summit, innit

Pass.

 

[IanA2]

Pass.

To be clear, I meant a fix for the manufacturer.

 

[nb_racing]

To be clear, I meant a fix for the manufacturer.

Oh right! Yes, I always thought that too.

 

[popes11]

what about a solar charger which plugs into the obd point on your car? I just bought one for a car that remains parked for a while. I wont know how well its works for a few weeks. But in theory I think its a very good way of trickle charge. 36 reviews on amazon and only 2 people moaning about it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-rev...iewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

 

[markmifsud]

Not sure these things can put out enough current to have any real affect. There is no substitute for a decent battery. As an aside, isn't the ODB port on MB disconnected from power with the IGN off?

 

[IanA2]

what about a solar charger which plugs into the obd point on your car? I just bought one for a car that remains parked for a while. I wont know how well its works for a few weeks. But in theory I think its a very good way of trickle charge. 36 reviews on amazon and only 2 people moaning about it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-rev...iewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Actually a few more than two. Several people say bluntly, that it is not powerful enough, ergo it does not do what it says on the tin.

 

[popes11]

To be fair to the solar charger I would say it would probably be better named as maintainer. As far as more than two being unhappy I did not do an exact count. Suffice to say the majority of people using and reviewing it on Amazon seem happy with it. Mine is currently being put to the test so lets see if it works.

 

[IanA2]

To be fair to the solar charger I would say it would probably be better named as maintainer. As far as more than two being unhappy I did not do an exact count. Suffice to say the majority of people using and reviewing it on Amazon seem happy with it. Mine is currently being put to the test so lets see if it works.

Mmm...but that's what I use my Accumate for, to maintain my batteries. Ok, I think theoretically it's a charger too, but that's not it's main purpose. If I really need to charge a battery I put it on a proper charger.

Let us know how it works out.

 

[tanuie]

I bought a c-tech for my SL, it works well.

 

[popes11]

I agree use a proper charger if actually charging a flat battery. Think the solar comes into play when you are away from power or just want to maintain the battery of a car that is only used once in a while.

I got the solar because I will be leaving my car parked up for two weeks to go on holiday. When I return to the car I have a 450 mile journey to get home with four kids and a wife depending on me. So I would like to give the battery every chance of having a charge in it to start my car. From that point of view £25 investment is well worth it if it serves the purpose.

Currently testing it on my bmw x3 which is not moving for a couple of weeks. Normally it would drain eventually. So I will give a turn over next week and see how it goes.

 

[markmifsud]

I would suggest your battery is duff if you can not last two weeks. Or you have something staying awake drawing additional current. I only use my car weekends, and have never had an issue returning from 2 weeks away.

 

[popes11]

Battery is fine. Never left the merc for more than two weeks so not sure what would happen. I'm guessing it would be fine. This product for me is more a belt and braces approach. Leaving the car for two weeks 450 miles from home is not an experiment I wish to carry out in order to save £25.

 

[BTB 500]

I couldn't see the power mentioned for that AA one but car solar chargers are typically around 1.5 watts.

That's in direct bright sunlight, and equates to a maximum possible charge current of about 0.12A. Clearly better than nothing, but not going to do an awful lot on (say) a 75 Ah battery. Most of the time the current will be significantly less than that of course (obviously, zero when it's dark ).