trickle/conditioning battery chargers -what to buy?

[Stueeee]

I've had an Optimate 2 battery charger for umpteen years, it's moved pretty continuously around the various vehicles and projects here topping up or maintaining the various batteries. Unfortunately, it's just died, had the lid off, nothing obviously burnt/busted, so now it's in the bin.

I need to replace it with something similar capable of charging ordinary lead acid batteries and Varley Gel style batteries too, but there now seems a bewildering array of these chargers. What are you people using for this kind of thing; I would welcome any recommendations.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I've read the Lidl/Aldi ones row pretty good job. C-Tek is the other one.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I have found that the Aldi type trickle/mainenance chargers are OK, but very low charge rate, Also if the mains electric is interrupted even for a split second the charger does not reset, Ask me how I know, Ruined a nearly new Optima spiral wound battery.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Ctek. Can't go wrong with em.

 

[8ob]

I bought the 6/12v autoxs from Aldi to keep the bike battery topped up, seems a decent unit. Tried it on a flat battery though and it drops to a 6v charge, so only any good as a trickle charger on a battery that already has reasonable charge.

Bob

 

[bourbon]

got the same, as said before. they won't charge a flat battery though

 

[GW8IZR]

Never had a problem with CTEK here

 

[wristpin]

C-tek chargers are quality, at the appropriate price.

 

[monkeh]

Another vote for ctek from me.

 

[axomoxia]

I've got a slack handful of the lidls chargers. I've replaced the clips on some of them with Tamiya Large connectors so they can plug into Optimate fly leads directly.

 

[MCKDAVID]

I'd say just get another optimate, had no bother with mine (Optimate 3) for the Last 15 years.. decent kit, reasonable price.

 

[pedrobedro]

My Optimate 3 revived a battery I had had in the shed for months with a desulphating cycle (left it on for 3 days) and it went onto my daughter's Corsa and lasted two more years. I use it monthly on my bike battery through winter and it's about 8 years old now.(The charger, the bike's on it's third battery )

 

[dobbslc]

Optimate 3 here as well, very good chargers and the only thint I trust to leave on in the workshop overnight.
Had a CTek/ Oxford charger and it ran way too hot for my liking.

 

[Stueeee]

Thanks for the useful replies. I've just ordered an Optimate 2, The Optimate 3 did look tempting but looks like it maxes out at 50 ampere hour batteries, I have a few truck batteries that exceed that capacity by quite a bit.

 

[addjunkie]

Ive a couple of opimates a 2 and 3. One sits on my bike all the time, the other on our standby generator. Never had any issues. If they fail, chuck them and get a new one. Ive also used the 3 to regenerate our electric fence batterys a few times.

Only issue very slow to recharge a completely flat battery.

 

[GW8IZR]

I've got an optimate - its a very old one that came with a Harley Davidson, it works fine but its only a charge maintainer, it has no intelligence.

 

[Jetex]

Why go with these so called intelligent/smart type chargers? What is the advantage for you? If you are charging lead acid wet or gel type batteries then these only require simple charging methods. The best and most reliable chargers for lead acid are the simple older transformer, rectifier and amp meter in a box type.

 

[GW8IZR]

Why go with these so called intelligent/smart type chargers? What is the advantage for you? If you are charging lead acid wet or gel type batteries then these only require simple charging methods. The best and most reliable chargers for lead acid are the simple older transformer, rectifier and amp meter in a box type.

If you care about running cost, life expectancy of the cell and in particular if you have cells that only get standby or occasional use then an intelligent charger is what you need.

 

[armalites]

I have 4 Ctek from small right to the MXS25 which is a 25a job. They have all been very good, no issues and they are often used outside(although undercover ie under the bonnet).

I do have one of the 6/12v Lidl ones and that has been very useful for smaller batteries but as already said it assume it's a 6v if the voltage it too low, the fix is to put the battery in parallel with a charged one and then stick the charger on. It will then charge at 12v.

 

[MCKDAVID]

Only issue very slow to recharge a completely flat battery.

maybe that's why mine has lasted so long, I only use it for trickle charging or top up, if it's discharged I stick it on the "proper" charger. Don't know if it's necessary, but always seems more suitable.