battery charger

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battery charger

This topic has 21 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 30 January 2025 at 16:43 by Taf_Pembs.

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29 January 2025 at 16:29 #780811
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
By a feat of great stupidity I just blew up my battery charger. How, connecting it the wrong way round. I’m therefore in the market for a new one. What I’m wanting to charge is sealed lead acid, 22 Ah, and I’d like to be able to leave it plugged in rather than having to remember to disconnect it. I believe these sealed batteries are a bit sensitive and don’t like being overcharged.

Anyone got a recommendation? I think Lidl have them from time to time, but I need it now so I can test run my loco. Everything I see on interweb sems to make a feature of fast charging car batteries, which is not what I need, I don’t mind if it takes all day. I could rig up a constant voltage source from the bits and pieces I’ve got here, but does it need to be more clever?
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29 January 2025 at 16:36 #780818
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
Hi Duncan, I use a MAYPOLE 7423 4A 6/12v smart charger about £24, use it on wet and gel cells seems to work well and comes with a set of eyelet leads as well normal clips Would be ideal for you task. Got mine from MPD. Noel.
29 January 2025 at 16:38 #780819
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
I will put a copy of the Lidl instructions in my Documents Gallery, Duncan

… give me a few minutes.

I think it would serve your purpose nicely … at a very reasonable price.

MichaelG.
29 January 2025 at 16:41 #780820
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
But wouldn’t I have to wait till Lidl have them in stock? Or do they do mail order?
29 January 2025 at 16:47 #780822
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
I saw some in my local [Prestatyn] Lidl last week

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Sorry … No idea about mail-order.

MichaelG.
29 January 2025 at 17:00 #780823
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I keep my Subaru pluged into one of these Nogo genius1 charger/conditioners as I don’t drive it that often. It senses when the battery needs a charge and just keeps it topped up. Just wall wart size.
29 January 2025 at 17:06 #780835
Stuart Smith 5
Participant
@stuartsmith5
Not cheap, but ctek chargers are very good. They are available in various ratings. The CTEK XS 0.8 is suitable for the size of battery you have. (£49 on Amazon). I have the CTEK MXS 5.0 which I bought as a car charger but it also has settings for small SLA batteries. (£80 on Amazon). I use it charge 12v 12Ah batteries for my battery loco. They can be left connected and have a recon function.

If you want the Lidl one, I am pretty sure I saw them in my local shop last week.

Stuart
29 January 2025 at 19:23 #780872
duncan webster 1
Participant
@duncanwebster1
Thanks for info so far, I’d assumed that the lidl chargers were special centre isle articles. There are no les than 3 lidls within 3 miles of me, so I’ll go and search tomorrow.
29 January 2025 at 19:46 #780875
peak4
Participant
@peak4
Don’t know where you are, but Glossop Lidl had a few last week.
Yes they are Middle of Lidl, but they come up regularly; all three of mine still work after several years, but the latest batch do look different, so may perform differently too.

Bill
29 January 2025 at 21:36 #780894
Vic
Participant
@vic
I bought a Noco Genius 10. It charges all types of batteries and can be used as a 12V power supply. There are other models. Check out all the features.

https://www.force4.co.uk/item/NOCO/Genuis-Battery-Charger/4C1D?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=base&stock=202250&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADow_avLisldrigRAOERsDd64-8By&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwOe8BhCCARIsAGKeD55w1b-Ng_RRxGptZ7YT-ko6uGtdQhCrqbJaQ5-wJg0WLBFBuL6jUu4aAg9sEALw_wcB
29 January 2025 at 21:51 #780897
Julie Ann
Participant
@julieann
I’d second Ctek, we have one at the gliding club keeping a spare battery for the tow planes charged and ready.

Some years ago, when working on an experimental electric car in some old steelworks in Vikmanshyttan with my business partner, we had a look round the Ctek labs and then had dinner with the CEO. It felt a bit odd having a Chinese meal in a small town in rural Sweden.

Julie xxx
29 January 2025 at 22:14 #780909
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
On 29 January 2025 at 21:51 Julie Ann Said:

I’d second Ctek, we have one at the gliding club keeping a spare battery for the tow planes charged and ready.

Some years ago, when working on an experimental electric car in some old steelworks in Vikmanshyttan with my business partner, we had a look round the Ctek labs and then had dinner with the CEO. It felt a bit odd having a Chinese meal in a small town in rural Sweden.

Julie xxx

I’d third that suggestion. May be some as good, but nothing really better. I have the same as Stuart and have recovered batteries that have been discharged to a quite low state of charge. Farmers buy them – and they are never keen on making purchases that don’t cut the mustard.
30 January 2025 at 06:27 #780925
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
I bought a relatively expensive “smart charger”, 6/12 volt, lead acid, sealed, small lithium, battery recovery etc, etc. BUT it assumes that your battery is OK before it will charge. Ie, if your battery is flat, it won’t charge it !! I have to retain my old simple “Un intelligent” charger to kick start the “smart charger”
30 January 2025 at 09:52 #780944
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
Speedys comment is worth noting ! If a smart charger is used on a FLAT or very low battery it will sense this voltage as a dud battery (which may be so ) and refuse to charge. A simple transformer/ rectifier charger will just charge, and will bring the voltage up a bit so the clever one can work. The clever one is great and will keep a battery fully charged 24Hr a day with no harm, but there is always a catch. Noel.
30 January 2025 at 10:04 #780951
Journeyman
Participant
@journeyman
I don’t drive that much so got a CTEK to keep the battery in good order. They do a charger specifically for the stop/start batteries (apparently these are different to regular batteries) can leave it plugged in. Tests the battery on first connection and then decides what to do. Once the battery is charged goes into maintenance mode. Works very well but not cheap.

John
30 January 2025 at 11:32 #780972
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
On 30 January 2025 at 09:52 noel shelley Said:

Speedys comment is worth noting ! If a smart charger is used on a FLAT or very low battery it will sense this voltage as a dud battery (which may be so ) and refuse to charge. A simple transformer/ rectifier charger will just charge, and will bring the voltage up a bit so the clever one can work. The clever one is great and will keep a battery fully charged 24Hr a day with no harm, but there is always a catch. Noel.

No real problem. Just parallel it with another battery, with sufficient voltage, and it will start charging.
30 January 2025 at 12:46 #781003
duncan webster 1
Participant
@duncanwebster1
First Lidl I went to had loads of them. My confusion thinking they were like Aldi, only have specials once in a blue moon
30 January 2025 at 15:32 #781033
Colin Heseltine
Participant
@colinheseltine48622
Another vote for CTEK. Use it on the car and never had an issue.

Colin
30 January 2025 at 15:52 #781046
duncan webster 1
Participant
@duncanwebster1
Unfortunately I’m not rich enough for CTEC, just spent a load of cash on a new PC because of Mr Gates and his evil empire
30 January 2025 at 16:26 #781054
Vic
Participant
@vic
On 30 January 2025 at 09:52 noel shelley Said:

Speedys comment is worth noting ! If a smart charger is used on a FLAT or very low battery it will sense this voltage as a dud battery (which may be so ) and refuse to charge. A simple transformer/ rectifier charger will just charge, and will bring the voltage up a bit so the clever one can work. The clever one is great and will keep a battery fully charged 24Hr a day with no harm, but there is always a catch. Noel.

My Noco Genius has a Force Mode for dead batteries. It also has a repair mode.
I guess cheap smart chargers don’t have these functions?
30 January 2025 at 16:29 #781056
Taf_Pembs
Participant
@taf_pembs
Another vote for CTEC, I’ve used them a fair bit.

I would also highly recommend Optimate chargers, you say only 22Ah and Optimate chargers are generally for smaller batteries (they were when I was using them daily). I had several that were running 24/7 when I had the bike shop (the old Optimate 3 they were). Not only did a great job of charging and maintaining batteries but recovered quite a few too that went on to perform fine.

I’ve just had a look, they have gone up in price somewhat!
30 January 2025 at 16:43 #781062
Taf_Pembs
Participant
@taf_pembs
Sorry, pressed submit before finishing!

Not long since I bought a Draper 12v 4A Charger Maintainer. Either I have a dud or it’s rubbish. It will give a reasonable bulk charge (auto sensing for battery type) but fails to top off.

I charged a 105Ah (Red Flash – pricey!) healthy battery with it and it ‘finished’ so short of full the little green ball in the inspection hole wasn’t even visible let alone holding any more than 11.8V after being disconnected for an hour. I then put my 20 year old Optimate 3 on it over night and all was good. I’ve tried a few batteries with it and it always stops short of charged, even if left on so it’s in ‘Maintenance’ mode for a few days. One for the bin I think.
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