Blue cedar Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Morning all. My car TR6 only goes out for a run every couple of months. So I sometimes find the battery is a little down on power and so sometime have to use jump leads. So thought Id by a battery charger...... - should I by a trickle charger or standard charger or ? - Can someone recommend a good make or are any that Halfords sell will be good quality, even the cheapest ? Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Hi Get a conditioner type you can leave these on and they cycle through different modes to keep the battery health. The club sells this type http://www.tr-registershop.co.uk/ctek-08-ctek-xs-08---12v-conditioner-h-43-p.asp Its a good make you may need to check the size you need. I already had the Aldi version works great. But only available during their motoring specials. Optimate do similar. I used theirs on my bikes. Sorry dont know about halford versions H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 CTEK is probably the best option especially for circumstances where cars can stand idle for some time. One of its best features is that it can be left switched on to maintain a 'float' charge keeping the battery to its optimum voltage automatically. Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Freer Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 +1 for CTEK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveR Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 +2 for CTEK. Used it for a number of years, no problems with either the charger or the battery. Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
4Mal Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 +3 CTek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SteveB21 Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 I use a CTEK on my 6 and you can get attachments to plug it in via a cigarette lighter socket or hard wire to the battery. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blue cedar Posted February 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Many thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Hi Peter ~ I've used the 'Lidl' conditioner battery chargers on my 3A and 'E'-type for many years with no problems. The 'Lidl' charger comes for about £13 when they are on offer. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 +1 for Lidl. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 + another 1 for the Lidl charger, just as good as the others - I have 3 of them ! Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
North London Mike Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 +5 CTex Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steves_TR6 Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 Ctec or Accumate are good brands, Lidl one very good value. I’ve wider my lidl one up with long 12v loads so it can be connected to the battery and reach inside to 240v, as my tr has to live on the drive. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alfrom Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 I used a Ctek for a couple of years and all was good - until one very cold night when the battery could barely turn the engine over. The Ctek showed everything was fine - so I stopped using it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted February 18, 2018 Report Share Posted February 18, 2018 Very cold night C Tek showed everything was fine Battery wouldnt turn it over = C Tek not set on frost setting and had stopped charging. Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blue cedar Posted February 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 Just received my CTEK XS 0.8 charger. (12volt 0.8A). The box shows charging times for batteries from 2ah through to 32ah.....ranging from 2 hours to 32 hours respectively. My battery is 72ah.......does that therefore mean I’ve bought the wrong charger ? and the charging time would be circa 80 hours ? Regards. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) Yep, 80 hrs would be approximately correct Bob. P.S. if output is 0.8 Amps, then a 72 AH battery from flat would take 90 Hours ! Edited February 21, 2018 by Lebro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blue cedar Posted February 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 Bob, thanks for your reply. But is it the correct charger from the CTEK range ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) That one looks like its not really intended for charging big batteries from scratch, its a conditioner to keep a battery topped up when not in use in which case 0.8 amps is quite sufficient. See their range here: https://www.ctek.com/products If you really need to fully charge a battery from flat on a regular basis you certainly have the wrong one. However if you just want to keep your good car battery in best condition between drives the one you have will be fine. Edited February 21, 2018 by RobH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blue cedar Posted February 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 Rob, thanks for clarifying that. I use the car on occasional sunny days...so not regularly. Just want to keep it topped up as it looses a bit of punch being laid up. If I suspected the battery was poor, I’d replace it. Cheers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DRD Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 However if you just want to keep your good car battery in best condition between drives the one you have will be fine. I use it for this - it works just fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TRseks Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 (edited) I use Accumate, a smart charger that charges at 1.2 amp normally but changes to float charge when its fully charged so can be left all the time as a trickle charger. It will charge a 12v battery discharged to as low as 3v. Cost about £45-50 but worth it, the battery on my TR6 is probably nearly 10 years old but Accumate keeps it in top condition. Magnus Edited February 22, 2018 by TRseks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alfrom Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 Mick: Ref your post #15 Very cold night but car is in a brick garage adjoining house and doesn't get below about 4degC. C Tek doesn't have a frost setting. Pierre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted February 23, 2018 Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 Pierre, "doesn't get below about 4degC " Manual says to select for use below 5deg C when it will happily cope with sub zero temps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHSI_qHOI4U "C Tek doesn't have a frost setting" Does on mine Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted February 23, 2018 Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 So does the Lidl one, & it has a max charge of around 3 A Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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