[mistryn]

Can anyone reccomend me a trickle charger for my car which i can buy from halfords/Argos and does not cost a great deal?

As today when I disconnected my battery today and re connected it I got the error increased battery discharge and my clocks had reset to 0.00.
I went for a drive and cleared the error code which now everytime I start the car does not bring up error Increase batt discharge but my clocks keep resetting to 0.00

The battery is 5 years old and would like to see if just a charge will work hence not wanting to spend massive £££ on a battery charger

I have a very old batt charge that my dad used on his old cars so dont know if its suitable?

Also if I connected charger to the point in engine bay would this be ok?

[ELD70]

Look at the CTEK range, connect to under bonnet points.

[AlwynMike]

If they still have them in, Lidl automatic charger for £11.
Underbonnet is OK

Mike

[mistryn]

Cheers will have a look in lidl i presume under the bonnet pos connector and the neg anywhere metal under the bonnet?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by mistryn

Cheers will have a look in lidl i presume under the bonnet pos connector and the neg anywhere metal under the bonnet?

Lidl version will work fine, if you want a cheap smart charger. You'll see a pillar on the inner body near the strut turret, purposely for a decent ground connection. It will be in the user manual.... if you can't see it.

HighlandPete

[mistryn]

Thaks Pete, I do have an old battery charger at home (not sure what make/model) but would that be sufficent to use say plugged in for an hour or 2 to top the battery up?

Im just concerned I may do damage to the battery with an old charger that was brought in 1998

[idnan]

I've got the Aldi charger which they had a while back for £13.99 and it has been excellent. I used it on my car which hadn't been started in 5 months and the battery wouldn't even open the central locking. It has an LCD display with voltage and has a few different charge modes including a winter one which I used. Worth picking up if they have it in again:
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers...uys3_26860.htm

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by mistryn

Thaks Pete, I do have an old battery charger at home (not sure what make/model) but would that be sufficent to use say plugged in for an hour or 2 to top the battery up?

Im just concerned I may do damage to the battery with an old charger that was brought in 1998

I'd be a bit cautious if you leave the car connected to the battery. It would probably do OK for the battery, but if doubtful of its quality and performance, it could be a poorly regulated charger and you wouldn't want to spike the car's electronics.

HighlandPete

[Snyperx]

I just ordered a Ctek 3300 this weekend myself after reading some other threads on this board. I got it from Amazon for $56.

[mistryn]

Panic over I went for a long drive today and went back to the car the time showed current time - I think my battery is charged for now.

i will probably look into the ctek charger as been mentioned and wont use the old charger

[m1bjr]

I also have a 'up range' CTEK charger and conditioner too.

Buy cheap and buy twice as they say - the CTEK has brought back ailing batteries an a few occasions.
I leave mine on 24/7, 365 to float the liesure battery I use for my RC models - its been on for over two years now
Its never had a problem.

Worth the £80 it cost just for the conditioning firmware. Keeps everything tip-top.
You dont want to fry an expensive battery, or have a fire....

[raj55]

C-Tek is the way to go. It is the best there is and it has a few things that other chargers may or may not have. After charging the battery fully, it goes in to trickle charge mode and desulfates the battery and conditions it (what ever that is!) AND it remembers the charge level and charging current, if and when the current is cut off suddenly and then re connects. There is a cheaper model of C-Tek that is called Zafir 45 or Zafir 100 here in Sweden. It is basically the same as C-Tek but cheaper. I have C-Tek 3600 that I bought a few years ago and it is holding on fine inspite of having run over it with the car accidently! Yes you can leave it connected for months to the car battery in situ.

[verysideways]

Sounds like the C-Tek fan club on here but i had a C-Tek a few years back and it failed on me, and i know another mate who had the same problem.
Now myself and thousands of other bikers out there use Accumates and Optimates and have done for years, and IMHO they're better battery chargers/conditioners and better built for less money.
An Accumate for £50 will last you for years and years....

[Snyperx]

Originally Posted by verysideways

Sounds like the C-Tek fan club on here but i had a C-Tek a few years back and it failed on me, and i know another mate who had the same problem.
Now myself and thousands of other bikers out there use Accumates and Optimates and have done for years, and IMHO they're better battery chargers/conditioners and better built for less money.
An Accumate for £50 will last you for years and years....

Oh you grumpy Brits......always the Negative Nancy!!!! I kid ...I kid!! I have never heard of the the Accumate brand. I will have to take a look.

[insane79]

if u increase ur budget nothing like a ctek charger, i mean you can always use a good charger for even maintaining your new battery in the future & for any car, one time investment, btw bmw oem battery charger is made by ctek.

[mistryn]

As i dont need a charger right now at this moment in time I think I will wait and invest in a ctek one at a later stage