Basic 12v Battery Charger - Confused

[Dark61]

I'm after a simple 12v charger that can handle the 90ah battery on my diesel - there seems to be all sorts of funky chargers that you can get now - with funky prices to go with them - I don't need anything special just a basic charger with a green light on it that tells me when its charged! Any recommendations gratefully appreciated - I'm confused by all the different types.
cheers,
D

[Fifth Columnist]

Make sure you choose one that will handle a completely discharged battery. Most modern ones won't.

[DiscoMick]

A three stage charger should do the job for you. It will charge and then step down to get a fuller charge by slowly pushing in the last 20% or so. Then it will go into float mode and regularly wake up to check if the battery needs more charging. This process keeps batteries healthier and reduces sulphur buildup on the plates. Maybe $100-150 and worth every cent.

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[LandyAndy]

Get a smart charger,the olde fashioned ones will destroy a battery if left charging too long.
Anything CTek branded is very good,the price varies with the output.
SO,if you aren't in hurry to charge,the low amp ones are perfect,just don't expect them to charge a big battery fast.
I have a 25amp Ctek,really happy with it.
For trickle charging the small ones are perfect.
Its the olde story,you pay for what you get.A Ctek will last.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Make sure you choose one that will handle a completely discharged battery. Most modern ones won't.

The trick here is to connect a good battery to the flat battery via jumper leads,thus charging both at once.Just keep a close eye on them as the dead flat one may have issues with damaged plates that can cause problems.
Andrew

[whlump]

X2 ctek chargers they seem to do a good job with my batteries for last two years that I have had it
Cheers

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[drivesafe]

Hi Dark, any three stage charger is fine.

Then the size, or charge current capacity is the next decision?

If you need something to charge batteries in a hurry, the go for something around 25 amps.

But if it is just for charging and maintaining a battery, or number of batteries while a vehicle is not in use, the get something small ( low charge current ).

Batteries do not like being charged with high currents, but when on the road, we have little choice but to charge with high currents because of the short drive times available.

Whereas, when charging off mains power, we usually have plenty of time available, so a small, low current charge is better, both price wise and for the benefit of your batteries.

The charge does not need to have ?Battery Type? selection. An ordinary standard charge cycle means you only need one charge setting for all types of lead acid batteries and it will charge them all to a fully charged state, even when you have a mix of different types of batteries being charged in parallel.

NOTE, a number of battery manufacturers are now stating the same thing, where practical, charge their batteries with low current chargers.

[superquag]

I've got a Ctek 7 amp and very satisfied with it.

Co$tly back then, but worth every cent in (charger's) long life and the job it does....
Having said that, when it was "on holidays" at a friend's place... I bought an evilBay 3 stage / hi current cheapy which saves time in bringing a flattish battery up to where the Ctek can take over - without working up a sweat.:angel:

Now the Ctek stays at home - and the other one can go and 'socialise'. :p

My local Battery supply shop told me that one manufacturer insists (warranty conditions) on their new batteries be charged with a Ctek before fitting in a client's vehicle.
- They must know something about their own products.

[drivesafe]

My local Battery supply shop told me that one manufacturer insists (warranty conditions) on their new batteries be charged with a Ctek before fitting in a client's vehicle.
- They must know something about their own products.

This is called Scotch mist.

There are far better chargers than Cteks and cheaper chargers that do the same job.

Your local battery supplier was taken for a ride.

[superquag]

I have noticed some clone-Teks on evilbay, as well as local parts shops...

Thought this was what you meant... https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/scotch+mist.html :)

[drivesafe]

Thought this was what you meant... https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/scotch+mist.html :)

Hi again superquag, and that is exactly what I meant.

The comments made by your battery shop were nothing more than a backhanded attempt to get people to buy a Ctek, because they, and/or the battery WHOLESALER, sell them.

Many of the battery WHOLESALERS sell a range of 12v products from battery chargers to DC/DC devices, inverters and so on.

The catch is that these are battery WHOLESALERS, not battery manufacturers. There are very few battery manufacturers left in Australia and most of the well known brands are imported.

If you check with the actual battery manufacturer's web sites, they either have no reference to any specific brand of charger, or, like Optima, they have their own brand.

BTW, they need to be careful threatening customers, if they don't use a specific brand of charger, that they risk voiding their warranty. Ford tried something like that 20 odd years ago, trying to get people to buy their Ford brand ( rebadged ) of driving lights or you risked voiding your new vehicle warranty.

They lost in court and the court ruling is used whenever some seller tries something similar.

[oka374]

As has been said many of the so called "smart" chargers won't look at a dead flat battery including Ctek's, I have two of them ;-)).
Find an old transformer based charger at garage sales, etc and it will serve you well for many years including charging FLAT batteries that the newer chargers refuse to do.
Picked up an old Projecta 2 amp job yeatserday for a mate for the princely sum of $2!
I've got an old Arlec transformer based charger that pumps out 7 amps, approaching 40 y/o and still going strong. Remember though the old chargers can't be left on a battery indefinately, YOU must monitor voltage and charge levels!

[DiscoMick]

I use a Projecta 7 stage I bought for about $150 some time ago. The camper has a 3 stage cheapie that does the job.

If a battery is so flat the charger won't recognise it I put it on a 15 watt solar panel and leave it for a few weeks.

An AGM that was flat has had 2 months on the panel and now seems to be holding 13 volts, but I havent tried putting a load on it yet, so we'll see what happens.

Using solar means it is agitated during the day and rests at night, which is a good pattern, as Drivesafe points out. Its similar to what happens to vehicle batteries, which get charged when the engine is running and then get a rest.


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[rar110]

I've had the same 7 amp Projecta for a few years. It's been good. However the neighbour has the bigger amp version and he reckons it fries his batteries and now refuses to use it.

[DiscoMick]

Bigger isn't better. Slow and steady is the way.

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