Trickle Charger Used - What a Difference!

[StuartW]

Thanks guys, it's a fairly long run under a driveway of roadstone topped with plainings so not the easiest of jobs - something to look at in the spring perhaps, cheers

 

[Sham83]

If it's kept outside, just hook it up to a solar charger from Maplin, it works!

 

[StuartW]

If it's kept outside, just hook it up to a solar charger from Maplin, it works!

It's in a garage so a non starter for a dash mounted solar charger sadly

 

[MrCoop]

Quick question on these Lidl trickle chargers - the instructions say to disconnect the battery (from the car) and then hooking up the trickle charger. To me, kind of negates the whole point, so I tend to just turn the battery off. But.....can these chargers be hooked up to the battery without disconnecting it from the car? What do you guys do?

PS - it's the Ultimate Speed charger

 

[daverichardson]

Yes I noticed that in the instructions too
I ignored it - I am a man after all!
So in my QP the battery stays in situ and I attach the crocodile clips of the Lidl special to the leads of the battery as close to the terminals as I can - not on the terminal posts themselves, usually the metal post clamps.
The -ive terminal clamp is easy to access. The +ive is a bit dodgy to get a grip on but I have managed without too much trouble
The battery charges up fine like this as denoted by the green fully charged LED on the the charger

 

[CatmanV2]

Yes I noticed that in the instructions too
I ignored it - I am a man after all!
So in my QP the battery stays in situ and I attach the crocodile clips of the Lidl special to the leads of the battery as close to the terminals as I can - not on the terminal posts themselves, usually the metal post clamps.
The -ive terminal clamp is easy to access. The +ive is a bit dodgy to get a grip on but I have managed without too much trouble
The battery charges up fine like this as denoted by the green fully charged LED on the the charger

C-TEK supply a lead with a mounted plug so clearly don't expect you to disconnect the battery. I rather doubt the Lidl one will be any different

C

 

[Needamaser]

Pal of mine is an electrical engineer and has a large collection of expensive bikes.
They are all on permanent trickle charge and batteries not disconnected.
Only time I have disconnected the battery is on one of my vehicles if battery went completely flat when I attached the charger it immediately set off the alarm.

 

[Doohickey]

I've never disconnected the battery when sticking the trickle charger on and has always been fine.

 

[highlander]

I use the c tek and leave the battery connected, although I do leave the boot open too to allow ventilation just in case. Belt and braces.

 

[Slowly]

I have a lock up garage (see my garage thread) with no prospect of power.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-powered-12v-48w-battery-charger-n30cx

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12v-16a-dual-solar-charge-regulator-n35hg


I switch off the isolator switch and put the clips on the battery terminal connectors with the boot a little bit open sitting on a wad of cloth so that there's no dent in the rubber seal caused by the cable and the theoretical risk of oxygen being released is covered. The garage wall with the panel faces just N of due E so at this time of year it gets no direct sun but it seems to work. I've also got a very cheap solar powered light http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/10-led-portable-solar-light-with-remote-control-n30fy and will, when I feel like it, put in a second small battery and proper lights using the other output from the regulator.

 

[redsonnylee]

I use the c tek and leave the battery connected, although I do leave the boot open too to allow ventilation just in case. Belt and braces.

+1

 

[rockits]

It is fine coop...the car hasn't gone up in flames yet. I leave mine on, boot closed & indoor cover on. Trickle charging shouldn't generate any noticeable heat. The garage is a low ambient temp anyway and not sure leaving my boot lid ajar would make much difference.

 

[Slowly]

I'd assumed the boot open thing is in case the battery overcharges and electrolyses water to oxygen and hydrogen with the possibility of that mix accumulating in a confined space ...until there is a weeny spark when it turns back to water - with a rapid (!) release of noise, light and heat in close proximity to up to 88l of petrol. Shouldn't happen with a charge regulator of course.

 

[Zep]

I think they are worried about people trying to start their cars with the charger connected. This would be a bit nasty to the charger as the voltage would drop massively and draw too much current when it tried to keep the 14 volt output.

Charging with a small load on the other hand would just mean it takes longer to charge the battery as the charger would power the load before charging the battery.