Battery charger recommendations please

[malbaby]

Looking for recommendations for a 12v car battery charger that is suitable for use on a couple of garaged cars that are not regularly used.

[BradZ]

Ctek or Ozcharge. I've got an ozcharge and its fantastic. Not the cheapest available but i little cheaper than Ctek.

And if you believe the salesman apparently the bloke that owns Ozcharge was heavily involved with Ctek before starting his own company.

Take that with a grain of salt though. Great charger though, lots of charging modes as well as maintenance and rejuvenation.

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[Blue Dog]

Ctek.

[aussiblue]

I've been using a cheap and cheerful Projecta one like this on a garaged car for years without an issue http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PROJECTA-...sAAOSwuxFYxchd

[Pepscobra]

C-tek.
I've got three of them.

[Philaddis]

Never had a drama with the cheap and cheerful SCA charger I bought about five years ago.

Controlled by a microprocessor, does all common types of batteries up to 9 amps and there's not a battery it hasn't brought back to life yet.


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[PHANTMXR6]

Another vote for C-tek.

[GTLEGEND]

Durst for me...widely used in the industry...

http://www.durst.com.au/Store/cart_d...-Charger-BCS-A

[Interceptor]

Ctek make great chargers, Durst are good too but IMO more expensive and not so easy to find

[arronm]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

I've been using a cheap and cheerful Projecta one like this on a garaged car for years without an issue http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PROJECTA-...sAAOSwuxFYxchd

I've got about 12 of these. They look after my bikes and cars when not driven.

Work perfect.

[GO FURTHER]

Had no issue with the Projecta one I've had for years.

[NTF6]

Another one here for Ctek

[FPV+fteT3]

I have an Ctek 5A on the Lotus and a cheaper SCA sourced 3.8A one on the FPV no real difference in what they do you could buy @3 x SCA units for the price of the Ctek.

[Itsme]

I have a couple of these chargers, small, compact, cheap & very reliable that will give the big brand name chargers a run for for their money.

http://www.radioparts.com.au/product...e#.WS_ZqtwlHIU

Cheers.

[adz193]

Another c-tek user

[Tassie f100]

That radio parts charger looks very similiar to a Supercheap 2.5 amp charger.Only difference appears to be price.RP $65 SCA $52

[malbaby]

Thanks guys...very informative.

[BradZ]

These are the Ozcharge's i was talking about. Seriously worth considering

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What does the rejuvenator part do, from a technical perspective?
I charge my batteries off a solar panel and charge controller but I'd consider getting a proper charger if rejuvenating is a real thing.

[arronm]

Op only wants a maintenance charger to give cars s float charge


If you want an all round charger use one of these. 25A and fully adjustable for amps and battery type

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

Had no issue with the Projecta one I've had for years.

Me too.

I've been running them for years on the farm, keeping maintenance charges in anything from boats to harvesters.

Them trick with maintenance charges is getting the amperage low enough so you don't kill the battery. All maintenance chargers should be less than 1 amp.
Most off the shelf battery chargers cannot do this unless they are very good.(expensive)

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Me too.

I've been running them for years on the farm, keeping maintenance charges in anything from boats to harvesters.

Them trick with maintenance charges is getting the amperage low enough so you don't kill the battery. All maintenance chargers should be less than 1 amp.
Most off the shelf battery chargers cannot do this unless they are very good.(expensive)

Yes high amperage 'fast charging' can overcharge and damage the battery internals.

Low amp 'trickle charging' is much better and prolongs battery life.

[MattSAU2XR8]

I'd agree with the above on NOT needing a high powered charger for maintenance charging.

A car battery is probably around 50 amp hours capacity and would be unlikely to lose more than 1 amp hour per WEEK of energy content just sitting in the garage doing nothing, so even 900 milliamps per hour is WAY more than is needed.

Could probably use a 900 milliamp charger to keep two vehicles topped up in parallel - just add a second lead to the charger, or charge on vehicle for a week, then the other. Once charged the charger turns itself off anyway

[GASWAGON]

Not sure if its a myth or not but we used to get told at my old workshop that leaving any type of auto battery on a concrete floor will discharge it.

Can't see how that is possible really?

[Sar4890]

Yeah I've heard that myself don't know how true it is but I don't take any chances and put something under my batteries anyway. As far as battery chargers go i have a PC400 Projecta and a Matson charger 1 on each car and both have done the job with no hassels both cars start every time when needed.

[ebxr8240]

Need atleast a 3 stage charger . 5 or 7 is best . The higher the amperage the more critical it so or over charging is easy done . To rejuvenate an old flat battery you need to charge it slowly . Hell owning a motorhome with 350 AH you go through batteries if you dont look after them . Have two types of charger . One in 40 amp to maintain batteries under load , starting etc if low charge . A 3 amp 3 stage Protecta charger to keep truck batteries charged .!

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by CoolBFWagon

Yes high amperage 'fast charging' can overcharge and damage the battery internals.

Low amp 'trickle charging' is much better and prolongs battery life.

Don't totally agree.Most alternators are banging up to 100 amps into flat batteries

[Sar4890]

My projecta charger has battery rejuvinate function on it not sure if it works as i havent flattened a battery enough to need it

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by leesa

What does the rejuvenator part do, from a technical perspective?
I charge my batteries off a solar panel and charge controller but I'd consider getting a proper charger if rejuvenating is a real thing.

Solar is FINE with good regulator., Same with charger .

[Blue Dog]

If you are considering getting a CTEK battery charger, now might be a good time to get one as there is a 20% discount offer on ebay up to the 11th June.

See here:

https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/m.html?_...harger&_sop=16