3.8 amp automatic battery charger at Lidl

Murv said:
Looks good, thank you for posting.
Can I assume you'd recommend it?
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Sorry I dont have any personal experience.

Some forumites have said good things about it. One or two have had troubles but since Lidl offer a 3 year warranty and never quibble it perhaps is not a bad buy if you want such a device.

Aldi offer something similar from time to time too.
 
Murv said:
That's what I was thinking, long term trickle charging at the marina
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One word of warning though. If the power fails or is turned off it does not automatically start up again. You have to go through the procedure shown in the video again to set in going again. That would be a pain if you thought you'd left it on for 6 months without attention and someone unplugged you briefly just after you'd gone home.

Some will restart their full charging sequence from the first step

My Ring Smartcharger defaults to its lowest output setting ( 2 amps max). Excellent IMHO for a charger left to run for maintenance charging.

You need to know about all these things but often only discover them too late.
 
I bought a fairly similar charger from Aldi a couple of months ago for the same price. Aldi seem to get them in each October and Lidl in January.
I am using the charger at home to maintain a spare leisure battery.

It could easily be used on the boat. I am sure you would need to disconnect it before starting the engine or switching on anything that uses 12volts.
It can be left connected for long periods , but as said, a power cut would stop it.
If it detects very low batery voltage it will not work.
But considering the price these are minor issues .

I expect the Lidl product may well be out of the same factory and will also be good value.
 
I used one on my trail sailer to recharge the 65Ahr battery on it.

The battery never got flat but an overnight charge always topped it up to full.

We had shore power every 3rd day. A similar sized battery lasted 8 days with no top ups on a previous cruise.

The charger is small and light which was a consideration on a trail sailer.

I use it to charge up the domestic battery off the Centaur over the winter too, it's better than my Halfords charger which doesn't stop charging when the battery is full. This is in the garage, no power on a swinging mooring.
 
I bought one a couple of years ago. I think it's branded ctek. Its very good but has limits on capacity won't charge 2 x110s. May not be the same unit but worth checking before you buy. Mine will charge 6v and restore dead batteries.
 
VicS said:
One word of warning though. If the power fails or is turned off it does not automatically start up again.
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That's a very curious 'feature'.....so you are saying that if the battery is already connected before you plug it in it will refuse to charge? . Certainly possible, but why would anyone design a mass-market product such?

Have you tested one?.....or are you simply quoting the 'instructions' ....which are very often wrong.
 
VicMallows said:
That's a very curious 'feature'.....so you are saying that if the battery is already connected before you plug it in it will refuse to charge? . Certainly possible, but why would anyone design a mass-market product such?

Have you tested one?.....or are you simply quoting the 'instructions' ....which are very often wrong.
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When they are powered up they are in a "standby mode," you need to select which charging mode you wish to use ie 6v 12v or another, if mains power is lost it reverts back to standby and needs to be set again, hope that is clear.
 
VicMallows said:
That's a very curious 'feature'.....so you are saying that if the battery is already connected before you plug it in it will refuse to charge? . Certainly possible, but why would anyone design a mass-market product such?

Have you tested one?.....or are you simply quoting the 'instructions' ....which are very often wrong.
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Watch the video in the link in my original post. Its operation is quite clearly demonstrated there. Also explained, IIRC, in the instructions, which are available on line.
 
I've had one of these on the boat for approx 5 years and it's brilliant, and waterproof.

Ideal when in France as it quietly charges batteries and also provides all the onboard power, including a fridge.
 
Lidl Charger

VicS said:
Further to oGary's post about the LED torch

Their little automatic battery charger is on offer again next Thursday (17th)

http://lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_38025.htm
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We have one, it is excellent for keeping the start battery charged.
For the price there cannot be too much to beat it.

Down side is that it does have to be 're-set' every time the mains has been interrupted. I had been so clever and installed it neatly tucked away in the battery locker. Have to use a mirror on a stick to see the appropriate buttons and push the reset button until the right set up is achieved.
 
I would re-iterate what has already been suggested... Make sure you disconnect before starting the engine. I have a friend who has blown up 3 of them. The good thing is that Lidl/Aldi will replace without question. Excellent value bit of kit.
 
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