All round battery chargers

Haven't-a-Clue

Haven't-a-Clue

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OK here's the question (and I'm asking 'cos I'm bu@@ered if I can make use of the search facility hereabouts) I'm after a battery charger that will do small ie m/cycle, average as in car and heavy as in boat domestic, type batteries. I woiuld like it to do desulphation, 3 stage and trickle charging etc etc. I want to buy one charger only and as it will have to be a long term (expensive) purchase, I'd like to get the right thing first time. It will probably live in the garage and the batteries will be brought to it in the case of boat batteries 'cos I don't have/ can't justify the expense of shore power. So, what make, what model, how much and where's the best place to get it from? Am I asking for the sun, moon and the stars here, or does such a thing exist? Standing by. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
The Halfords automatic battery chager does not do desulphation, it does small 12 volt batteries but not 6V ones:

Might try
Merlin Powerstore but even then you might end up with a separate cheapy as well if you want to do 6V ones
 
Oxford Maximiser, we sell loads of 'em.

A 12V Bike/ Car charger which does any battery from 4 Amp to the largest leisure battery.

Automatic, so you can leave it on all the time, it will never cook the battery, and runs up to 4 A/H charge rate.

It recovers seemingly knackered batteries, and also tells you when they are too far gone.

£45 plus P+P

Also has accessory fittings, inc Croc clips, and a hardwire loom so it will just plug in to various batteries thus equipped.

Extras available too!
 
Hi,
I have just checked your link, as I too am looking for a charger. For anyone interested Merlin are asking £65.57 including delivery to the UK, I did a quick web search and have found it for £49.95 from Ultimate Finish an automotive outlet. I have included the link if you are interested, and n I have no link to this company, but I might soon be a customer at that price.
www.theultimatefinish.co.uk
I hope this helps.
 
But again it is a only a low output charger. Only 3.6 amps. In one place they say suitable batteries up to 70Ah but in another they say for recharging batteries up to 32Ah but maintenance charging up to 120Ah.

You need to read the specs for these things carefully before buying or you might get something a lot less powerful than you anticipate
 
Well, thanks everyone, it would seem that indeed I WAS asking for the sun, moon and stars! I've looked through the spec's for everything listed here and I still can't decide. I should have added that I've got an old Halfords charger that does 6-12v with a car/ M/cycle switch but all it does is charge, no batt. state indicator or other stuff. It does however charge the bike batt, so I guess I should look at one of the higher output ones with bells and whistles. Oh, the agony of choice! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
I've recently bought a Benton BX-1 for less than €20 in Spain. Four stage charger with motorcycle setting (0.8A) or 3.8A normal. It's rated for AGMs, gels and flooded. It looks like an encapsulated block rather smaller than a four way 13A extension block but a similar shape. Great bit of kit, I am pleased.
 
Well I would suggest that removing boat batteries for charge will be foolish exercise. Do you want to bust your back and or sink your dinghy.

I think you will find a solar panel perhaps 20 watts will keep your batteries happy in the boat.
As for desulphating I am not sure it is such a good thing. If you had a multimeter and put a little effort into caring for the batteries (manually) using the old Halfords charger you might well be OK. I am not convinced that the auto 3 stage chargers are as good as is suggested. Just another point of view i don't think it is as simple as spend money and all will be taken care of. olewill
 
[ QUOTE ]
I WAS asking for the sun, moon and stars

[/ QUOTE ] This from the Merlin Powerstore website might be worth a read.
 
Hi, olewill, I'm guessing that you were replying to me, not Lemain, so I'll just explain that I don't have a sailboat (yet!) but a small mobo on a pontoon, so the dinghy bit doesn't matter at the moment. I was after a charger that would tell me among other things, the condition of the battery and charge (or not) appropriately. I tend to pick up unwanted batteries and have been surprised occaisionally at what people throw away! Also, we had a problem with my wife's car, which we thought was a dead battery, only to find out that something was draining it - this was, of course, after we had bought a new one! A 'smart' charger might have told me this, ho hum! As for desulphation, nearly everything I have read here and elsewhere suggests that this can be a useful facility, hence my post requesting info. I hope that this time I've given sufficient info, silly me (shame on me! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif). I thank all for their input, lots to think about (and I've read the whole of the battery university website, too, you'ld think I'd have learnt the answers there. Doh!)
 
Hello Ian ah batteries. Yes i tend to pick up rubbish batteries. If your mobo has a decent alternator and you use it ocasionaly you should not need to recharge the battery. If however it has an o/b with limited charging then I still reckon a solar panel might be best.

As for battery condition. The best battery charger can only put a charge in then measure the resultant voltage. I reckon you can do that and better to determine a battery's condition with a voltmeter (multimeter) and a few lamps to use as a load. good luck olewill
 
Right you probably are, Guv, thanks for the advice. All I have to do is learn to understand the readings and what they mean! I'll try one on you: I've got 3 batts in the garage (12v car) and after a full charge a week ago, they are reading 12.88v, 12.84v and 12.71v (last one charged 3 weeks ago) are they still good? Regards Ian
 
All those readings are pretty good, But that does not guarantee that you can get a good starter current from them. It more or less proves that they have charged Ok and if still over 12.7 after 3 weeks seem to be holding charge as well.
 
[ QUOTE ]
But again it is a only a low output charger. Only 3.6 amps. In one place they say suitable batteries up to 70Ah but in another they say for recharging batteries up to 32Ah but maintenance charging up to 120Ah.

You need to read the specs for these things carefully before buying or you might get something a lot less powerful than you anticipate

[/ QUOTE ]

I did say 4 A/H charge rate (Mine reads this on 'turbo mode)

It depends what you require! My Mobo has a pair of 85 Amp leisure batteries, and it's on charge for a week if required.

The charger is perfect for that.

It will charge a 120 Amp battery from 50% discharge in around 30 hours.

If thats not enough, you need more grunt!
 
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