Lay-up battery charger

[philip_stevens]

I found this on uk.rec.sailing and thought it might be of interest in keeping the batteries topped up over the winter months.

http://www.race-technology.com/WebPage/Products/CHARGERS/ChargersMain.html

Charger VAT p/p = £35.25

Seems OK to me, and had some good comments on the newsgroup.

No, this is not spam, and I have never heard of them or dealt with them before reading about the charger.

regards,
Philip

 

[Strathglass]

Philip, just ordered one. It sounds to be just the thing I require.
I intend to use it to maintain the charge on the 7Ah instrument backup sealed battery I have already fitted on a boat I am building. It sounds like a connect and forget item.
If it is successful I quite fancy purchasing some more. Then I would be able to fit all the batteries and keep them all in fully charged condition as the build progresses.
Time will tell
Iain

 

[VMALLOWS]

I hav'nt checked out the web site you quote....but wot's the big deal?. All you need
is to maintain about 13.8v at the batteries on continuous float, or give them a charge for a few hours at 14.2 every couple of weeks.

 

[tr7v8]

I've already got one of these and have had it since Martin of Race Tech announced it around 15 months ago. Keeps the TR7 battery charged all winter despite not being run, most importantly doesn't dry it out. After most winters when the battery dies and needs replacing this was a considerable step forward!
Martin normally gives a discount for orders of 6 or more, all you need is 6 buyers together.

Jim
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[Strathglass]

Check the web site. The whole point is that it can be left to run on its own. It wont overcharge and dry out the battery if the mains voltage goes up or if left on too long. You don't have to be there to set it to 13.8v. It seems to be a low power low cost smart charger running from the mains.
Iain

 

[andyball]

It's not exactly unique though.....gunsons make one (argos,halfords etc) motorbike shops have been selling Optimate (? I think) ones for years(very small,not like the gunsons one) ......all just low power chargers that stop at 13.8V (ish).

 

[hutch]

I have built my own trickle charger based on a design found at the following site : http://www.qsl.net/ke3fl/htm/TRICKLE.HTM. - using a centre tapped 15VDC transformer. Have had to fiddle around with a variable resistor to get the correct voltage. Works fine on keeping the dedicated generator start battery, flooded 70 aH, charged up - cost under a fiver!

 

[vyv_cox]

My old VW caravanette has been sitting largely unused at home in N. Wales for 6 years now. It runs perhaps once or twice per year and has covered roughly 100 miles per year over that period. The only concession to this idle lifestyle is that a cheap battery charger, controlled by a B&Q timer, comes on once per week for a couple of hours. The engine always starts on first turn of the key, summer and winter. The battery was probably 5 years old when we left.

 

[halcyon]

Received new 2003 cat from CPC ( part of the Farnell group ) 12volt chargers, 4 amp £8.56, 6Amp £11.99, 8 amp £14.58 all plus vat

Portable power, £28.59 or £39.86 plus vat.



Brian