Cheap battery charger

ShivP

ShivP

ShivP

Soldato
Soldato
Joined
26 Oct 2013
Posts
10,092
Location
Leicester
Hi all

I am after a 'cheap' trickle/battery charger. I have my 2012 mondeo on the drive however I can't drive it obviously due to covid and also it has a DPF vaporiser issue so it's waiting to go to the mechanics.

The dashboard is now flashing up a 'low battery' sign. Either I buy a trickle charger or I just jump start it when I take it to the mechanics. Happy to spend up to £30ish if I can get something suitable? Amazon ebay etc. I can also monitor the battery for charge if necessary as I'm at home.

I don't know whether there are such chargers where you don't have to disconnect the terminals from the battery to the car?

Thanks
 
hoop up a solar charger/maintainer. if your battery is in good condition the solar ones work very well as long as your not parked in doors or under a tree all the time.
 
Ring and Sealey have good options too
Ring- RSC404
Sealey - Compact Auto Smart Charger 4A - model number AUTOCHARGE400HF
Both are reputable makes.
 
Django x2 said:
Correct, it fits the bill. Have you bought a new battery recently? You'd be paying as much, if not more, and I have 3 cars to keep nice and conditioned during lockdown.
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That still doesn't make the CTEK a cheap battery charger. It isn't a cheap battery charger at all.
 
I used that maypole 4a 12v charger just the other day. Worked perfectly, was quite surprised by the quality for the price.
 
I bought the aldi one recently. Was only £12.

charged my battery with it twice now but I’ve had to disconnect the battery first (as per the instructions)
 
Django x2 said:
Really? I think it's incredibly cheap for what it can do to a battery. I mean, it's not even £70
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You are missing the point.

Being good value for what it does doesn't make it a cheap battery charger.
£10 or £15 is a cheap battery charger. £70 isn't - but you already know that.
 
Django x2 said:
Really? I think it's incredibly cheap for what it can do to a battery. I mean, it's not even £70
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It's not cheap but I get what you mean, the CTEK saved my battery from almost certain death, the replacement battery would have cost over £130, could a cheaper charger have done it... maybe. However the CTEK has the reputation and I trust it a little more.
 
Tom|Nbk said:
could a cheaper charger have done it... maybe. However the CTEK has the reputation and I trust it a little more.
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This is the main reason I opted for a Ctek over the cheaper alternatives. Plenty of manufactures (Porsche, BMW, Mercedes to name a few) rebadge them and sell them as an approved charger, which gives me a bit more confidence that when I leave it hooked up to my car it's going to do what it's supposed to do.
 
If I was looking for some longer term storage I'd definitely look at the CTEK MXS 5.0, but for now I hope the £22 jobbie should do it.

Thanks
 
I have a Ctek C5 and its the dogs, I wouldn't have recommended it based on the op's requirements.
I would have recommended the £12 Aldi jobbie which I also have :)
 
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