Trickle Chargers

[janemall]

What are peoples opinions on trickle chargers? Wondering if I need one. Had problems with my morris and starting (separate post) but wonder if using a trickle charger makes sense once its working again if I'm not using it much.
Are they easy to use? If you advocate them, any suggestions which one? Thanks

[Steve Phillips]

Not using it much...

If your not using you morris from one month to the next then a trickle or condition charger is probably a good idea, if you use it most weekends (and do a reasonable amount of mileage each trip) then it's probably not needed,

If the battery is in good condition, and is of suitable power for a Morris, lets face it you shouldn't really need a big capacity battery on a standard Morris,
And if all the electrical connections are good and clean and you don't have anything draining power from the battery all should be OK,

So perhaps some maintainance first, but if you do dip into the world of chargers... well it's massive, with everything from Ebay and amazon selling them for pennies through to the well known big brands selling for big money,

I guess ask a hundred people their opinion on chargers you'll get ninty nine different answers, I have bought several chargers from ring automotive over the years, for my own vehicles and customers vehicles, for regular vehicles that are not used much and can spend prolonged periods parked up I've bought these and their predecessor,

https://shop.ringautomotive.com/rsc904- ... rsc904page

Many people will probably say just buy a really cheap one from Ebay or Amazon but I suppose I look at it that if your cheap charger dies over winter and let's your battery die the cost of a new battery is more than you'll save on a cheap charger, or worse if ghe charger overheats and catches fire...... where's the saving,

Steve

[KeithL]

I have a CTEK MXS 5.0 (actually I have 4 of them) and the cars that aren't used as 'dailys' are left permanently connected until such time as they are needed. Ironically the Morris is the one car that doesn't give me battery problems, probably because it doesn't have any alarms etc that the others do and that slowly drain the battery. Having said that I do occasionally connect it up and to make it easy I have wired a CTEK connector to the battery so I can just plug in.

Obviously you can use the charger on your other cars (and motorcycles) and it has an AGM mode for more modern cars.

[Mervin]

maypole 2.jpg (148.05 KiB) Viewed 3944 times

maypole 1.jpg (99.02 KiB) Viewed 3944 times

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maypole-7423A- ... 6500&psc=1
I have used one of these Maypole 4A chargers for some years now. Although, with a good battery and no parasitic drain (shouldn't be on a Minor?)it is possibly not necessary.
My car is usually only drive at weekends, weather permitting, so I have the charger connected during the week only to maintain the battery.

[svenedin]

I have a CTEK MXS 5.0 (actually I have 4 of them) and the cars that aren't used as 'dailys' are left permanently connected until such time as they are needed. Ironically the Morris is the one car that doesn't give me battery problems, probably because it doesn't have any alarms etc that the others do and that slowly drain the battery. Having said that I do occasionally connect it up and to make it easy I have wired a CTEK connector to the battery so I can just plug in.

Obviously you can use the charger on your other cars (and motorcycles) and it has an AGM mode for more modern cars.

Yes I have the same charger. I use it on the Morris as a trickle charger in winter when that car does not get used very much and my modern Audi for occasional charges because that doesn't get used much in the summer. Another very handy thing to have is one of the lithium ion jump starter packs. Does not take up much room and will start a car more than once between charges. I used to be adept at using the starting handle but I am not so good since I hurt my back. I'd rather use the battery jump starter pack.

Stephen

[KeithL]

I agree about the charger pack. We always take one with us when we go on a trip just in case. Never had to use it yet.

[mike1864]

I've always reckoned that an unused battery typically (and VERY approximately) loses about one percent of its original useful charge per day.
This drop in AmpHours manifests itself in the no-load volts dropping from 12.7 to a precarious 12.2 in 3+ months.
So even just a weekly decent run should top it up from 93% to 100% capacity.
Similarly a month of no use should be no huge problem.
More than four months (especially with a radio memory or alarm fitted) would be pushing your luck.
But the age and state of the battery would of course affect the foregoing sums.

[Wes]

For me a battery cut off switch has been the answer for years an different classics. Cheap, simple to fit, and also handy when doing jobs about the car.

[svenedin]

For me a battery cut off switch has been the answer for years an different classics. Cheap, simple to fit, and also handy when doing jobs about the car.

Totally agree and I find a “discarnect” thumb wheel cut off absolutely indispensable in order to work safely on the car. You can even remove the thumb wheel and put it in your pocket as a primitive security device.

Stephen