Regardless of what make of charger, get a smart charger. These charge in stages and can be left connected. You can't overcharge the battery and often they will resurrect a duff battery.
 
mrblonde said:
Gents

Am after a new battery charger for the L322 (110Ah battery see: Varta Car Battery Type I1 / DIN 610402092 Low Cost Batteries Online )

No idea where to start, or what I need to get? Amp rating? Why do some state 'for petrol cars up to 1800cc', what difference does it matter if the batterys not connected to the car? Please, in simple terms, any advice greatly appreciated

Cheers all
Click to expand...

On your battery (which was bloody expensive by the way) a charger for 1800cc cars is like filling a swimming pool with a thimble. They will have a 65 amp or so battery. You need at least a 10 or 12 amp charger.
 
CTEK 3600 is a brilliant little smart charger.

However, i also have a Halfords Powerpack 200 for jump starts which is complete ****e so don't buy one of those.
 
Just perchased the new CTEK MXS 5.0 for £63 from Amason.... Its a fully automatic eight stage charger and it works a treat a superb piece of kit...
 
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If you buy one of these smart chargers with the intention to hook it up when not using the vehicle, the amperage is pretty irrelevant as you leave them connected and the battery will remain topped up. You only need powerful chargers if the intention is to charge big batteries from flat (or badly discharged) on a regular basis - then you need to get the job done, so amps matter.

If you're after a quality charger with a bit of grunt, Toolstation do the excellent SIP startmaster/Smart charger for £77: Toolstation > Automotive > Starters & Chargers > SIP Startmaster Smart Charger

As for low Amp smart chargers, don't waste your money on brands, the LIDL or ALDI smart chargers are as good as anything out there for around £15. They're German-made copies of the 3.6 Amp CTeks and are just as good.
 
CTEK ...

Not only charges, but can 'recover' a battery too .. doing that in this pic I posted earlier today of a winch solenoid next to a battery I was recovering .. comes with a small loom to leave on the vehicle and connect to it when storing, and a loom to connect with crocodile clips for occasional use .. ;)


DSCF0060_zps91c24cab.jpg
 
Paul D said:
CTEK ...

Not only charges, but can 'recover' a battery too .. doing that in this pic I posted earlier today of a winch solenoid next to a battery I was recovering .. comes with a small loom to leave on the vehicle and connect to it when storing, and a loom to connect with crocodile clips for occasional use .. ;)
Click to expand...

I have a CTEK charger and both the Lidl and Aldi equivilants which cost a sixth of the price - the recovery mode you mention is simply pulse charging cycles at high voltages (17+ volts) which all the smart chargers do. I've had all the chargers on my 'scope and the power is just as clean from the budget supermarket chargers as it is from the CTEK. I cannot see why the CTEKs cost much more, they are no better, all have the connectors for quick connection/disconnection - all have the same charging modes and put out the same 3.6 Amps. If you want to spend £70+ the SIP charger I linked to above on the other hand is very good value - a smart charger with a very useful 100Amp start boost function.
 
StuckAgainSteve said:
I have a CTEK charger and both the Lidl and Aldi equivilants which cost a sixth of the price - the recovery mode you mention is simply pulse charging cycles at high voltages (17+ volts) which all the smart chargers do. I've had all the chargers on my 'scope and the power is just as clean from the budget supermarket chargers as it is from the CTEK. I cannot see why the CTEKs cost much more, they are no better, all have the connectors for quick connection/disconnection - all have the same charging modes and put out the same 3.6 Amps. If you want to spend £70+ the SIP charger I linked to above on the other hand is very good value - a smart charger with a very useful 100Amp start boost function.
Click to expand...

Which is nice to know .. ;)

Too late for me though and I'm still happy with it, it's saved more money than it's cost in about 6 years ownership, which seems reasonable to me.
 
Paul D said:
Which is nice to know .. ;)

Too late for me though and I'm still happy with it, it's saved more money than it's cost in about 6 years ownership, which seems reasonable to me.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong CTEKs are very good, but at the budget end of the CTEK range I honestly cannot tell any difference from them and the budget supermarket copies.
 
Hi Everybody
So following my recent problems re (flat battery and consequences!!) I would appreciate your thoughts re maybe hooking up a SMART CHARGER as the Rangie will probably not be started for intervals of a week as i am away
Which models to consider etc
Regards Brian
 
muddylane said:
Hi Everybody
So following my recent problems re (flat battery and consequences!!) I would appreciate your thoughts re maybe hooking up a SMART CHARGER as the Rangie will probably not be started for intervals of a week as i am away
Which models to consider etc
Regards Brian
Click to expand...
I can leave my l322 standing for weeks & weeks and it fires up first time everytime regardless,except recently when it broke down with fuel pump failure:(
 
muddylane said:
Hi Everybody
So following my recent problems re (flat battery and consequences!!) I would appreciate your thoughts re maybe hooking up a SMART CHARGER as the Rangie will probably not be started for intervals of a week as i am away
Which models to consider etc
Regards Brian
Click to expand...

then you must have a power draw some where when parked up. Hell I can store my boat, lawn tractors, for 6 months during the winter and come spring they start up????? they are 12 volt
 
Boats and tractors don't have the amount of power hungry electricary that the range rover has

Power drain whilst stationary is a lot higher than other cars
 
Thor1950 said:
then you must have a power draw some where when parked up. Hell I can store my boat, lawn tractors, for 6 months during the winter and come spring they start up????? they are 12 volt
Click to expand...

Any chance you can sell me the BECM and Rf module of your lawnmower etc,

they seem very reliable?:rolleyes:
 
muddylane said:
Hi Everybody
So following my recent problems re (flat battery and consequences!!) I would appreciate your thoughts re maybe hooking up a SMART CHARGER as the Rangie will probably not be started for intervals of a week as i am away
Which models to consider etc
Regards Brian
Click to expand...
With a good battery and no drain problems, you should be able to leave the P38 for 3 weeks, mine will certainly stand that long and start no problem, you must then of course do enough mileage to charge the battery, short runs are no good. Mine generally gets used onece a week for the shopping run which is a at the moment a 60Km round trip.
You can get a good enough smart charger from Lidl for about £15, the other alternative is a solar panel, depends where you park of course, it may not be practical.
 
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