Battery Charger Recommendations

[xylar]

Hi,

We recently bought our T25, so apologies for the basic questions! We replaced our starter battery last month as it was leaking. I've been reading through some old posts to work out what I need to buy but still have questions.

We are going on our first road trip in April and would like to make sure the batteries are topped up before we set off. We have two batteries: the starter one (12V 500A 53Ah), and the leisure which says 75 AH.

1. What is the charging routine - do you just charge the leisure battery or the starter as well?
2. Trying to decide whether to go for a CTEK MXS 5A or CTEK MXS 7A charger. How long would it take to charge the leisure battery with 5A compared to the 7A?
3. Lots of mention of Aldi/Lidl battery chargers in the forums, but I'm hesitant because I'm not sure what ratings I should be going for and I can't find them listed on their website. Is there a certain model people go for, alternatively what ratings should I check it has?

Thanks

[xylar]

So answering my own question. If the leisure battery is 75Ah and the charger is rated at 7A then it would take around 11 hours to charge it? Do the chargers repeat the charge/discharge cycles?

[ZsZ]

The Aldi charger can manage charging batteries up to 120Ah with 3,8 A referring to the manual. Same on the older Lidl one I have.

[AdrianC]

So answering my own question. If the leisure battery is 75Ah and the charger is rated at 7A then it would take around 11 hours to charge it?

At the very simplest, then - yep. In practice, the battery won't be fully flat, and the charger won't hit 7A all the time, because the battery won't be able to take it.

Do the chargers repeat the charge/discharge cycles?

Smart chargers - like the CTek - do, as well as manage the charge rate to fully charge the battery. Dumb chargers don't. They just throw electrickery at the battery.

Any charger will charge any size of battery - they might "recommend" a smaller charger only up to a certain size of battery, but that doesn't mean it won't charge a bigger one. It'll just take longer to do it.

[xylar]

The Aldi charger can manage charging batteries up to 120Ah with 3,8 A referring to the manual. Same on the older Lidl one I have.

Thanks, going to see if they have any in stock in my local store.

Do the chargers repeat the charge/discharge cycles?

Smart chargers - like the CTek - do, as well as manage the charge rate to fully charge the battery. Dumb chargers don't. They just throw electrickery at the battery.

Any charger will charge any size of battery - they might "recommend" a smaller charger only up to a certain size of battery, but that doesn't mean it won't charge a bigger one. It'll just take longer to do it.

Thanks for the info

[CovKid]

Not aware of any chargers in ALDI as yet this year. I usually buy one regardless as someone always asks me during the year. Same with the LIDL 12v - 240v convertors. I know of at least two 80/90 members waiting for those to come in.

The other 'golden' item is the three-piece fixed towing bar (LIDL around £12.99) but each store only gets 3 in so you have to be there when they open on the day those come in - and run. If you get there past 8.30 am you have no chance - all gone.

[matt brighton]

Not aware of any chargers in ALDI as yet this year. I usually buy one regardless as someone always asks me during the year. Same with the LIDL 12v - 240v convertors. I know of at least two 80/90 members waiting for those to come in.

The other 'golden' item is the three-piece fixed towing bar (LIDL around £12.99) but each store only gets 3 in so you have to be there when they open on the day those come in - and run. If you get there past 8.30 am you have no chance - all gone.

Machine mart do a towing bar for about £12 http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... towing-bar" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kevtherev]

We have two batteries: the starter one (12V 500A 53Ah)

That's a bit of a weakling starter battery imho.
next time you get a new one get a Varta code 067.