Ctek clone chargers in at LIDL

[California Dreamin]

You know the ones...6V/12volt 4 programs, 7 stage 3.8amp intelligent chargers......Just a heads up as I know these are only available two or three times a year.
Oh and there very decent semi synthetic engine oil 15W40 @ £10.99

Just one left in our Netherfield Branch with a rather battered box and no instructions but I thought what the heck and reassembled the box as best I could (it really was that bad) and took it along to the till along with a gallon of 15W40.
I didn't complain but explained to the lady on the till to 'be careful' when scanning as the box would probably fall apart.
To my surprise and without asking, she applied 30% discount to what I already know is an excellent price of £13.99 £9.80 RESULT!!!

I'm going to install this in the PUCK as a mains charger for the leisure battery (when I get around to fitting one)
I already have several chargers but they are either too powerful (one is intelligent but 20amps) or not SMART as in, cannot be left unattended indefinitely.
This should be OK for keeping up with 'light consumers' (a strip lamp and cold water pump)
Martin

[CovKid]

Had mine well over 5 years now Martin and they're also brilliant for keeping any battery in good nick over the winter months too when not in the vehicle. Paid for itself many, many times over. You just have to remember that because they 'sense' batteries, a badly depleted one sometimes needs an initial charge with an ordinary charger just to get it to a level where the LIDL/ALDI one can take over. After that you can leave it connected as long as you like.

[chriscburgess]

Also available in Aldi from tomorrow!
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/t ... 0-14_17-34" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[itchyfeet]

Thanks for the heads up, got the last one in my store today.
I want to fif it permanently in the van and keep my other charger for the cars.

Does anybody know if it's best to fit a switch or voltage sensing relay or can they just be connected when mains is off?
Suppose I could measure if it draws current from the batt when mains is off.

[keytouch]

I was also wondering about the best way to permanently wire one of these up to charge both main and leisure battery.
Little confused as don't want to link them so they are effectively a single battery.
Already have a split charge relay from the alternator.

[sarran1955]

Hello,

I now have 3 of these!!

1 runs on 'veille' at 6 volts on the tractor battery...

1 is in the van

1 is in the battery things drawer of the workshop.

2 comments.

If you are using on veille..'look after mode'..check if you have a power cut..as it resets to zero.

Because it is 'super electronic' it will 'refuse' batteries that are really discharged...I use an 'old style' charger for ,say,15 mins.. if the Lidl one won't pick up then.. the battery really is u/s

Cordialement,

[itchyfeet]

I was also wondering about the best way to permanently wire one of these up to charge both main and leisure battery.
Little confused as don't want to link them so they are effectively a single battery.
Already have a split charge relay from the alternator.

I have a relay that only connects the starter to the leisure when the voltage is over a certain level i.e when the alternator kicks in, this would work with a battery charger also if it was connected direct to the starter batt, I suspect it will be ok but if you leave a batt charger connected but not powered will it drain your starter batt?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30-AMP-SELF-S ... 23396a2978" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The other common relay used to connect starter and leisure batt triggers from the alternator excitor, Idon't know what you would do with this setup and a batt charger?

[California Dreamin]

So as not to mislead, I will add that I wouldn't use this as a main (on camp) charger, It is simply not powerful enough. At just 3.8 amp (max) there is a real chance that despite 'being on hookup' that you battery would still go flat.
And besides, this charger has to be manually set to the right mode as it starts in 'stand by'.....so it isn't something that can simply be turned on and work.

Itchyfeet .... IMHO 30 amp rating isn't high enough.

Martin

[itchyfeet]

So as not to mislead, I will add that I wouldn't use this as a main (on camp) charger, It is simply not powerful enough. At just 3.8 amp (max) there is a real chance that despite 'being on hookup' that you battery would still go flat.
And besides, this charger has to be manually set to the right mode as it starts in 'stand by'.....so it isn't something that can simply be turned on and work.

Itchyfeet .... IMHO 30 amp rating isn't high enough.

Martin

OK thanks, maybe I will use my Hilka one which auto starts, but I think I will add a switch.

I don't really use much 12V on or off hook up so to 30A is OK for me, there is a 15A fuse and I have never blown it.

[California Dreamin]

So as not to mislead, I will add that I wouldn't use this as a main (on camp) charger, It is simply not powerful enough. At just 3.8 amp (max) there is a real chance that despite 'being on hookup' that you battery would still go flat.
And besides, this charger has to be manually set to the right mode as it starts in 'stand by'.....so it isn't something that can simply be turned on and work.

Itchyfeet .... IMHO 30 amp rating isn't high enough.

Martin

OK thanks, maybe I will use my Hilka one which auto starts, but I think I will add a switch.

I don't really use much 12V on or off hook up so to 30A is OK for me, there is a 15A fuse and I have never blown it.

Its really more about the 'initial' current flow when the engine starts and the alternator sees a discharged leisure battery. I've done checks myself after a weekends camping and with a single 80 amp leisure I saw 36 amps for the first 5 - 10 seconds quickly dropping to constant low 20's.

So you can see where I am coming from with this....

Martin

[itchyfeet]

It's a good point, the fuse would protect the relay though, I must not have ever discharged it enough.