Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Entwood on 21 August 2009, 14:55:14

Title: Re: Battery Charger Recommendation
Post by: Entwood on 21 August 2009, 14:55:14
For leisure batteries, without doubt the Ctek is easily IMHO the best.

I've had a Ctek 3600 for many years now, and as we use the pikey wagon a lot, it is invaluable and has never let me down.   :y :y :y

http://www.ctek.com/EN-GB/MULTI-XS-3600.aspx?p=features
Title: Re: Battery Charger Recommendation
Post by: Andy B on 21 August 2009, 15:00:30
Quote
For leisure batteries, without doubt the Ctek is easily IMHO the best.

I've had a Ctek 3600 for many years now, and as we use the pikey wagon a lot, it is invaluable and has never let me down.   :y :y :y

http://www.ctek.com/EN-GB/MULTI-XS-3600.aspx?p=features

Do you never just use the caravan's charger? I know they're not 'clever' and don't charge as high a voltage ...... I just stick our's on a few days before we go away in it  :-/   :y
Title: Re: Battery Charger Recommendation
Post by: Kevin Wood on 21 August 2009, 15:22:22
TBH, you already have all you need. Just put either of your current chargers on a timeswitch and set it to come on for an hour a week and you could probably just walk away and forget about it.

Batteries deteriorate if left endlessly on trickle, but give them a regular belt back to full capacity and they'll be fine.

Kevin
Title: Re: Battery Charger Recommendation
Post by: Entwood on 21 August 2009, 15:42:39
Quote
Quote
For leisure batteries, without doubt the Ctek is easily IMHO the best.

I've had a Ctek 3600 for many years now, and as we use the pikey wagon a lot, it is invaluable and has never let me down.   :y :y :y

http://www.ctek.com/EN-GB/MULTI-XS-3600.aspx?p=features

Do you never just use the caravan's charger? I know they're not 'clever' and don't charge as high a voltage ...... I just stick our's on a few days before we go away in it  :-/   :y


The "old" vans only charged to about 80%, and IMHO never fully charging causes early battery failure, which is why I used the Ctek to "top up" about once a month. I also think that it helped reduce sulphidisation (if thats the right word !!)

New 'van does have a built in smart charger which seems pretty good, but as I've modified most 'vans I've owned to a twin battery system I now use the "on-board" charger to recharge one battery and the Ctek to recharge the other. as we are out most weekends this seems to work pretty well for us .. :)
Title: Re: Battery Charger Recommendation
Post by: Auto Addict on 21 August 2009, 16:32:32
Thanks for all your replies, sorry about the 'off topic' bit, clicked the wrong button.

The ctek charger looks good, may consider buying one in the future, in the meantime, I'll take your advice Kevin.

Just want to keep it 'topped up' over the winter months.

Title: Re: Battery Charger Recommendation
Post by: Andy B on 21 August 2009, 17:40:21
Quote
..... but as I've modified most 'vans I've owned to a twin battery system I now use the "on-board" charger to recharge one battery and the Ctek to recharge the other. as we are out most weekends this seems to work pretty well for us .. :)

 :y :y You should be good for week at a time then on just batteries!  :y
SWMBO always wants EHU for her hair dryer .....  :-X
Title: Re: Battery Charger Recommendation
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 21 August 2009, 21:40:02
I just use an ordinary car battery charger AA....every couple of months...i just put it on trickle charge for 12/24 hrs.....turning it off when it says 100% charge.
If its quite flat....ie after camping trip, i put it on fast charge until it says charged.

I did read somewhere on the internety....that max current you should charge a leasure battery is 10% of its capacity.....so a 110amp/hr (same as the one ive got) would be 11amps.....the car battery charger i have will give out max 8/9amps on fast charge.

My batt is 3 years old now...and still seems to be fine  :y
Title: Re: Battery Charger Recommendation
Post by: Auto Addict on 21 August 2009, 22:02:59
Battery gets charged when on site, keep the caravan in storage, with no elec. available, so I take the battery home so that I can keep it charged.

The intelligent charger cuts out when the battery is fully charged, but it's only intended for batteries of up to 60 Ah.

The battery will never go flat whilst I own it, just want to keep it charged up, will take Kevins advice, and put it on a timer.