michael Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Having tried a couple of solar trickle chargers with limited success I'm looking for a conventional wired one to keep the Supra alive for months at a time while I'm neglecting to use it. This seems to be the best existing thread on such things so I thought I'd have a bump to see if people still rate the AccuMate one as being OK for a car that's left outside? Any others I should consider that might have come onto the market since this thread? I have a socket just inside the garage door and the Supra parks close to it but I'd need at least 5m of cable to get out to the car and up to the battery from the wall socket, ideally I'd like more. I like the idea of there being a connector on the car that allows me to plug in without lifting the bonnet too. Suggestions welcomed I'm guessing a few folks will take their cars off the road for winter so this could be a useful thing for them too. PS: I don't really like wires and don't do electricity, it scares me - the easier to install / extend the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 *subscribed* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 *subscribed* Me too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Thread Tools > Subscribe Stops me getting excited and thinking someone has posted an interesting reply then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Subscribed - you excited again Michael? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Subscribed - you excited again Michael? I was, I'm not now. I think I'm just sad that the government lets people like you out when you clearly need around the clock care in a controlled environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 LOL - but they let me out, I am interested in this to maintain my ECT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 i have a c tek charger and it comes with stuff to hard wire it to the car, then you just plug a connector in and its done. these are available from costco, once the battery is fully charged, the charger cycles it on and off to maintain the battery I'm going to go and have a look in Costco tonight because I remember seeing these, from what I can gather they sell the CTEK Zafir 90 which is slightly different version of the XS 3600 - it doesn't have as much grunt and it aimed at smaller batteries than the XS but will still get them charged, just slower. Having said this I think the Zafir would be OK for a Supra battery anyway? http://www.ctek.com/EN-GB/Buy-Charger.aspx?charger=mxs3600 http://www.ctek.com/EN-GB/Buy-Charger.aspx?charger=zafir90 Zafir 90 Input voltage AC 170-260VAC, 50-60Hz Output voltage Nominal: 12V Efficiency 85% Charging voltage 14.4V/0.5A, 14.4V/3.3A, 14.7V/3.3A Charging current 3.3A max Back current drain* 1.3mA Ripple** max 50mV rms, 0.13A Ambient temperature -20°C to +50°C, output power is reduced automatically at higher temperatures. Type of charger Four step, fully automatic switch mode with pulse maintenance. Type of batteries 12V lead-acid batteries (Wet, MF, AGM and GEL) Battery capacity 1.0 -90Ah Dimensions (L x W x H) 165x61x38mm Insulation IP 65 (splash and dust proof), outdoor use Weight 0.5kg XS 3600 Input voltage AC 170-260VAC, 50-60Hz Output voltage Nominal: 12V Efficiency 85% Charging voltage 14.4V/0.8A, 14.4V/3.6A, 14.7V/3.6A Charging current 3.6A max Back current drain* 1.3mA Ripple** max 50mV rms, 0.13A Ambient temperature -20°C to +50°C, output power is reduced automatically at higher temperatures. Type of charger Four step, fully automatic switch mode with pulse maintenance. Type of batteries 12V lead-acid batteries (Wet, MF, AGM and GEL) Battery capacity 1.2 -120Ah Dimensions (L x W x H) 165x61x38mm Insulation IP 65 (splash and dust proof), outdoor use Weight 0.5kg I also seem to think the Costco one is grey not blue so now I'm wondering if what I've read on the 'net about them selling the Zafir is wrong, will see later on. I'd rather have the XS 3600 personally, there are more extras available and the battery wire > easy plug thingy is much nicer. If they have them and the price is favourable I'll report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nige Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I use one of these http://www.vertar.com/battery-chargers-conditioners/optimate-4/ brilliant bit of kit just connect the wires to the battery and the unit plugs straigh in to the conector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Costco don't have any CTEK stuff in, just some more conventional Ring battery chargers. Halfords didn't have anything interesting either. The OptiMate 4 looks quite nice nige, another one to add on to the list, cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I've had this one for years, superb bit of kit. http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 The XS 3600 has 2 years longer warranty than the Zafir as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Just to add, I've still got the same battery, same Halfords charger and same 10 metres of speaker cable extension... Still haven't connected a plug yet either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 For anyone wanting to just trickle and not fully charge the CTEK XS800 looks like a cheap solution, offers the same mounting solutions as the more expensive ones, a simple plug, and can trickle up to 100Ah, it can only fully charge up to 32Ah though. About £33 delivered on eBay with a 5 year warranty, a couple of quid more from normal online suppliers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I got the XS 3600 in the end and hooked it up earlier today - when I switched the power on at the wall the alarm chirped and the cars indicators stayed on. I took it off and put my conventional charger on instead, this just got on with charging, no indicators on. Faulty XS 3600 or something they do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 My Accumate doesn't do this, just switch on and the light on the unit is amber then turns green when trickle charging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 My Accumate doesn't do this, just switch on and the light on the unit is amber then turns green when trickle charging. The lights on the unit are behaving as I'd expect, I'm thinking it's the alarm not liking the way the CTEK charges or something, seems odd though, giving it a charge with the normal one to put some life in the battery and then will try again. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 The lights on the unit are behaving as I'd expect, I'm thinking it's the alarm not liking the way the CTEK charges or something, seems odd though, giving it a charge with the normal one to put some life in the battery and then will try again. As you say it's odd, sounds like an alarm issue to me too, have you got a decent earth from it to the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Just seems strange how the alarm is OK with the other charger connected to the same places. Have tried the CTEK on a few points now, all with the same result. More experimentation needed but I'll wait until it's not having to charge a completely flat battery and the alarm has some life in other than it's own standby battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 I got the XS 3600 in the end and hooked it up earlier today - when I switched the power on at the wall the alarm chirped and the cars indicators stayed on. I took it off and put my conventional charger on instead, this just got on with charging, no indicators on. Faulty XS 3600 or something they do? Do you still have the original Scorpion alarm on your car Michael? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Do you still have the original Scorpion alarm on your car Michael? No, it got to the point where I was scared about it breaking or me losing the one fob I had left so I had it taken out and a Toad ai606 put in instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Hmmm. OK that rules out the old Scorpion sticky relay issue then... Did you have a very flat battery when you first put the XS charger on? - A sudden voltage spike may have confused the Toad unit into holding on the indicators. I can't think of any reason other than that, that any type of charger would make indicator relays hold on. Try it again, just out of interest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 Hmmm. OK that rules out the old Scorpion sticky relay issue then... Did you have a very flat battery when you first put the XS charger on? - A sudden voltage spike may have confused the Toad unit into holding on the indicators. I can't think of any reason other than that, that any type of charger would make indicator relays hold on. Try it again, just out of interest They keyfob wouldn't open the doors, I had to unlock with the key so yes, it was pretty flat When I pressed the button on the CTEK to drop it to the "motorbike" mode the indicators went dim, putting it back to "car" brightened them up again. I've got the other one on there now to pump a bit of life into it so I'll try again later. Another one while you are here, I don't really do wires but want to extend the wire on the CTEK so it can reach outside if necessary, will basic wire rated at 3A be OK for this or do I need something more heavy duty? And finally what's the best way of connecting the wire if the join is likely to be open to the elements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 They keyfob wouldn't open the doors, I had to unlock with the key so yes, it was pretty flat When I pressed the button on the CTEK to drop it to the "motorbike" mode the indicators went dim, putting it back to "car" brightened them up again. Motorbike mode was probably 6 volts, that would explain the dim lights. I would suggest it was a one off issue. I doubt there is anything wrong with the charger Another one while you are here, I don't really do wires but want to extend the wire on the CTEK so it can reach outside if necessary, will basic wire rated at 3A be OK for this or do I need something more heavy duty? And finally what's the best way of connecting the wire if the join is likely to be open to the elements? As you are extending the cable, I would suggest 5a cable really. The best type of joint would be a soldered joint and wrapped in self amalgamating tape. The tape is the important part because normal insulation tape will hold moisture and cause the joint to corrode and breakdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted November 8, 2008 Share Posted November 8, 2008 The CTEK is back on, no indicators at all this time so I think you are right, a one-off based on the battery being so flat, hopefully something I won't have now I have something to keep it alive Thanks for the tips on the tape, something I've never heard of, I'll get back down Maplin tomorrow, they seem to sell it even if it doesn't come in nice colours The 3A wire did look a bit weedy when I looked so I'll spend a bit more on that. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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