Battery Charger

[Splash]

Aldi? Lidl? It's a once in a lifetime buy so get something decent

I guess you've neither seen the product nor read the reviews. I have 2 of the newer kind with bar graph readout and another 2 of the older kind with just the lights. Not just for cars, but mowers, bikes etc. Even works on my Skodas too. Maybe that's why I'm happy to shop at Aldi and Lidl.

[ragebe]

I've got this one Halfords Advanced Electronic Battery Charger review | Auto Express

Does the job very well.

[Carew]

I have read somewhere that the Ctek charger is often "re-badged " even by Audi themselfs

[inspectorman63]

Nowt wrong wi' Aldi or Lidl. But if they're not stocking them - which will be the case for 50 out of 52 weeks of the year - then you need to go somewhere else.

[Doctle Odd]

You can also get high quality socket sets at Sunday markets and Chinese tyres are to die for

[Jethro48]

I agree that the C-Tek are very good as an optimiser but I think the Optimate 6 is better! It can recover faulty batteries and tell you it's current condition. It also maintains it on a trickle charge if you're not using the car for a while.
I've had one for a while and been impressed. It's expensive at £85 but you get what you pay for!
I'm having problems putting a link on here from my iPad but you can find one if you Google Optimate 6. I got mine from a site named "The Green Reaper"!
Depends on how much money you want to spend, and type of charger you require. There are some cheap one's around but as Doc Odd says, get something decent!
Good luck either way matey!

[54A4Avant]

Are Optimate chargers safe to use on the charging terminals under the bonnet? I guess everything has to go via the onboard charge management system before reaching the battery, and what with these smart chargers using voltage spikes to desulfate, etc, I was wondering if the car electronics could get damaged?

i have the original Optimate, btw... Bought for a motorbike many years ago.

[54A4Avant]

Well I hope it's a yes - I've hooked it up to my car now...!

[Georgey Dee]

IMG-20111230-00036.jpg


Had it 7 years now and it's been very useful.

[vwcabriolet1971]

The better battery chargers charge initially at up to 14V + . Once this has been reached they automatically drop down to approx. 12V + . If the battery voltage drops below the 12V threshold the cycle keeps repeating. Thus a battery may be left permanently connected until the vehicle is required. Ideal for laid up vehicles.