Trickle Charger recommendations...

[miatas76]

Because the Little Red Jellybean is only dríven sparingly, i am more and more relying on it to be jumpstarted to get it going..... So I thought of buying a trickle charger to keep the power in the battery (it's only 3 years old but can't remember the brand off the top of my head)...

Any recommendations?

Have had a look at Jaycar, Autobarn, Repco and Supercheap, but there's so many types..... With the EOFYS around i should be able to get a decent one for a reasonable price.....

Cheers!!!

[Apu]

I bought a plug in solar unit, seems to work reasonably well.

[KevGoat]

I've been using a CTEK XS0.8 12 Volt 800 mAh Charger for nearly two years now and does a great job.

[Garry]

Don't buy the Powertech Plus MB-3604 that Jaycar sell. I've bought 2 and both lasted almost to the day the 12 month warranty ran out. Both Jaycar and the distributor offered no support because it was a few weeks outside the warranty period when they expired. This time I went with a CTEK MXS 5.0T. It doesn't cost much more than the Powertech one, has heaps more lights and comes with a 5 year warranty so in theory should last at least 5 times as long. I've only had it about a month but so far so good.

I have used the cheaper powerpack type Powertech unit from Jaycar on my bike for many years and haven't had any trouble, touch wood.

[beavis]

Install a kill switch.
Then you could leave the car for months and come back to start it first crank.

[bartmanftw]

Yeah putting a killswitch in would be best way to keep it charged. Or just disconnect the battery when you're finished driving it.

[ED_MX5]

Having two cars not dríven not very often.
I have to recommend a solar charger. One is connected to an old race car, starts first go every time. Battery is now about7 years old roughly, still goes a treat. If you want a charger that does trickle and fast charge, get one with multi stage charge.
What this does is start charging slowly, which is good for calcium batteries( which most current batteries are).
Then it charges fully at high amp. then backs off to a spike. The spike sends a series of sharp high amp spikes through the battery which breaks of any calcification forming on the internal plates. I have tested batteries before (using approved battery testers from a battery company, not just a cheap multimeter) and the battery has tested rooted/replace. Leave on spike for a few hours and let it do its thing and charge the battery too, battery came back and tested better than listed on the specs on battery. higher cca etc.
You can pick up a good one for roughly $200. Bit more than basic charger..but well worth it.

[Mr Morlock]

forget kill switches a battery will still go flat over a period- you can switch off internal lights just in case a door is left ajar but a trickle charger when the car might be left for some weeks is a good plan es since you are resorting to jump start - not good.Bear in mind also that batteries have a life and winter can kill them- buy a trickle. You will find that any of the usual suspects Bursons / Autobarn / Repco etc will sell reasonable quality units at very low cost - and their buyers are more than likely to select a product which is fit for purpose. I have 2 units - different brands but they seem to work just fine. PS I have no idea why anyone bothers with a solar charger when electricity for 240V things amounts to a poofteenth and all it needs a powerpoint. Cost of a 240 v trickle less than $50

[ED_MX5]

Reason for solar charge- charges much slower which is better for battery. The slower you charge it, the longer it lasts. Plus depending where car is located, sometimes a 240v is impracticable. In saying that.. a good charger with trickle function is getting a lot of bang for your buck. Depends what your needs are.

[Col99]

The better types and the only one that I am familiar with is the Ctek, have a "Float Charge" function and will monitor the charge level in the battery and when it starts to drop as it will, it automatically tops it up, well worth the extra as it will not overcharge which can be a bad thing also.

Cheers

Col

[Old Dude]

another one for the Ctek,
I have the MXS 5.0 and it hasn't missed a beat, I use it for the exact same reason you want it for and it works a treat, with no problems when it left on for longer periods of time.
I also had the J car one and basically just out of warranty It died.

Cheers
Dale

[Muzdaman]

I also have the Ctek mxs. No complaints.

[wun911]

I also use a ctek for both it has options for the car and motorbike. I use the gel style battery and the charger works fine.

You can also buy extra quick connect clips if you have multiple vehicles to charge up.

Ultimately I wouldn't mind a solar trickle charger....

[bensale]

Free solution (which I do) is to just to disconnect the battery terminal when you're leaving it..

[Skinny Jim]

+1 on the kill switch. my car sat for 9 months and started first time recently, battery still very strong. $19 from autobarn.