battery chargers

[dombanks]

hi all

ive just replaced my broken odesy battery with a powervamp one and was wondering if the charger i bought (at the same time as the odesy) will be ok. the only code i can find on it is type 9640 and it says its a 3 step charger.

is this also ok to leave the battery plugged into all of the time for when the car is not being used?

the guys at stonleigh that i got the new battery from said it was more than likely due to me not leaving it plugged in and allowing it to discharge that broke the last one, as the car is not getting used much i think its a good idea to leave it trickle charging. disconnecting the battery is a pain in the  

[carpetstu]

Dom as far as I know a gel battery does not have a charger but a conditioner.

They are designed to be connected to the conditioner when not in use so that they never lose charge and thus knacker the unit.

I can't see why, if it is a conditioner, that it should not be suitable for the new battery, but I am sure someone will be along soon to confirm?  

[Bob Green]

is this also ok to leave the battery plugged into all of the time for when the car is not being used?

the guys at stonleigh that i got the new battery from said it was more than likely due to me not leaving it plugged in and allowing it to discharge that broke the last one, as the car is not getting used much i think its a good idea to leave it trickle charging. disconnecting the battery is a pain in the  

I cannot comment on a Gel battery but I leave my battery conditioner connected to my lead/acid battery constantly when the car is parked in the garage.

[AidanPlace]

I leave my Oddessey Gel battery connected all the time to an optimate jobbie. They provide leads so you don't even have to remove any bodywork.

Also you know it's going to start. Good bit of kit.

[adamnreeves]

Gel batteries hold their charge quite well upto 24months I believe. You can knacker them by using a charger that constantly trickles or a charger that chargers at a higher current. My charger never charges above 1amp and it monitors the battery and only charges if the battery starts to charge if the voltage drops. Also reports the battery condition. Optimate is the one to go for although mine isn't but it's designed for gel battery technology and cost £40.

[dombanks]

thanks guys... ill look into one of those optimate ones.

adam your right but they also dont like to have any kind of drain on them either so if you have an alarm or in my case the digidash or even a slight drain due to crappy wiring it can run them down and kncaker them... the guys at staonleigh i got this powervamp battery from also suggested it might have been this.

I figured out i got my battery and charger from knight battery sales (i remeber someone here put me onto them) so ill give them a ring on monday and see if this charger is ok to leave on all the time.

[adamnreeves]

Yes don so if you get one of those intelligent ones that do not charge when full however I suspect having something drain and then charging will knacker it anyway. I used disconnect the live fro

The battery over the winter anyway. I have since installed an fia switch so Easier now. I've wired in a socket for the battery charger that bypasses the fia switch!

[Hammy]

Don't get current and voltage mixed up . Chargers that can be left on charge until a certain voltage is reached then hold that voltage . If the battery is charged  no current is delivered , if the battery starts to loose charge then the charger tops it up to the float  voltage again .

All batteries self discharge over time and some form of "optimiser" is wise. Gel and wet batteries have a different float voltage and need the right charger.

My cheap lead acid is always kept on a charger and although costing about £15 has lasted 5 years now

Any lead acid left is a discharged state will be damaged. You can use a float charger without disconnecting the battery - there are some good cheap one about for motorbikes.