I just bought a so called smart charger on ebay and the small print tells me not to leave the charger on for more than 12 hours. Not exactly what I had in mind. I know a lot of you guys use smart chargers and I was hoping you might be able to answer a couple of questions. What make and model would you recommend and I read somewhere that a smart charger will only work with a smart battery of the same make. The battery apparently has a chip that the charger reads, is there any truth in that? I hope not because I've just bought a new plain old leisure battery.
------------- The longest sentence known to man is "I do"
I have a Halfords one which works fine. I have used it on our car battery without issues. Once charged it goes into maintenance mode and can be left on.
I have seen positive reports on CTEK ones too.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
CTEK are a recognised well known brand but probably not the cheapest on the market. However, I have always assumed that you should be able to leave a smart connected and switched on 24/7 without any issues which I have done with a standard 100ah. Lucas leisure battery which I've now had for 10 years.
If you need a detailed explanation regarding how a smart charger works then it takes just a Google search but you might get a brief idea if you click on this link.
I got a smart charger from Aldi last week £12.99. They might have some left if you are quick. Works a treat & can be left on permanently if required. A smart charger will charge ordinary car or leisure batteries.
Agree with previous posts the Ctek chargers are very good but they can also be expensive. The Aldi and Lidl ones have a decent reputation.
I purchased a charger from an online selling site (added a link to a similar one below) a few years ago for about £10:00. Its still working fine 5 years on. I leave it on trickle charge over the winter.
* This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, as an eBay Partner Network member we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
------------- Don't take LIFE too seriously nobody gets out ALIVE anyway
The Aldi ones are great. Every bit as good as the Ctek ones but very much cheaper. I've had one for years. You can leave it permanently connected if you want to and it will maintain the battery in a good state of charge.
What you may have heard about only using batteries of the same make is complete nonsense. They will charge any battery perfectly.
Quote: Originally posted by Logan1 on 02/3/2022
I just bought a so called smart charger on ebay and the small print tells me not to leave the charger on for more than 12 hours. Not exactly what I had in mind. I know a lot of you guys use smart chargers and I was hoping you might be able to answer a couple of questions. What make and model would you recommend and I read somewhere that a smart charger will only work with a smart battery of the same make. The battery apparently has a chip that the charger reads, is there any truth in that? I hope not because I've just bought a new plain old leisure battery.
Firstly, it's not a smart charger if you have to switch it off after 12 hours!
I have the Aldi charger, no problems after maybe 4 years now. Great piece of kit for the money.
Another misnomer - no chips inside a lead/acid battery!
A smart charger senses the voltage and charges the battery according to needs|
------------- I came into this world with nothing and I've still got most of it left.
C-tek for me also.👌👌👌👍.....
Had an old 3.6 version don't think its still available to buy. Gave it my lad who still uses it. it must be 15 years old now. Or there about's. He uses for caravan battery and the kids bikes and cars.
Mine now is a LITTLE over kill to say the least..C-Tek mxv25... fixed permanently in the shed. Has been for the past 8-9 years
However at the time of buying had Loadsa dosh, so Hay Ho.. why not.
A little mxv 5 or 7 would suffice I'me sure.
Great pieces of KIT
I agree, the C-Tek ones are very good, it's just that the Aldi ones are just as good but a lot cheaper. Nothing whatsoever wrong with the C-Tek chargers but you are definitely paying for the name, in my opinion.
Quote: Originally posted by Logan1 on 02/3/2022
I just bought a so called smart charger on ebay and the small print tells me not to leave the charger on for more than 12 hours. Not exactly what I had in mind. I know a lot of you guys use smart chargers and I was hoping you might be able to answer a couple of questions. What make and model would you recommend and I read somewhere that a smart charger will only work with a smart battery of the same make. The battery apparently has a chip that the charger reads, is there any truth in that? I hope not because I've just bought a new plain old leisure battery.
What a lot of codswallop, of course if a charger is indeed "smart" it has to be able to be left on continuously, that's what being smart is all about, working out what the battery needs and giving it that. What you purchased, as described, is anything but "smart".
Also it is completely wrong that our lead acid batteries need to be charged with a charger of the same brand, the smarter the charger the more capable it is to detect and select how it handles the differing technologies used in making LA batteries.
Whilst the Aldi and Lidl versions of smart charger with a passing resemblance to some of the popular CTEK range, are a budget solution, those two I own are not "as good" as the two CTEK I have a 3.6A & 5.0 Amp.
A serious short coming in the two I have, is both unlike both the CTEKs are not even smart enough to sort out and recover from power outages; they need resetting.
That might be no issue if attended, but part of using a smart charger is for it to be smart enough to be left unattended. They are undoubtedly a cheap option.
In the past I've found cheap items can occasionally turn out to be real bargains, note I said occasionally. So as Aldi got several of your votes I went ahead and purchased one. The instructions mention not to leave unattended when charging. If Aldi supplies only one model is this something you guys are ignoring or have I bought another pup
------------- The longest sentence known to man is "I do"
Quote: Originally posted by Logan1 on 21/3/2022
In the past I've found cheap items can occasionally turn out to be real bargains, note I said occasionally. So as Aldi got several of your votes I went ahead and purchased one. The instructions mention not to leave unattended when charging. If Aldi supplies only one model is this something you guys are ignoring or have I bought another pup
I think those instructions may simply be back-covering on the part of the supplier. In all probability the instructions for the more expensive chargers say similar.
We have never had any problems with leaving our Aldi charger unattended, although I must admit we do tend to turn everything electrical off overnight as a matter of course. The charger is always left unattended during the day.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Can you recommend a good smart charger
via mobile 02/3/2022 at 5:45pm
