Need to get myself a battery charger as the Z is always going flat sitting on the drive for months on end.

I've borrowed a couple recently but the fuse immediately blows and I'm guessing it's down to the size of the huge Bosch battery I've got and it needing a high current to get it charged.

Anyone else had this problem?

Thinking of getting one form Halfords tomorrow but not sure if theirs are up to the job?

no battery should blow a fuse in a charger, regardless of its size. there must be something wrong somewhere. why not get one from machine mart, will be cheaper than halfrauds.:D

Sounds like your battery is knackered if it wont recieve a charge, if you want a trickle charger the best bet is something similar to the optimate used on mororbikes.

 

My Z sits for months but i try to start it every 4 to 6 weeks to keep the battery fresh, the current battery ghas been on 5 years with no probs.

 

Its quite well known that big gay spaceships do tend to drain the battery when not used as its using the power to support alien gay life.

heres a link chris http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/battery-chargers-engine-starters-2

 

 

even if the battery aint too good, it still shouldnt blow the fuse.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-X-12V-AUTOMATIC-CAR-MOTORCYCLE-TRICKLE-CHARGER_W0QQitemZ380017633191QQihZ025QQcategoryZ30900QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Thats the sort of thing you need.

LOL I'll ignore that last comment!

 

Well the battery is fairly new and I do usually try to start it up every few weeks but I've left it a bit too long this time and can't get another car to it to jump start it because of where it's parked.

I tried the charger on another small battery and it was fine but blows the fuse every time on my big old Bosch.

I could just buy another battery instead and use this one as a spare I suppose that way I'm covered all ways.

mine kept doing that, put it to the charger and the bloody charger started smoking!!

If a battery is flat as a pancake most standard battery chargers will trip off as the charger tries to send more juice to it than it can handle. A trickle charger wouldnt suffer from this as the current is regulated. Once the trickle charger gets the battery to a reasonable level the other charger can do the rest.

no battery should blow a fuse in a charger, regardless of its size. there must be something wrong somewhere. why not get one from machine mart, will be cheaper than halfrauds.:D

 

There must be a maximum current rating as most seem to say "for up to 1600cc" etc.

I've seen 2 amp, 4 amp, 6amp and 10amp chargers but they get very expensive.

only old chargers will do that. modern ones should not blow the fuse unless theres a problem.

The higher the amp the more expensive they will be but you really need as lower one as possible to keep your battery in good condition, although youd need a high amp one to initially charge it becouse it will trip a 2 amp one out.

the newer chargers will read if the battery is flat and adjust charging as necessary

 

something like this, i have one but to be honest feel it was a waste as havnt used it in years

 

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/Store/Product/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=550

the newer chargers will read if the battery is flat and adjust charging as necessary

 

something like this, i have one but to be honest feel it was a waste as havnt used it in years

 

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/Store/Product/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=550

 

Fancy selling it?

 

I'm thinking of getting this Black & Decker one from Halfords as it's only 5 minutes down the road and the nearest Machine Mart is 25 miles away.

Not sure their other cheaper ones will be up to the job.

 

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_267297_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_31335_crumb_33958-123101_parentcategoryrn_31335

 

# 3 Stage SMART CHARGE Technology provides long life battery performance by smart charging in 3 stages during a complete cycle

# Reverse Hook Up Warning dramatically reduces the risk of sparks or explosion

# 2 / 6 / 10 Amps automatic battery charger allows you to choose between maintenance or high speed charge

# Digital diagnostics monitors battery conditions, battery voltage and alternator conditions

# Reverse polarity and short circuit protection for extra safety and durability

I got one of these, seems to work ok.

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/212403/ctek_multi_xs_3600.html

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-X-12V-AUTOMATIC-CAR-MOTORCYCLE-TRICKLE-CHARGER_W0QQitemZ380017633191QQihZ025QQcategoryZ30900QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Thats the sort of thing you need.

 

I've just bought that exact same one. Does exactly what I want it to. My battery drains quite quickly due to something drawing a small current somewhere. This charger is great as you can just leave it switched on and it will charge automatically when the battery voltage drops beyond a certain level. I paid about £13 all in for it.

 

Gareth

my charger is about 10 years old and i've never had a problem with itmaybe the 9 squillion BHP engine is sayin NO i aint startin for you today now f**k off :rofl:

Chris you are disconnecting the cars Neg lead before trying to charge the battery?

I had a solar panel trickle charger to keep it topped up. £15 from Maplin I think they cost now.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358&criteria=solar%20charger&doy=19m4

Normally £20

I had a solar panel trickle charger to keep it topped up. £15 from Maplin I think they cost now.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358&criteria=solar%20charger&doy=19m4

Normally £20

 

My dad has one of these in his car in France while he is away from it most of the time - works a treat :)

sounds like a dead short in the battery! unless it really is a crap charger LOL :p

Hi Chris,im a new member,i have an optimate 3 trickle charger which i use on my motorbike,have used it on cars before.You can leave it charging as long as you want as its only a trickle. It also has a led that lets you know if battery is os.

Fancy selling it?

 

I'm thinking of getting this Black & Decker one from Halfords as it's only 5 minutes down the road and the nearest Machine Mart is 25 miles away.

Not sure their other cheaper ones will be up to the job.

 

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_267297_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_31335_crumb_33958-123101_parentcategoryrn_31335

 

# 3 Stage SMART CHARGE Technology provides long life battery performance by smart charging in 3 stages during a complete cycle

# Reverse Hook Up Warning dramatically reduces the risk of sparks or explosion

# 2 / 6 / 10 Amps automatic battery charger allows you to choose between maintenance or high speed charge

# Digital diagnostics monitors battery conditions, battery voltage and alternator conditions

# Reverse polarity and short circuit protection for extra safety and durability

 

 

Thats the one I got bud shouldnt have a problem with that as it adjusts the amps as needed

 

order it online for collection in store saves a few quid;)

Chris you are disconnecting the cars Neg lead before trying to charge the battery?

 

Yeah I took the battery out and tried it also.

 

Got the B&D charger from Halfrauds today and it was showing the battery at 2v but it's been giving it a heavy charge since 5pm and it's looking like it's come back to life :)

I think I've just let the battery get way too low and then tried a couple of crap chargers on it.

 

Z fired up first time on another spare battery and sounds awesome :dance:

Got the bug again and going to get it back on the road as soon as funds allow.

Put the Border bonnet on and it really suits the car :D

Tied to start the Z yesterday, battery was sitting at 11.8v so put the charger on it sat all day and only went up to 12v so still wouldnt turn over the engine. Put a set of jump leads on let it sit for 5 mins and the car started. took the battery back out and put it on charge overnight.

 

Checked it this morning and the battery has only 10.4V :confused:

 

Think its time to bin my 20yr old charger and buy a new one.

Tied to start the Z yesterday, battery was sitting at 11.8v so put the charger on it sat all day and only went up to 12v so still wouldnt turn over the engine. Put a set of jump leads on let it sit for 5 mins and the car started. took the battery back out and put it on charge overnight.

 

Checked it this morning and the battery has only 10.4V :confused:

 

Think its time to bin my 20yr old charger and buy a new one.

 

Thats sounds like it could be a dead battery not holding it's charge.

This Black and Decker charger wasn't exactly cheap at £53 but it does various battery tests and even has an alternator test to monitor it on and off load.

Starts off charging at 10A then drops to 6 then 2 as the battery recharges.

You can then leave it permanently connected and it will just top it up as and when it drops.

I was about to bin an expensive battery after trying 2 other chargers but I'm glad I paid the extra for this piece of kit.

I've got 2 cars and a boat so always swapping flat batteries around.

Should have got one sooner.

that will be the battery mate, the cells will have broken down, time for a new battery me thinks