Smart Battery Charger

When I go away only the freezer and fridge are left on, everything else is off.

Previously john_holmes wrote:

When I go away only the freezer and fridge are left on, everything else is off.

Very wise, I also pull out aerial plugs from TV as a lightning strike got one once. Turning off the water at the mains can save the house, my neighbours shower burst in the night ,luckily in the right place to do no damage!. I always put charging mobiles on a dinner plate ,Chinese rubbish often goes up in smoke.

But the real answer is YES. They can left on indefinitely if you wish.

I have four of them. Two from lidl, one from oxford products and and accumate.

All work well and have givenno trouble in the many years I have used them to keep batteries charged on bikes which see little use.

I have even adapted the norton by fitting a charge lead.

The concerns raised by others are valid but remind me of Genny Penny being worried tgat the sky will fall down. No offence meant gents,..

Yes but, the one snag with these 'magic' chargers is if the battery is a bit poorly in the first place then putting it on such a charger often does not bring it back, but if quite a bit down then using a traditional charger often bring a battery back into life.

The magic chargers are good for keeping a good battery in good order.

Previously Alan Osborn wrote:

Yes but, the one snag with these 'magic' chargers is if the battery is a bit poorly in the first place then putting it on such a charger often does not bring it back, but if quite a bit down then using a traditional charger often bring a battery back into life.

The magic chargers are good for keeping a good battery in good order.

Hi Al

i though some chargers had desulphate modes to do just that? I think my optimate does, or claims to anyway!

Dan

Vehicle batteries aren't designed to be charged constantly or float charged. It will probably shorten their life.

Unless the battery is on it's last legs it will be fine for two weeks. Ever park your car at the airport for two weeks? It starts ok.

Ian

Having too many bikes, any not in current use have their batteries top-up charged every couple of months. The charger gives a green light after only a few minutes.

Previously ian_goodhall wrote:

Vehicle batteries aren't designed to be charged constantly or float charged. It will probably shorten their life.

Unless the battery is on it's last legs it will be fine for two weeks. Ever park your car at the airport for two weeks? It starts ok.

Ian

Mine didnt! But then the battery I'd about 10 years old!

Gordon - does a batter have to be in "current" use to remain charged? Hoho!

Gordon - does a battery have to be in "current" use to remain charged? Hoho!

I will "resist" commenting further.

I take all the batteries from my bikes out and charge them periodically. I've noticed that the automatic chargers tend to boil of all the fluid. They've wrecked a few batteries that were in the bikes. That's why I take them out now so I can keep an eye on them.

As a matter of interest,what make of charger is boiling batteries? That is odd and seems to point to an issue with the battery or charge rate..i.e. Not cutting off when charged.

I have never had this problem with any of my smart chargers used on lead acid or Agm batteries but the old type chargers were notorious for this.

A Draper supposedly smart charger happily boiled a battery for me. Other makes have been absolutely fine.

Two different "Battery Tenders."

Right we now know draper is suspect. Maybe a blacklist of chargers which go bad?

I have two from lidle. No problem on car, tractor or bike. An accumate and an oxford again both work well.