Battery Trickle Charger from Aldi

[andrewdmoore]

If anyone was thinking about buying a Trickle Charger, Aldi are currently selling them for ?13.

Regards, Andrew

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_4632.htm

[miked]

Andrew,

Some of the kit I have had from Aldi is OK. Compressor and air tools. If no one has bought one, perhaps there is no feedback.

From my years with standby generators (that need to start first crank), the long term agreed float voltage for a lead acid batteries is 13.75 volts when fully charged (almost). This can be debated all day and is affected by temperature etc. However battery charger manufacturers ship them set at this for optimal float/trickle charge and a reasonable loss of electrolyte by gassing. So check it out with a voltmeter after about 18 hours to see if it is less than this. Should build up to this over that period.

Battery people will rightly say that constant voltage charging is not good for batteries. Cyclic is better with two stage. In the stanby industry for availablity etc it is considered to be better to Float/trickle. the off set in life against availabilty is worthwhile.

This is is my opinon and experience and bit of the best of both methods. Cyclic and float:
I charge my battery after a run by letting it float for a day and then switch off. I then top up it up about every two weeks with a day of float. Uusally you will get 4-5 years from a battery like this. I think the art is not letting its voltage/charge fall away by lack of charge. Most Elans have electric fans which kick into cool after the engine has stopped. One of these running a couple of amps for 5 mins will leave your battery less than full. Thats why I fill it up after a run to leave it (as full as 13.75 gives). I believe it is 96% ish (whatever, good enough).

Mike

There are books and books on this. I dont want to get in a debate. This is just some practical advice that works. Voltage much over 13.75 will gas off a battery and shorten its life by plate damage. Everything is a compromise. 4 years for a battery does me.