Battery charger help

[MrJC]

My 110 has two batteries linked together... no idea why thats the way it is... one bigger than the other.

Not used Landy for 6 weeks and returned from holiday yesterday, batteries completely dead. I guess the alarm has drained it flat.

I am guessing I need to charge the batteries rather than just try and jump start it.... so I need to buy a charger and know nothing about them.

Want one at a sensible price that will do the job AND also charge a motorcycle battery. Saw this one on Amazon... looks ok? [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ctek-CTE-XS800-Battery-Charger-Stage/dp/B000RI2B70/ref=pd_cp_diy_3]Ctek CTE-XS800 Battery Charger 4 Stage 0.8A 12V: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike[/ame]

Any other recomendations for around that price?

Finally.......... do I have to charge the 2 batteries in the 110 seperate or will they charge up together? ....

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

do NOT try charging them both together. it is not adviseable to leave them connected as the weakest will drain the strongest .
get yoself an automatic charger that has a "maintenance mode"

 

[tottot]

With totaly flat batteries putting them on a ordanary charger probabley wont work,you can sometimes get them back to life by connecting to a fully charged batt with jump leads for five mins and then put on charge as normal.[do this OFF the vehical and outside as batt may release some explosive gas]

 

[andy mcd]

Thats the problem when the 2 batteries are wired like that, as said the biggest one will yzap the juice from the smaller, fit a split charge system and get a battery charger for a maintance charge

 

[instantsquid]

You might find one of the better "smart" battery chargers will be able to bring them back to life. As said, only charge one at a time. Going forward, even a basic split-charge system should be used - just hooking the batteries up directly together will knacker the weaker battery.

Ctek make decent chargers, as do Optimate.

 

[MrJC]

Many thanks to all.... ordered a Ctek charger. I will remove both batteries and just run it off the bigger battery for now once charged up. I will research battery splitter charge systems, hopefully that may prevent the batteries going flat if not used for 6 weeks?.... may run the work lamp for camping but other than that its just the alarm system for now plus of course.... starting her up first time!

 

[instantsquid]

If you're not gonna use it for 6 weeks at a time, you need to work out a way to hook up the charger - if the Ctek is anything like my Optimate you can leave it connected permanently while the car is not in use.

 

[andy mcd]

For a no thrills split charger that works great even when drowned, Easy to install with clear instructions and everything you need is the x-eng split charger X-eng High Performance Off-Road Engineering

I use it to wired up to 2 numax batteries and run my winch etc off of the second battery. Its a very simple effective idea

 

[MrJC]

Many thanks Andy..... just took a look at the batteries. Errrrrr..... not sure what to make of the wiring. One looks like a normal heavy duty and one looks like a lighting/winch battery. This is an ex BT vehicle and I think it did have a winch fitted.

These wires in the pics.... can anyone make sense of them please?

 

[instantsquid]

Dunno where that fused wire goes - but the first pic definitely shows the batteries are directly connected together - not a great thing to do, especially with the batteries being so mismatched. Is there something on the other side of the battery box from that black box on the side?

 

[Shifty1962]

Nice to see they are properly clamped down. If your MOT man sees them like that he wont pass it.

 

[Bromsgrove Defender]

Nice to see they are properly clamped down. If your MOT man sees them like that he wont pass it.

I'm fairly sure he wont look but thats not the point.

Seem to recall an inspection at a Landrover show before you were allowed on the off road course that would have stopped you playing though.

 

[andy mcd]

My MOT man does look,
Personally i would scrap the 2 batteries and but at least one that is designed to be used for your land rover, I can recommend the Numax batteries but i didnt get them from x eng , i did a search and got the a lot cheaper.

The way the batteries are mis matched will end up killing the 2 of them as they will keep drawing off of each other till there flat, and they might have severly damaged the cells in the batteries.

If you dont need two batteries just get one the is designed for the job and clamp the thing down it wil bounce around as you go over speed bumps and may even short circuit

 

[Bromsgrove Defender]

My MOT man does look,
Personally i would scrap the 2 batteries and but at least one that is designed to be used for your land rover, I can recommend the Numax batteries but i didnt get them from x eng , i did a search and got the a lot cheaper.

The way the batteries are mis matched will end up killing the 2 of them as they will keep drawing off of each other till there flat, and they might have severly damaged the cells in the batteries.

If you dont need two batteries just get one the is designed for the job and clamp the thing down it wil bounce around as you go over speed bumps and may even short circuit

Not sure my MOT man even knows where the battery is LOL.

I'd be just as worried of em splitting, as shorting out

 

[MrJC]

Dunno where that fused wire goes - but the first pic definitely shows the batteries are directly connected together - not a great thing to do, especially with the batteries being so mismatched. Is there something on the other side of the battery box from that black box on the side?

Nothing on the other side of that black box.... just carpet (seat box) I will get a split charger as above. I have a couple of jobs for the mobile auto electrician so he can sort it. Will use one battery for now when I get it charged up. It needs sorting properly as you say...appreciate your help

 

[Badger]

Put a relay between them to stop the main cranking battery from leeching from the second.

Costs about £15 and a bit of time, job done.

 

[MrJC]

Nice to see they are properly clamped down. If your MOT man sees them like that he wont pass it.

.... you are quite right. I hadn't even thought about it.... I will get it sorted, wasn't happy with the bits of rubber draped over the battery conectors to prevent shorting. I like things 100% right :doh:

 

[Shifty1962]

My MOT man always checks battery clamps for security. Its part of the MOT. Failed once for having a loose clamp. Would have taken seconds to nip it up but I had to do the whole retest palaver the next day as he would not let me near the motor until he'd finished. Dont use that garage any more as I've since moved.

 

[Bromsgrove Defender]

My MOT man always checks battery clamps for security. Its part of the MOT. Failed once for having a loose clamp. Would have taken seconds to nip it up but I had to do the whole retest palaver the next day as he would not let me near the motor until he'd finished. Dont use that garage any more as I've since moved.

OMG didn't realise how lucky I was. The chap who does my MOT let me change rear light bulb last time. He even adjusted the one headlight for me. No retest nothin.

 

[instantsquid]

OMG didn't realise how lucky I was. The chap who does my MOT let me change rear light bulb last time. He even adjusted the one headlight for me. No retest nothin.

Yep - mine's the same. Find a sympathetic garage that isn't run by a knob and you're laughing.