Anyone recommend a 'maintenance' battery charger?

I've stopped using my P38 as my daily drive while I decide what to do about the head gasket (to re-engine or rebuild, that's the question) and other issuettes.

Trouble is, the battery keeps going flat despite the solar charger I stuck on it.

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive 'maintenance' charger that I can just leave connected to it permanently? Given that it's still perfectly drivable, it'd be nice to be able to use it occasionally without having to charge the battery again first (and resolve all the usual subsequent flat battery headaches).

Or would I be better off just disconnecting the battery in the mean time?

Aldi, this thursday for around £15

Nik

CTEK range has a good name, check out their range on Amazon, where you can buy nearly anything apart from a book....


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NikTheGeek said:

Aldi, this thursday for around £15

Nik

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I saw a posting about that. Is it intended for this kind of use though? It's not clear from the web page that I looked at.

I've heard Ctek's mentioned before, but they seem quite expensive and there seem to be lots of different types. Would I need a conditioner or a charger? Does the capacity matter? Or the number of stages?

Do a search there are loads of them about. Halfrauds do one for around £24.00.

kooky_guy said:

I saw a posting about that. Is it intended for this kind of use though? It's not clear from the web page that I looked at.

I've heard Ctek's mentioned before, but they seem quite expensive and there seem to be lots of different types. Would I need a conditioner or a charger? Does the capacity matter? Or the number of stages?

Click to expand...

The Aldi one is a Ctek copy. I have one. It has a maintenance mode that you can leave connected to the battery indefinitely. I use it on my boat.

Google aldi/lidl/ctek and you will see they are almost identical. In fact, those that have taken them apart, say it is the EXACT same board inside.

Nik

kooky_guy said:

I saw a posting about that. Is it intended for this kind of use though? It's not clear from the web page that I looked at.

I've heard Ctek's mentioned before, but they seem quite expensive and there seem to be lots of different types. Would I need a conditioner or a charger? Does the capacity matter? Or the number of stages?

Click to expand...

I have a Lidl one, it's fine as a maintenance charger, takes ages to bring up a flat battery though

I use an Optimate on my P38 when it's laid up, and also on the Motorbike over the winter.
Never had any problems or issue's.

NikTheGeek said:

The Aldi one is a Ctek copy. I have one. It has a maintenance mode that you can leave connected to the battery indefinitely. I use it on my boat.

Google aldi/lidl/ctek and you will see they are almost identical. In fact, those that have taken them apart, say it is the EXACT same board inside.

Nik

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I use one myself when I am abroad for up to 5 weeks. Had it over a year and has been fine. Think it cost about £14 at the time.

Ctek is what land rover use in their workshops its their approved battery chargers

matt1987 said:

Ctek is what land rover use in their workshops its their approved battery chargers

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I'm so pleased to know that my ctek is in good company along with Porsche, Ferrari, Aston-Martin, Lamborghini & Bentley.

matt1987 said:

Ctek is what land rover use in their workshops its their approved battery chargers

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If LR use it that's no recomendation IMO

Thanks all. Think I'll get a ctek then as I have no idea where my nearest aldi is. I like mail order.

kooky_guy said:

Thanks all. Think I'll get a ctek then as I have no idea where my nearest aldi is. I like mail order.

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Thought it was Lidl? Ctek are very overpriced for what they are.

kooky_guy said:

Thanks all. Think I'll get a ctek then as I have no idea where my nearest aldi is. I like mail order.

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https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/information/useful-information/store-locator/

As none in NI, am enrolling a mate to get one in Birmingham tomorrow on his way to wrk


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Hi All
Just popped in to my local ALDI they should have some in tomorrow, following my recent problems re flat battery I intend to give one a try

Regards

muddylane said:

Hi All
Just popped in to my local ALDI they should have some in tomorrow, following my recent problems re flat battery I intend to give one a try

Regards

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.

That is what it said in the link I placed Thursday 17th Oct, get jump leads at the same time

Ordered a ctek from Amazon now, but thanks all anyway. It's only a weedy one but I have a proper charger for proper charging.

NikTheGeek said:

Aldi, this thursday for around £15

Nik

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I got one of them, used it a few times, nice and easy, small compact, not complicated, but I do believe its for mid sized and smaller type of battery's??? and I dont know if that makes a difference or not, but still works on mine ok