Battery Conditioner

[chrislane]

My car is being relegated to infrequent use so think i need to get a battery charger. Having done a bit of searching on here and seloc i'm still a bit unsure if there are any particular features i should be looking for. Found this on ebay:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160759873093?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_3028wt_996

 

If i got this and a cig lighter adapter would that do the job?

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[Dazzx10r]

Optimate battery chargers are very good, I've used one for years on several race bikes. You can also get an optional lead with a plug on it that connects directly to the battery, your Optimate plugs into this lead when you need to use it.

[Jonathan E]

I have a Ctek one that works well, my car lives outside all year round albeit with a cover. Has lasted the last two winters no probs and comes with permanent plug in battery connections. I'm not sure but I think your ciggie lighter has to be live 24/7 to be used for this purpose??.

[winthattt]

I use the optimate chargers, they work well. I am sure my Elise battery we dead but it kept it going.

 

Yes the cig lighter must be live to use that socket.

 

On my S2 Exige I just connected the flying lead that comes with the charger to the battery posts under the passenger side front access panel. The rubber cover connector just pokes out of the access panel near the windscreen. It includes a waterproof cap. No trouble in years of use.

[chrislane]

At the risk of sounding very stupid, i thought the battery was in the boot. So what is under the front access panel?

[Steve J]

The S1 battery. Only the s2 is in the boot.

[chrislane]

Mine only has an s2 battery ;-)

 

In all seriousness though guys, thanks for the help.

 

So, is the optimate 3+ going to be suitable as they seem to do a number of others with additional features?

[Steve J]

Mine's an Optimate 4 and perfectly adequate.

No idea if the 3 is any good but it's cheaper than the 4

 

I got mine here

http://www.thegreenreaper.co.uk/Battery_Chargers/Battery_Chargers/OptiMate_4_Battery_Charger_and_Desulphater_12V.html

[kayj_prod]

I have an Optimate 4 too. Did a great job of recovering my battery after it had been left dead in the bodyshop for a couple of months. Like Winthattt, I connected the battery fly-leads permanently and just connect to the plug when the car is sat in the garage.

[lummo]

Mine's an Optimate 4 and perfectly adequate.

No idea if the 3 is any good but it's cheaper than the 4

 

I got mine here

http://www.thegreenr...phater_12V.html

 

That's where I got mine from too. It's a good price, and it comes with the fly-lead for connecting direct to the battery - I think some places may sell this separately.

[Dr H]

I use a cheap Halfords job on the S2. It's got a good qulaity Bosch Silver battery and is fine for weeks on end when it's not being used.

 

It's this one http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_190498_langId_-1_categoryId_255205

 

So long as the battery is OK when you lay it up it will be fine.

[flibberflops]

At the risk of sounding very stupid, i thought the battery was in the boot. So what is under the front access panel?

 

Under the access panel on the nearside front (just under the windscreen) of the S2 is a charging point. It is there so you can jump start the car if your battery is totally dead (and you can't get in the boot). You can connect a fly lead to these terminals and have the weather proof connector just tucked below the windscreen wiper arm (in that semi circle where it connects to the windscreen wiper motor in the center of the screen). When you need to plug in the battery conditioner, it is a quick easy place to plug it.

 

As previous post said, the cigarette lighter socket is switched off with ignition... so it will be useless for charging.

[chrislane]

Thanks guys. Really useful.

 

After all that re the optimate, i've just ordered a ctek. Doesn't seem there is any real consensus from the research i have done (everyone seems happy with whichever one they have got) so it pretty much came down to the toss of a coin.

 

I'm still a bit confused re the cig lighter as i thought i had read elsewhere that it was permanently live on the s2. Unfortunately i cant find my adapter for my phone at the minute to test it. The bloody thing has disappeared off the face of the planet.

 

Cheers

Chris

[handbag]

I'm happy with my Ctek

[Jumpjet]

Very timely 'Special Buy' at Aldi:

 

http://www.aldi.co.u...buys3_26860.htm

 

I believe these are Ctek's in disguise. I've had one on my boat's starter battery for the past two years and no problems at all.