Does anyone own or know of a smart charger that goes into charging
cycle the moment mains power is applied, rather than needing to press
buttons first like my Lidl one does. Must be 3 stage modern smart
charger, not old fashioned transformer and rectifier type.

Reason I want this is because I do not use my car for many weeks at a
time and I leave battery charger connected to battery most of time
(car neg disconnected). When I go away I cut power to garage and when
I come home I switch on power again but would like the battery to
start charging without me having to go out to garage and mess about
with pressing buttons. For complex reasons its not always easy to get
into garage and would be handy if I could find a charger that starts
the moment it gets mains power. Any ideas?

Rockingrabbit

Rockingrabbit gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

Reason I want this is because I do not use my car for many weeks at a
time and I leave battery charger connected to battery most of time (car
neg disconnected).

If the battery is disconnected, there's no reason why it needs to have
the charge maintained - I leave cars sat like that over winters, with no
problems starting again come spring. In the past, I've even skipped a
summer with no problems.

'course, there's also no rational reason to isolate the garage power...

"Rockingrabbit" wrote in message
...
Does anyone own or know of a smart charger that goes into charging
cycle the moment mains power is applied, rather than needing to press
buttons first like my Lidl one does. Must be 3 stage modern smart
charger, not old fashioned transformer and rectifier type.

Reason I want this is because I do not use my car for many weeks at a
time and I leave battery charger connected to battery most of time
(car neg disconnected). When I go away I cut power to garage and when
I come home I switch on power again but would like the battery to
start charging without me having to go out to garage and mess about
with pressing buttons. For complex reasons its not always easy to get
into garage and would be handy if I could find a charger that starts
the moment it gets mains power. Any ideas?

Rockingrabbit


The C-tek smart charger does exactly what you ask, if it is left connected
to the battery then the charging will recommence when the mains power comes
back on. I bought mine from costco at about 35 quid (not there at present I
believe), car shops sell them for 50, I believe (some one else, like Dave P
will know) that the lidl/aldi ones are just the same and only about 12 quid,
but they are not always in stock, just occasionally, sign up for their
specials newsletter and you can get to know in advance.

With a smart charger (or any charger afaik) there is no need to disconnect
anything.

On 31/08/2010 16:23, Adrian wrote:

'course, there's also no rational reason to isolate the garage power...

I can think of a few.

Willy Eckerslyke gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

'course, there's also no rational reason to isolate the garage power...

I can think of a few.

Do they all involve dangerously shonky wiring?

On 31/08/2010 16:35, Adrian wrote:
Willy gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

'course, there's also no rational reason to isolate the garage power...

I can think of a few.

Do they all involve dangerously shonky wiring?

No.
Use your imagination - unattended outbuilding, owner on hols, nice
supply of free electricity...

On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:31:25 -0000, Mrcheerful
wrote:


"Rockingrabbit" wrote in message
...
Does anyone own or know of a smart charger that goes into charging
cycle the moment mains power is applied, rather than needing to press
buttons first like my Lidl one does. Must be 3 stage modern smart
charger, not old fashioned transformer and rectifier type.

Reason I want this is because I do not use my car for many weeks at a
time and I leave battery charger connected to battery most of time
(car neg disconnected). When I go away I cut power to garage and when
I come home I switch on power again but would like the battery to
start charging without me having to go out to garage and mess about
with pressing buttons. For complex reasons its not always easy to get
into garage and would be handy if I could find a charger that starts
the moment it gets mains power. Any ideas?

Rockingrabbit


The C-tek smart charger does exactly what you ask, if it is left
connected
to the battery then the charging will recommence when the mains power
comes
back on. I bought mine from costco at about 35 quid (not there at
present I
believe), car shops sell them for 50, I believe (some one else, like
Dave P
will know) that the lidl/aldi ones are just the same and only about 12
quid,
but they are not always in stock, just occasionally, sign up for their
specials newsletter and you can get to know in advance.

With a smart charger (or any charger afaik) there is no need to
disconnect
anything.



Start and charge boost chargers and modern Man trucks really don't get on
well, it's quicker to disconnect & reconnect the battery than wait for the
list offaultwarnings to clear on the dashboard. Butunless you're using
something gratuitous I'd agree.

"Duncan Wood" wrote in message
newsp.via7muq0cet1rb@newsony...
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:31:25 -0000, Mrcheerful
wrote:


"Rockingrabbit" wrote in message
...
Does anyone own or know of a smart charger that goes into charging
cycle the moment mains power is applied, rather than needing to press
buttons first like my Lidl one does. Must be 3 stage modern smart
charger, not old fashioned transformer and rectifier type.

Reason I want this is because I do not use my car for many weeks at a
time and I leave battery charger connected to battery most of time
(car neg disconnected). When I go away I cut power to garage and when
I come home I switch on power again but would like the battery to
start charging without me having to go out to garage and mess about
with pressing buttons. For complex reasons its not always easy to get
into garage and would be handy if I could find a charger that starts
the moment it gets mains power. Any ideas?

Rockingrabbit


The C-tek smart charger does exactly what you ask, if it is left
connected
to the battery then the charging will recommence when the mains power
comes
back on. I bought mine from costco at about 35 quid (not there at
present I
believe), car shops sell them for 50, I believe (some one else, like
Dave P
will know) that the lidl/aldi ones are just the same and only about 12
quid,
but they are not always in stock, just occasionally, sign up for their
specials newsletter and you can get to know in advance.

With a smart charger (or any charger afaik) there is no need to
disconnect
anything.



Start and charge boost chargers and modern Man trucks really don't get on
well, it's quicker to disconnect & reconnect the battery than wait for the
list offaultwarnings to clear on the dashboard. Butunless you're using
something gratuitous I'd agree.


yes, I was really thinking car maintenance, and real BFO chargers are not
too domestic. I have got a wheel about starter charger, but I haven't used
it in anger in years and years. The last truck I worked on was a TK
Bedford, about as simple as they get !! I was walking past a transport yard
the other day and saw a guy in clean overalls!, using a laptop! to talk to a
big truck, and I thought: What has it all come to? Where are the big boots,
thick grease, missing teeth, big adjustable, and sledgehammer that I
remember from my youth?

On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:16:21 -0000, Mrcheerful
wrote:


"Duncan Wood" wrote in message
newsp.via7muq0cet1rb@newsony...
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:31:25 -0000, Mrcheerful
wrote:


"Rockingrabbit" wrote in message
...
Does anyone own or know of a smart charger that goes into charging
cycle the moment mains power is applied, rather than needing to press
buttons first like my Lidl one does. Must be 3 stage modern smart
charger, not old fashioned transformer and rectifier type.

Reason I want this is because I do not use my car for many weeks at a
time and I leave battery charger connected to battery most of time
(car neg disconnected). When I go away I cut power to garage and when
I come home I switch on power again but would like the battery to
start charging without me having to go out to garage and mess about
with pressing buttons. For complex reasons its not always easy to get
into garage and would be handy if I could find a charger that starts
the moment it gets mains power. Any ideas?

Rockingrabbit


The C-tek smart charger does exactly what you ask, if it is left
connected
to the battery then the charging will recommence when the mains power
comes
back on. I bought mine from costco at about 35 quid (not there at
present I
believe), car shops sell them for 50, I believe (some one else, like
Dave P
will know) that the lidl/aldi ones are just the same and only about 12
quid,
but they are not always in stock, just occasionally, sign up for their
specials newsletter and you can get to know in advance.

With a smart charger (or any charger afaik) there is no need to
disconnect
anything.



Start and charge boost chargers and modern Man trucks really don't get
on
well, it's quicker to disconnect & reconnect the battery than wait for
the
list offaultwarnings to clear on the dashboard. Butunless you're using
something gratuitous I'd agree.


yes, I was really thinking car maintenance, and real BFO chargers are not
too domestic. I have got a wheel about starter charger, but I haven't
used
it in anger in years and years. The last truck I worked on was a TK
Bedford, about as simple as they get !! I was walking past a transport
yard
the other day and saw a guy in clean overalls!, using a laptop! to talk
to a
big truck, and I thought: What has it all come to? Where are the big
boots,
thick grease, missing teeth, big adjustable, and sledgehammer that I
remember from my youth?



Oh you still need those as well :-)

Rockingrabbit wrote:

Does anyone own or know of a smart charger that goes into charging
cycle the moment mains power is applied, rather than needing to
press buttons first like my Lidl one does. Must be 3 stage modern
smart charger, not old fashioned transformer and rectifier type.

Reason I want this is because I do not use my car for many weeks at
a time and I leave battery charger connected to battery most of time
(car neg disconnected). When I go away I cut power to garage and
when I come home I switch on power again but would like the battery
to start charging without me having to go out to garage and mess
about with pressing buttons. For complex reasons its not always
easy to get into garage and would be handy if I could find a
charger that starts the moment it gets mains power. Any ideas?

Rockingrabbit

Machine mart sell a range of smart chargers