Depends if you want to charge a flat battery or just have a trickle charger on all the time it's parked up?
Go for the Hilka one from Screwfix. Looks like a small red metal handbag. 35-40 quid, and it's brilliant (and very brainy).
I've got one of these, does the job a treat and has an alternator check function built in http://www.blackanddecker.co.uk/automotive/productdetails/catno/BDSBC10A/ The 20a and 30a models also able to jump start flat batterys
Thanks for the replys Was thinking a charger with about 6.5 amps, but hadnt considered both trickle charging and from flat. So the Hilka and indeed the B&D look good for both needs. Cheers
Go for either (although I luuurve my Hilka). Chargers are pretty intelligent these days and will use a combination of charging methods to bring batteries make to life. Not like my oldie, which gave to 4 amps and that was it (and made a horrible buzzing noise while it was doing it). I think the Hilka can do 12 amps if it thinks the batt needs a good seeing to.
checked Screwfix but couldn't find one but there's a few on amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Automatic-Battery-Charger-HIL83500012/dp/B006B3NKEI
halfrauds one is good ...2 circuit breakers and smart charger system init and quite nice built for 30 quid ......
I got the CTEK one similar to this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ctek-CTE-XS4003-Multi-Battery-Charger/dp/B003B344NC/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1326153359&sr=8-2-fkmr1 Also got the cigarette lighter adapter too, so I can just plug it in the dash and it keeps the battery charged all winter. No mucking about in the engine bay trying to get the crocodile clips on right (I had quick release battery terminals which are hard to get clips to stay on ) Been using it for 2 years and it's been great. Cheers.
just got a new charger and know absolutely zilch about electrics, the leisure battery is 100 and the main battery is 65, the charger shows voltage, amps and percentage full. there is a button that shows 2A, 4A, 8A or12A which should I select to charge the batteries up? thanks
I think the maximum bench charge is 10% of the battery capacity normally. Though I wouldn't be worried about using one of those intelligent chargers at a higher rate, they normally drop down to a lower current quite quick. On my charger it assumes that if the battery can't be fully charged in 24hours it must be faulty and stops with fault code so selecting 2a with a flat battery is not helpful
Got one of these: http://www.oxprod.com/index.php?pg=3&action=dept&id=134&pid=558&p= Can be used as a straight charger and also left on for months if a vehicle is stood.
