Battery chargers

papgeno
papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
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edited May 2018 in Parts & Accessories #1

Has anyone got experience of Milenco's Optimate battery chargers, I'm considering getting one,

Thanks in anticipation 

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  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2018 #2
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  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2018 #3
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  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2018 #4

    Bl**dy hell, thy are expensive. Wait till Aldi/Lidl have theirs on sale .... they were abut £15

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited May 2018 #5

    Not sure how much but take a look at CTek (about £60?j. They are probably the best multi-stage charger.

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited May 2018 #6

    CTEK are a specials designer of chargers and related equipment.

    I don't see Milenco as such a design specialist, more a brand that buys in subcontracted kit, which might be "good".

    I think being a specialist and renown for excellence in their field gives me the greater confidence when looking to buy products in that specialist field.

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
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    edited May 2018 #7

    I'll need it to refresh and maintain my leisure battery. I was thinking the 10 would be the one I need.

    Thanks for the suggestion regarding he CTek hitchglitch I'll have a look at those as well

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2018 #8
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  • markmacd
    markmacd Forum Participant Posts: 42
    edited May 2018 #9

    I used Optimate on my motorcycle, and was gunna fit one to my caravan, but then realised that you can only use 1 charger at a time. As I have van on my drive , I just plug in using the on-board charger, but the optimates are a better option, as the onboard charges only achieve about 80% of charging capacity, however it would mean having separate leads to discount the on-board and connect the optimate, so I didn't bother.

     

    Just be careful that if you do buy one, you make sure you don't plug in at same time as the caranvan on board charger !

     

    PS - The above information was confirmed to me by the Milenco technical team after about 5 phone calls trying to talk to someone who knew what they were talking about

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited May 2018 #10

    Some caravans have a smart charger such as a Sargent. Those that don’t (the majority) will have a charger voltage of around 13.7 volts which is insufficient to properly recharge the battery once it is discharged but will maintain a top-up. If you use such a van off grid you will need to take the battery out and recharge it properly or suffer reduced battery life.

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
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    edited May 2018 #11

    Thanks for the prompt and informative replies. I've bitten the bullet and bought the CTek mxs 5.

    Looking at the product information it should do what I need.

    Thanks again

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited June 2018 #12

    Good choice. It will last for ever.

  • captainslogg
    captainslogg Club Member Posts: 52 ✭✭
    edited June 2018 #13

    I read somewhere on tinternet that an 80 amp hour battery needs a 8 amp charger, a 100 amp battery needs a 10 amp charger and so on.

  • bigherb
    bigherb Forum Participant Posts: 65
    edited June 2018 #14

    Mine haven't, first one stoped working and tripped the MCB, the replacement is now suffering from a dodgy switch.

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
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    edited June 2018 #15

    The bumph which came with the mxs5.0 says it will charge batteries up to 160 A/h and recondition batteries up to 110 A/h.

    The larger the battery the longer the time stated for charging. Anyhoo I rescued the battery from the van this afternoon, connected the magic box and it's charging merrily as I type.

    I'm not exactly sure how charged the battery was to begin with, between 11 volts and 12 I think, but the lights on the charger indicate that it was 80% charged within a couple of hours and now it's on the absorption stage where it's apparently charging more slowly.

    I've got it  on the recondition setting so four more stages to go.

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
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    edited June 2018 #16

    Sorry I got that a bit wrong. The mxs 5.0 claims to charge up to 110A/h and maintain up to 160A/h.

    Glad I checked 😡

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited June 2018 #17

    Yes, the mxs 5 is the correct charger.

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