Battery chargers
Has anyone got experience of Milenco's Optimate battery chargers, I'm considering getting one,
Thanks in anticipation
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Not sure how much but take a look at CTek (about £60?j. They are probably the best multi-stage charger.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Good choice. It will last for ever.
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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.
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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.
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Yes, the mxs 5 is the correct charger.
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