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Trickle Charger Review

Johnny

By Johnny,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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Johnny Veteran

Johnny

Posted
Posted

Hey guys,

Thought id post up a product review on something that would be very useful for the skyline driver or sports car driver that ends up having to jumpstart their weekend warrior because the battery keeps going flat.

Sometimes it only takes a week of unuse,care of an high tech alarm or stereo.

The product is called a trickle charger or more formally a 'fully automatic battery charger.' Now the product ive got is made by C-tek and the model is xs800; cost of the product is 90bux or less for different models and about anyone could install it.

Heres the product itself:

post-4266-1221122846_thumb.jpg

post-4266-1221122862_thumb.jpg

And here is it installed:

post-4266-1221122899_thumb.jpg

post-4266-1221122884_thumb.jpg

Basically when your not gonna use your car for a while, plug in the figure8 male into the engine bay and plug the unit into the wall. It will charge your battery as it discharges at a variable rate which wont overcharge and wreck the battery.

Anyways thanks to Rob and the boys at CREATD motorsport and forum member scathing for the idea.

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skyguy61 Collaborator

skyguy61

Posted
Posted

Hey Johnny,

Ive been using one for years, an auto electrician suggested i use one he said lots of guys with Harleys and ferraris etc use them quite a lot as they dont use their cars everyday like some. Its also a good idea to have the plug fixed and accessible without having to pop the bonnet so it doesnt become a pain hooking it up everytime you use it. cheers

Craved Grand Master

Craved

Posted
Posted
well thats a good start...but what I really want to see is a review of a good solar trickle charger :P

been using solar for ages :)

no where near as compact as that, but it can charge 2 batteries at once easily and costs nothing after you buy it :)

trickle, bulk and float charging is all automated dependant on the voltage level when you hook it up. max charge to 14.5V even when the panel is making 18+V

anyway - i still need to hook up a quick disconnect/connect arrangement outside of the car.

Johnny Veteran

Johnny

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hey Johnny,

Ive been using one for years, an auto electrician suggested i use one he said lots of guys with Harleys and ferraris etc use them quite a lot as they dont use their cars everyday like some. Its also a good idea to have the plug fixed and accessible without having to pop the bonnet so it doesnt become a pain hooking it up everytime you use it. cheers

Hey mate, yeah im sure plenty of people have used them for a long time.

Im glad i got the heads-up about it so i thought everyone else on this forum deserves the same.

Like i wrote in another thread about an embarrasing incident i had at the petrol station where i had to whip out the supercheap auto jumpstarter.

SS8_Gohan Grand Master

SS8_Gohan

Posted
Posted

the main point of these, besides avoiding the hassle of jump starting, is actually pro-longing the batteries life.

Batteries don't like to be drained/go flat, and some won't ever get back to full charge again just from normal driving. Hence, the trickle charger to keep them topped up and to prolong the life of the battery. Especially if your car has infrequent short trips, this in itself is hard on the battery.

I've heard these type of chargers are the bee's knee's and i plan on getting one as well. I just got an Optima Yellow-top and i don't want to go destroying that battery by constantly draining it, @ $350 a pop.

this thread should prob be moved to the maintenance section. I don't think a trickle charger classifies as 'Forced Induction Performance' :P

STATUS Grand Master

STATUS

Posted
Posted
Hey guys,

Thought id post up a product review on something that would be very useful for the skyline driver or sports car driver that ends up having to jumpstart their weekend warrior because the battery keeps going flat.

Sometimes it only takes a week of unuse,care of an high tech alarm or stereo.

The product is called a trickle charger or more formally a 'fully automatic battery charger.' Now the product ive got is made by C-tek and the model is xs800; cost of the product is 90bux or less for different models and about anyone could install it.

Basically when your not gonna use your car for a while, plug in the figure8 male into the engine bay and plug the unit into the wall. It will charge your battery as it discharges at a variable rate which wont overcharge and wreck the battery.

Anyways thanks to Rob and the boys at CREATD motorsport and forum member scathing for the idea.

I would probably look at finding the current drain, i have had cars sitting for weeks (inc R34's) without draining the battery. look at your alarm system.

That setup is great and we use it on the 'classic' cars that only see the light of day 2 or 3 times a year.

say hi to rob and danz from trent :D

jeffworld2 Veteran

jeffworld2

Posted
Posted

i have a solar panel where the parcel shelf used to be. seems to work i dont drive the thing often and seems to stay charged enough for a month, so it does still drain down but it is helping; if that makes sense. ie if i haven't started it for a month, i fully expect it to kick over, but it does go dead eventually.

one issue i found though- when i hadit plugged into the ciggarette lighter socket, it would send power through everything i had wired onto that eg. ebc would buzz. its now on a seperate loop so it doesnt power aything but the battery :P

Johnny Veteran

Johnny

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I would probably look at finding the current drain, i have had cars sitting for weeks (inc R34's) without draining the battery. look at your alarm system.

That setup is great and we use it on the 'classic' cars that only see the light of day 2 or 3 times a year.

say hi to rob and danz from trent :laugh:

Hey Trent, I had a really crappy battery in my car and because when i took it out for a drive, it wasnt for very long; not enough time for the alternator to charge.

I actually dont have an alarm but dont worry, its kept in a locked garage and i dont ever park the car.....ever!

Ill say hi to Rob n Danz for ya! By the way did you check out my dyno thread? after all it was your advice that kept me from making a crappy purchase.

Good post! :D Been thinking about getting a trickle charger for some time.

Just bought an XS800 for myself now :D

Thanks mate, good stuff!!!

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