Tickle or trickle

[ktnez99]

No, it’s not the witching time of year!
It’s my car. It’s parked up and not being driven. Does it need a trickle charger on it and yes, I’d much rather be tickling the fun out of my car with endless driving.

 

[PYX]

Personally I'd be trickling, you can pick them up quite reasonably. Then at least when you do want to tickle it, it will start without replacing the battery.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Get trickling, it works for my stuff. Always got something charged and ready to go, and batteries don't like going flat and then getting re-charged.

 

[Pond]

Trickle (or maintenance/ smart/ intelligent) chargers are a God send IME.

I would advise buying a decent one, though. cTek or NOCO make very good intelligent maintenance chargers for around £70.

Cheapo ones, from Screwfix or Amazon/ eBay, etc do not look after a battery as well as the more sophisticated ones.

I have a cheap 2 amp (£25) one and a cTek MXS5 (5 amp). The cTek is much better IME.

 

[Nodzed]

Both mine have a Ctec connected. As said I would get a decent one.

 

[ktnez99]

Thank you everyone. I shall look for a Ctec trickle charger. I’m assuming this then needs connecting to my car all the time: am I right?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

It'll come with a short lead that connects directly to your battery, the other end has a two-pin plug to connect to the charger, if you feel like a top-up just plug 'em in and leave them to it. Spare leads are available if you feel like doing other cars/bikes/whatever.

 

[Pond]

Thank you everyone. I shall look for a Ctec trickle charger. I’m assuming this then needs connecting to my car all the time: am I right?

No. It doesn't NEED connecting permanently but CAN be.
I personally don't like to have a charger (cos even the intelligent/ maintenance ones are just chargers) connected to the car all the time....just in case!
I use mine to top-up the charge about once a week. Once all the lights come on to say it is fully charged I disconnect it. Some leave them connected all the time. Personal preference.

If your battery doesn't have a breather pipe connected (or even if it does), it is a good idea to leave the boot open when a charger is connected, if you can. Batteries produce hydrogen (albeit in tiny amounts) when charging, which is extremely explosive. Highly unlikely it could be a problem, just a sensible precaution IMO.

 

[Gatsoburner]

I use a dash mounted solar panel plugged into the OBD port when its out on the drive. Battery is already good so not sure if it actually works well or not.
Obvs bobbins for winter but garaged with mains charger.

 

[Pond]

I use a dash mounted solar panel plugged into the OBD port when its out on the drive. Battery is already good so not sure if it actually works well or not.
Obvs bobbins for winter but garaged with mains charger.

I thought that BMW only recommend batteries to be 'charged' via the connections in the engine bay.
Something to do with potentially damaging the sensitive electronic modules?

My info may not be relevant to the Z3 platform, but I know it is the case for later Z4s.

 

[Gatsoburner]

Good point.
Ill not do that then !!

 

[petecossie]

I have the Ctek 5 and use every couple of months if the Coupe hasn't been used much and leave it on till it has completed it full recharge cycle usually under 24hrs.

 

[ktnez99]

This Ctek, guys and gals?

 

[ktnez99]

OK, guys and gals…take 2. There’s three Ctek’s I can spot and I’m wondering which is the better option. Here are the three:

 

[Geoff Crispin]

watching with interest as my old one packed up

 

[Pond]

The MXS 5 (top left in the picture) is the one you want.
The one on the right does Li ion aswell as lead acid, so no use on an old car.
The one at the bottom is a battery tester and charger. Could be useful but presumably is more money.

 

[ktnez99]

The MXS 5 (top left in the picture) is the one you want.
The one on the right does Li ion aswell as lead acid, so no use on an old car.
The one at the bottom is a battery tester and charger. Could be useful but presumably is more money.

I cannot see a top left on a mobile so I’ll look on a computer…or do you have the full name, please? Interesting about the one being no good for older vehicles. Thanks, @Pond very useful.

 

[Pond]

Interesting about the one being no good for older vehicles.

It will work but as it's a for lithium ion as well as lead acid, it will be a waste, as probably more expensive to buy.

CTEK MXS 5.0 Automatic Charger & Maintainer

CTEK MXS 5.0 Automatic Charger & Maintainer from the UK's leading online bike store. Free UK delivery over £25 and easy returns on our range of over 80,000 products.

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

I found this store the cheapest for them when I was looking a while ago. Free delivery too. I don't do Amazon so don't know prices on there.

 

[TJS]

CTEK MXS is ok for battery maintenance but it will not recover a deeply discharged / flat battery, plus mine packed up after 5 years.

Switched to a NOCO Genius 10 battery charger / maintainer which covers all bases from dead battery to maintain, lead acid and Li, 6v and 12v, lawn mowers, motor cycles cars and trucks. 10 amp is quick but 5 amp charger is also available. So far so good.

Amazon.co.uk