Charge and Maintain

[nea100]

Hi,

Looking at getting a charge and maintain type charger to help keep the battery up on a W140.

Does anyone have any recommendations, was thinking of just a commonly available "Projecta" brand.

Are there any precautions I should take in leaving one connected, or could these do any damage to the W140 electronics?

Many thanks,
Col.

[redlaser]

I use a Projecta but I find that if the battery is below say, 11.5 volts the Projecta will take forever to charge the battery as it is a "trickle" charger only...so if your battery is older than 4 yerars old or you use the car not very often then OK to trickle charge...to permanently leave connected will do no harm to electronics unless you get a power surge on the mains!!!...the "projecta" is meant for weeks of unattended operation of a car battery.

[pastelgrey300D]

Highly recommend Jaycar for anything like this:

http://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-5-stage-ca ... d/p/MB3604

I also have one of their 15 amp chargers, best battery charger I've ever had. No problem charging large batteries from diesels etc. Rather than having a trickle charger I just hook this up to each car once a week on the lowest (2 amp) setting and let it charge overnight. If you keep an eye out I've seen them on sale at Jaycar for $99 every now and then.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/intelligent-6v ... r/p/MB3623

Since buying mine, I've noticed they have brought out a new model which combines the two - maybe this would be the best 'all-rounder': http://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-10a-intell ... r/p/MB3625

[Tony From West Oz]

Highly recommend Jaycar for anything like this:

http://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-5-stage-ca ... d/p/MB3604

I have a similar one - mine is 8A IIRC.

I also have one of their 15 amp chargers, best battery charger I've ever had. No problem charging large batteries from diesels etc. Rather than having a trickle charger I just hook this up to each car once a week on the lowest (2 amp) setting and let it charge overnight. If you keep an eye out I've seen them on sale at Jaycar for $99 every now and then.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/intelligent-6v ... r/p/MB3623

Mine of that model died after 3 years. I plugged it in, it went "CRACK" and the magic smoke leaked out of it. It didn't work anymore after that.

Since buying mine, I've noticed they have brought out a new model which combines the two - maybe this would be the best 'all-rounder': http://www.jaycar.com.au/12v-10a-intell ... r/p/MB3625

Tony

[Ivanerrol]

You can buy solar panel trickle chargers with regulators.
Just leave them on all the time.

A regulated power supply will only provide trickle or charging current when the battery needs it.

If your battery gets down to 11.5 volts then its had it.

[nea100]

Thanks for the replies guys. Never thought of Jaycar products David.

The solar option sounds worth looking into, great idea.

Something to help prevent having to reset stuff on an infrequently used car.

Thanks again,
Col.

[Ivanerrol]

Here's something for all of $27.50.

Comes with a regulator
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10W-12V-Tric ... Sw~gRV0WnJ