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Hello

Can anyone recommend a battery charger for a carvan battery and where I can buy one from?  I understand these are called smart chargers and charge the battery in 3 stages?

Any advise or recomendations greatfully received

I charge my leisure battery at home due the the caravan being in storage but I have used one of these for the past 6 years without any problems.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CARAVAN-CAR-MOTORHOME-LEISURE-BATTERY-TRICKLE-CHARGER-/260716785602?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item3cb3ee6fc2

  Trevor.

Just been to aldi and lidl tonight and nothing for sale

been told the 3 stage is one that I need, what is the difference??

I would have thought that a 3 stage charger would have involved a booster at some point which you want to avoid at all costs. The advice is always to trickle charge as your battery will last longer. What the difference is technically I don't know but this is just a sheer guess that's all. I can only comment on the type I use as I still use mine 6 years later without problems. I know that caravan outlets also sell them so they should be the required unit I would have thought.

  Trevor.

Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 24/1/2011

I would have thought that a 3 stage charger would have involved a booster at some point which you want to avoid at all costs.

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JTQU has provided the technical answer which I couldn't do but I would still rather only pay £4.99 for a charging unit that does the same job. What I would like to know now is what are the actual benefits of paying more for a smart charger than the one I already have?  If there is a significant difference such as prolonged battery life etc. I may invest in one in the future.

  Trevor.

Good Point Tango/Trevor

£30/£40 pounds seems alot compared to the £4.99

will the less expensive one do the same job but take long???

Maybe someone knows the answer

And if the smart ones actually make a difference wheres the best place to get one from

I use on of these from Halfords they have a sale on at the moment.

Phil

I use the Aldi/Lidl imitation Ctek charger and it has never let me down, bust part £12.99 about a yr ago and much the same price today.

Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 25/1/2011

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JTQU has provided the technical answer which I couldn't do but I would still rather only pay £4.99 for a charging unit that does the same job. What I would like to know now is what are the actual benefits of paying more for a smart charger than the one I already have?  If there is a significant difference such as prolonged battery life etc. I may invest in one in the future.

  Trevor.

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What you say JTQU actually makes sense now because I have found that I am only getting an average of about 2 years life out of a new leisure battery and this is probably the reason why. Also I have had the caravan serviced today and although everything is okay they did say that my battery hasn't got a full charge even after charging it overnight at home with the charger that I have. This confirms what you say, so I have made my decision to purchase one of these battery chargers soon. I'm not familiar with smart charger but is this one that Phil has that you can purchase from Halfords or is the smart charger something entirely different?

Many thanks for this valuable information and it goes to say.....you never stop learning.

  Trevor.

Hi

I have found this at argos is this the same as you have JTQU?

http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-1428744-10294381?url=http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7404410.htm

Quote: Originally posted by leedsruss on 25/1/2011

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Hi

I have found this at argos is this the same as you have JTQU?

http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-1428744-10294381?url=http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7404410.htm

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Hi,

This is the one I have used over the last two winters without a problem.

Simon