New battery for the winter.??

[snoopy64]

Hi

I know I need a new battery but is it worth it for the winter when I only do the odd trip….? old battery has seen better days but I put it on charge/condition once a week but maybe not for long enough when it’s cold…

[Polarsilver]

will be more expensive to buy next year.. so why wait

[Peter Laidler]

Agree with what Norman says re being more expensive next year but maybe you ought to try putting your current battery on a trickle charge (.....less that 1a/hr) for a couple of hours a day using a cheapo timing plug thinggy. Both of mine are on a 1 hour trickle for an hour a day

[snoopy64]

Thanks both… maybe I’m not trickling long enough in a week. Will start shopping around too

[mab01uk]

I use a CTEK battery charger which you can leave connected for automatic charging and maintenance for little used classic vehicle and motorcycle batteries, also has a reconditioning mode:-
The whole range with prices here:-
https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-charger ... y-chargers

[Polarsilver]

Mab, yet again you give me some further reading .. this time its Ctek Chargers .. i read that if i spend £220 on their " CS One UK" .. this unit has a feature that it will restore a Lead Acid Battery .. anyone tried a "CS One UK" charger & can tell us the results ? .. i never realised there are so many CT Chargers that all do the same thing but have very different functions & then specific to each battery type.
I learn something new everyday

[Peter Laidler]

I am always a tad wary about leaving battery chargers connected to the mains, especially when relying on an internal switching arrangement within the charger. Maybe it's just me. But I feel safer when the external timer switches on and off for X hours once or twice a day. Especially as my small capacity Draper trickle charger only cost me £25!

Maybe I was taught to be cautious as they say in some circles......

[111Robin]

The CTEK conditioners are designed to operate continuously therefore no safety issues. There are far cheaper models sufficient to maintain a normal lead acid battery, no need to spend that sort of money. All of my cars and bikes have been using these for many years with batteries over ten years old still starting like new.

[mab01uk]

I have used one of the cheaper CTEK chargers in their range for many years (I think they have changed the model/type number now) after forgetting to regularly charge my little used Mini battery and ending up having to buy a new battery every couple of years because it would no longer hold its charge. I believe these type of chargers (other makes are available but I think CTEK were the first) both charge and discharge the battery in a cycle to simulate regular use and therefore stop the battery degrading due to lack of use. As 111Robin says they are designed to operate continuously and not over charge so therefore should be no safety issues but you can use them as a conventional battery charger for shorter periods if preferred with the benefit of the maintenance cycle 'exercising' the battery without starting/driving the car every few days.

[Fanfaniracing]

I use a CTEK battery charger which you can leave connected for automatic charging and maintenance for little used classic vehicle and motorcycle batteries, also has a reconditioning mode:-
The whole range with prices here:-
https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-charger ... y-chargers

Mine is also connected to a CTEK during Winter. My current Optima Battery is now 11 years old...