trickle charging battery

[46inb]

it is getting increasingly longer between runs now and I am thinking of trickle charging my battery as when I crank the engine after the car has been standing for a couple of weeks it yugs a few times before firing.

can someone tell me if I need to disonnect the battery terminals before connecting a trickle charger ? Also, do trickle chargers normally attach to the battery terminals, or do you simply connect through the auxilliary power (cigarrette lighter) socket ?

I have a 2001 S2 Elise. Can't see anywhere in the service records that battery has ever been replaced. Would I simply be better letting current one die and get replacement, or is trickle charging the best way forward ?

Any recommendations as to what charger is best would be welcome.

[renmure]

I have the elise, exige and ferrari each plugged into an accumate battery conditioner in the garage. The kit comes with short leads which permanently attach to the battery terminals of the car and end in a small plug which then joins to the charger lead. Takes seconds to connect and I have had no battery / starting problems since, despite all 3 cars totaling around 4k miles / year between them.

http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.htm

[46inb]

Cheers for this. looks like the one for me.

I see elise parts stocks these so will get one from them.

I take it the "o rings" are big enough to slide over the bolts that hold the terminals on the battery ?

Also it would seem that there is no need to disconnect the terminals when charging? I seem to have read that this was the case. But you seem to suggest that you just leave the connectors permanently connected to your battery and just plug in the charger. Is it as easy and simple as that ?

[renmure]

http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.htm is the one (well, 3) I got through a Bulk Buy on the Ferrari forum. Think there were around 40 bought in the group.

The standard kit comes with a single lead from the charger to the battery. This lead terminates in a small plug into which you can plug either of the two supplied ends.

One end is fitted with a small pair of crocodile clips to attach to the battery terminals so you can easily connect it to any battery and move it to another one.

The 2nd end is for making a permanent connection to a battery and is handy for the F355 since the battery is in the front wheel arch and would not be readily accessible otherwise. The accumate end provides a wire from the battery up into the front luggage compartment so it is easy to then plug in.

Because these are battery conditioners they adjust the flow into the battery so can be connected long term. It is that simple.

[Neil72]

I've got a CTEK one like this http://www.vertar.com/ctek/ctek-multi-xs-3600/ which does a similar kind of job to the accumate one, i.e. plug it in, forget about it, and the charger automatically tops up the battery as and when required. A great bit of kit, especially during the winter months when you might not use the car so often.

Costco do these for about £34, that's where I got mine.

[46inb]

Went forthe Accumate through Elise Parts - incredible service - ordered using their standard mailing costs (about £2.50) on Friday and it was with me Saturday morning.

I wired up the permanent connectors as this will save me having to faff around with the croc clips every time I want to charge it - great system. A small connector in the boot and job done. It took about 24 hours before the charger switched to green, which means battery is all in good shape.

It was slightly awkward getting positive terminal back on and tightened up - didn't realise that the alarm re-sets automatically every time connection re-established....

Neigbours have almost forgiven me.

[tut]

CTEK also from Costco, but either one will do the job.

N1 has a problem with a battery drain that we can not trace, so leave the CTEK permanently on it.

tut