Recommendations for portable battery charger

2

Comments

  • peter_the_piper
    peter_the_piper Posts: 30,268 Forumite
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    Jumping Jacks. not cheap but very good, some work on mobile phones etc.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
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    edited 4 December 2017 at 1:20AM
    Iceweasel wrote: »
    They are very good and would probably last 3 times as long as the Lidl/Aldi versions which do the same 'smart charger' things.

    Only problem is they cost 5 times as much.
    Which goes back to the point raised in post #5. Also, the equivalent CTEK charger to the Lidl/Aldi ones doesn't cost 5 times as much.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,547 Forumite
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    peter_the_piper wrote: »
    Jumping Jacks. not cheap but very good, some work on mobile phones etc.

    Never had to jump start a mobile phone, don't know anyone called Jumping Jack either so probably don't need one.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • Iceweasel
    Iceweasel Posts: 4,702 Forumite
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    neilmcl wrote: »
    Which goes back to the point raised in post #5. Also, the equivalent CTEK charger to the Lidl/Aldi ones doesn't cost 5 times as much.

    You are right on both points - but the one you mentioned does cost approx 5 times as much. ;)
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,473 Forumite
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    Iceweasel wrote: »
    They are very good and would probably last 3 times as long as the Lidl/Aldi versions which do the same 'smart charger' things.

    Only problem is they cost 5 times as much.

    Are Lidl / Aldi chargers £6.50 then? ;)

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-XS-0-8-12V-1-2A/dp/B004RADNCQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512382305&sr=8-2&keywords=ctek
  • Iceweasel
    Iceweasel Posts: 4,702 Forumite
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    motorguy wrote: »
    Are Lidl / Aldi chargers £6.50 then? ;)

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-XS-0-8-12V-1-2A/dp/B004RADNCQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512382305&sr=8-2&keywords=ctek

    No it doesn't but I googled the one that was recommended. ;)

    CTEK chargers tend to get good reviews, particularly the MXS 5.0.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=CTEK+MXS+5.0+Battery+Charger

    and there are even dearer ones than that.
  • sk240
    sk240 Posts: 474 Forumite
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    Another vote for CTEK, they can actually recover poorly batteries, along with prolonging the life of good ones.

    if you use it a couple of times a year on a good battery, you will get years more life out of it, easeily recovering the initial investment in the charger.
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,473 Forumite
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    Iceweasel wrote: »
    No it doesn't but I googled the one that was recommended. ;)

    CTEK chargers tend to get good reviews, particularly the MXS 5.0.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=CTEK+MXS+5.0+Battery+Charger

    and there are even dearer ones than that.

    I think the point being its wrong to assume a CTEK unit is x5 more expensive.

    The more expensive ones are expensive for a reason and offer additional functionality that some people may or may not need. I've the MSX 5.0 as i had specific requirements for a car i kept in storage during the winter months.

    But for general requirements i'd prefer the "standard" CTEK unit over some spurious unit from a supermarket, particularly given one can be bought for £30 ish.
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,473 Forumite
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    sk240 wrote: »
    Another vote for CTEK, they can actually recover poorly batteries, along with prolonging the life of good ones.

    if you use it a couple of times a year on a good battery, you will get years more life out of it, easeily recovering the initial investment in the charger.

    +1

    At £30 odd, they're great value. The 5.0 is worth the extra if you need the extra capability, but the standard unit is great. :beer:
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
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    geek84 wrote: »
    Any further suggestions greatly appreciated.
    You've had suggestions for a cheap-supermarket-brand that's occasionally available.
    You've had suggestions for an extremely good, widely available premium brand - CTek chargers are rebranded by most of the premium car manufacturers.

    If neither of them's good enough, what are you after from a recommendation?

    FWIW, I have two CTeks - an MXS5.0 and an MXS3.6 - the difference is the maximum charging current, so the amount of time to fully charge a battery. The 5.0 is fitted into my camper van, the 3.6 is for use in the garage. For the chargers with maximum currents below 3.6A, the reconditioning features are missing.
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