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Battery charger
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:58 pm
by centurion
Hi guys,
Any recommendation re decent battery charger? Or perhaps booster+charger all in one if such exists? Cheers
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Re: Battery charger
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 2:45 pm
by sid10
I got a one from BMW has different settings for winter use , it is great as you can use as a trickle charger aswell was about £70 but that was last year !
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 3:01 pm
by X5Sport
If you want a conditioner/charger then the CTEK range are good - they are what BMW rebadge for their own range.
I use the MXS10 on my X6 and 3-series diesels. 8-stage charging cycle as well as 'maintain' and multi mode so can do normal lead acid, motorcycle, AGM battery types and works as a power supply too. It can bring a battery from dead to fully charged in 8-10 hours.
Anything that produces more than 3.8Ah output and works with AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) type batteries should be fine. They need a higher charging voltage than wet batteries so bear that in mind when looking at specs etc.
Richard
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:58 pm
by davesavage257
Lidl are doing a 3.8amp charger and conditioner for £18 this week, does 6v and 12v
Dave
2003 BMW X5 4.6iS Auto
2007 '57' Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T Auto
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:02 pm
by briankerrys47
[quote="davesavage257"]
Lidl are doing a 3.8amp charger and conditioner for £18 this week, does 6v and 12v
Dave
2003 BMW X5 4.6iS Auto
2007 '57' Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T Auto
[/quote]You get what u pay for?? CTEK MS 5 approx £60
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 11:21 pm
by Smeeagain
With you on that, I have CTEK too
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 11:22 pm
by Smeeagain
[quote="X5Sport"]
If you want a conditioner/charger then the CTEK range are good - they are what BMW rebadge for their own range.
I use the MXS10 on my X6 and 3-series diesels. 8-stage charging cycle as well as 'maintain' and multi mode so can do normal lead acid, motorcycle, AGM battery types and works as a power supply too. It can bring a battery from dead to fully charged in 8-10 hours.
Anything that produces more than 3.8Ah output and works with AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) type batteries should be fine. They need a higher charging voltage than wet batteries so bear that in mind when looking at specs etc.
Richard
[/quote]
Hi Richard - what do you mean when you say it can be used as a power supply too?
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 6:36 am
by Denis O
[quote="briankerrys47"]
[quote="davesavage257"]
Lidl are doing a 3.8amp charger and conditioner for £18 this week, does 6v and 12v
Dave
2003 BMW X5 4.6iS Auto
2007 '57' Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T Auto
[/quote]You get what u pay for?? CTEK MS 5 approx £60
[/quote]
I have a C-Tek£60, a Lidl £14 and a Halfords £26 and they all do the job adequately.
Seems little point paying 4 times what you have to for the same performance but then I'm too old to worry about badges these days. The fact I have a C-Tek suggests I did in the past

Re: Battery charger
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:29 am
by X5Sport
[quote="Smeeagain"]
Hi Richard - what do you mean when you say it can be used as a power supply too?
[/quote]
It also works as a 12V/10A power supply meaning that when changing the battery rather than charging it,
I can disconnect and remove the battery (with the car asleep) completely and it will keep power on the car to retain seat, radio, air con, mirror, clock settings etc and the new battery can then be connected up and it's as if the battery had never been removed. It must be done with the car asleep though - if it wakes then it draws more than 10A!!
It will also power any 12V device up to 10A - like a car fridge.
Richard
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 11:23 am
by ChrisLux
I've just bought CTEK MXS7.0 as my battery was failing over Christmas, £110 on Amazon, it's excellent.
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 2:51 pm
by gmc15
[quote="davesavage257"]
Lidl are doing a 3.8amp charger and conditioner for £18 this week, does 6v and 12v
Dave
2003 BMW X5 4.6iS Auto
2007 '57' Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T Auto
[/quote]
Been using one of these for years and does the job fine. The charger once revived a totally flat leisure battery to full health again.
Well worth £18

Re: Battery charger
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:30 pm
by centurion
Could u share a link?
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Re: Battery charger
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:16 pm
by AW8
Had a ctek they are usually reliable albeit mine died. Lidl one is a proper intelligent & reconditioning item with trickle/stand by modes - it works fine. The old lidl ones seemed similar to ctek. No idea who makes this curent one I bought last year but I won't use rubbish. Have used it on the V8 X5 and àlso on 2.2i Z3. I am not in habit of recommending trash on here but spending more is obviously an option if so desired.
More info in my older posts if searched.
Re: Battery charger
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:12 pm
by centurion
Stupid q... Can you charge the batt. Via terminals under the bonnet or it has to be plugged to the actual battery points (bugger to get to in the boot)? Ta
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Re: Battery charger
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:14 pm
by Reusch
Yes use the charging points under the bonnet