Reliable battery charger?

[Bugster_MR2]

Good evening.

I have several battery chargers:
CTEK 3,8A
CTEK 7A
Exide 7A
And a 4A digital charger/battery tender from Biltema (Scandinavias answer to Halfords.)

Both 7A charger turns on, seems to ba charging, but battery ends up empty after several hours of charging. The Biltema charger lights up the error lamp straight away when trying to charge my 45A Yaris battery in -7 degrees celsius. Battery measured 12V before charging, so it was definitely not dead. I then tried my newest CTEK which is a 3,8A, and it topped up my battery within 6-7 hours.

Bottom line: All of these chargers fail after a while. They are kinda expensive, and I ain't sustainable to keep buying new chargers every fifth year or so.

So, can anyone on here recommend a very good quality charger that will last for a long time and keep my batteries in ship shape? Mainly for charging ordinary lead, gel and AGM batteries.

Thanks,
Bug


 

[Gibla]

Have used a Noco Genius 10/Noco Boost 70 for the previous 12 months following CTEK varieties.......seems very good at the moment

sorry for giving you 2 varieties...I cannot recall offhand which of these 2 that I own (ps it cost circa £150-£160)

[Carolyn]

Just'cos it showed 12V does not mean the battery is good.  It could only be taking a very shallow charge.  I just replaced my battery, which would take a charge but was having difficulty cold cranking in low temperatures.

The difference in how quick the car starts is night and day.

[Joesson]

@Bugster_MR2

Since 2011 I have run 2 cars, my Roadster and a diesel daily.
The Roadster spends 6 months of the year on SORN in the garage and the battery is disconnected on the negative side and left on charge or checked around once a month. Either way the Yuasa battery, bought 29/03/16, for £54.41 is currently ar 12.6V.
My daily, battery purchased in 2017, is at a similar state.
Both batteries have been maintained with the use of a voltage tester and a charger I got from Lidl for £13.00.
I believe that regular checking and charging to prevent damaging excessive discharge is the way to maximise battery performance.

[ChrisGB]

I've been using a Noco charger for many years for AGM maintenance. It is an older model and quite chunky (I think it can deliver up to 15A) and it has been reliable.

[Bugster_MR2]

Just'cos it showed 12V does not mean the battery is good.  It could only be taking a very shallow charge.  I just replaced my battery, which would take a charge but was having difficulty cold cranking in low temperatures.

The difference in how quick the car starts is night and day.

Agreed. I have many cars and many batteries.

But I know for a fact three of my chargers are not working as they are supposed to/as they used to. And I want a quality item next time.

[Bugster_MR2]

@Bugster_MR2

Since 2011 I have run 2 cars, my Roadster and a diesel daily.
The Roadster spends 6 months of the year on SORN in the garage and the battery is disconnected on the negative side and left on charge or checked around once a month. Either way the Yuasa battery, bought 29/03/16, for £54.41 is currently ar 12.6V.
My daily, battery purchased in 2017, is at a similar state.
Both batteries have been maintained with the use of a voltage tester and a charger I got from Lidl for £13.00.
I believe that regular checking and charging to prevent damaging excessive discharge is the way to maximise battery performance.

Yep, I also disconnect and charge occassionally. I usually have my batteries for many, mamy years.

[Alex Knight]

I'm using a Noco Genius 5.

I'm on my second, the fist failed after about 18 months and was replaced FOC under warranty.

Apart from that, zero issues. Would recommend.

[Beachbum957]

We have used Battery Tender by Deltran maintenance chargers for years, and only one failure and it was probably 20 years old.  They are often advertised as motorcycle chargers. I am not sure what models are sold in the UK, but we use a little 750ma on our MR2 and leave it connected if the car is going to sit for more than a week. We also have a 3 amp, which will bring up any battery that is still good.  The current battery is 7 years old and still load tests perfectly.  Noco also has a good reputation.

[Oldguy51]

I also have a Noco charger and it's very reliable and so far no problems

[TheTigerUK]

I use the alternator in the 2 and it seems to keep it charged