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MG MGA - Trickle Charger

Now winter is coming I've given some thought to battery maintenance, especially since I had to charge up my batteries last weekend after not using the car for a week or so. What is the right spec for an automatic trickle charger? On e bay there are trickle chargers for about £9.00 whilst in other places they seem to cost around £35 to £80 plus. The £9.00 chargers still say they have thermal and overload protection so why the cost diffence?
J H Cole

The costly ones are automatic, turning themselves on and off as battery voltage decreases and increases. Typically they have a 3 or 4 amp output which will charge a flat battery relatively quickly. They can be connected "permanently" and will not run the battery dry. I have a number of them and consider that they are a good investment as the cars start instantly irrespective of how long thay have been idle!
Barry Bahnisch

I have to say that if you had to charge the batteries after leaving them for a week or so, then they are probably pretty sick.
Dan Smithers

Hello J, I like your question and if you do not mind I would also like to expand on it. I would also like to know if it is alright to permanently install the connection up front at the solenoid. I would like to install a 2 prong marine receptacle in the front wheel well so I can just plug the unit into the car. I am reluctant to hook wires back at the battery due to corrosion.
Sorry bout the hijacking of your question :)
WMR Bill

Dan, yes I think that one of my 6 volt batteries is going down, this is what prompted me into battery maintenance - I'm getting fed up of batteries only lasting a few years or so. Admittedly I've only ever bought the basic range models so I'm hoping that a trickle charger will be an investment. WMR, I think that its well established that you can charge through the starter solenoid (Barney's site) so your suggestion should work subject to cable size. I like the idea of not having to open up the car to connect up.
J H Cole

John and Bill

I bought one and fitted a permanent charging socket in the wooden bulkhead behid the seat. I had a dodgy battery at the time, which I subsequently tracked down to a loose cable connection to the battery terminal connector. Now I never need to use the charger. All works ok.

This is the link my site that shows all the kit and a schematic: http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/odds_and_sods.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

WMR, thinking a little more about your idea, if the charging wires are not in the car making it obvious that they have to be removed then I know that for me sooner or later I would drive off with the charger still connected. There needs to be an idiot proof reminder to disconnect!
J H Cole

J,I will probably learn the hard way! But my intentions are basically for winter months only. I have been driving enough during the season to allow the generator to maintain the batteries. Steve thanks for the diagram! I knew I had seen it some were I just could not remember were.
WMR Bill

For maintaining your battery over the winter you need a float charger, not a trickle charger. The "thermal and overload protection" in the cheap chargers is most likely just a thermal fuse to protect the charger, not the battery.

A trickle charger provides a continuous charge to the battery. If left on constantly it can overcharge and damage a battery.

A float charger has a voltage regulator built in. It only charges when the battery voltage drops below a certain voltage. It stops charging when the battery reaches the proper voltage.

Jeff Schultz

I to just had to remove my two batteries, boy have they corroded over the summer. Mine are from 05 and
only one sell was low on one battery but after a an
over nite charge they appear to have life again. I have one more show this weekend so I should make it there and back. I bought a Argus Analyzer and hope to huck it to the batteries . Its a battery bug battery monitor Tom
Tom Peotter

Thanks for the clarification Jeff! Does anyone no of a good quality brand I can refer to for a "Float" Charger?
WMR Bill

Steve, on your website is that a Ring Smart Charger in the picture and is it a 'float charger' -a term that Jeff has just enlightened me to?
J H Cole

John

Yes, it is a Ring Smart Charger. Photo attached. Yes, the instructions say it is a float charger. I think it is readily available from most UK auto stores.

Steve

Steve Gyles

Bill,
It all depends on if you just want to maintain a battery during periods when not driving, or if you also want to be able to recharge a run down battery. The one Steve shows should be able to recharge a battery in a day or so. You can get them with more amps to recharge quicker. You can search for "smart charger" which seems to be the generic term for a charger that will both recharge dead batteries and also maintain them as a float charger.

For my use, I just needed to maintain batteries over the winter for my boat, MGA, and lawn mower. I picked up several of the Harbor Freight float chargers on sale at less than $5 each. They won't recharge a dead battery, but work fine to keep a good battery charged over the winter. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42292

Jeff
Jeff Schultz

I have a trickle charger that I bought from Griot's garage (battery manager junior 2) and the nice thing about it is that it plugs into the lighter. It works great and has served me well over the last 4 years.

Randy
Randy Myers

I use the unit like Jeff S. from Harbor Freight. I cut off the clamps on the end and then went to Radio Shack and bought a power plug. I hooked up the power plug to the charger. I ran a wire to the solenoid and put a power socket ( cigerette lighter plug and socket)under the dash. When I park the car in the garage, I just plug in the charger. I don't have to open the bonnet to hook up the charger. In less than 10 seconds, it unhooks and away I go!!!! Total cost about $10 worthless USA dollars.
JEFF BECKER

My car must be telepathic. Since contributing to this thread one of my 2 batteries (12v wired in parallel, each with an isolator) failed totally. Turned out to be a very high resistance joint between the battery earth cable and its terminal clamp. 12 years ago, when I made up the cables, I crimped the joints, rather than soldering. I seem to be paying the price now. Second one to go in 2 months. I have now soldered them. The charger did its work overnight and had the green 'maintenance' light on this morning. So easy to use them with the remotely located sockets. With my socket on the rear wooden bulkhead and the cable lying over the seat back there is no chance of driving away still attached!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, A man after my own heart! Great minds think alike!
Barry Bahnisch

Just as a follow up to this thread, I'm just completing a rebuild on my Mk.1 coupe and it seems like a good idea to incorporate a trickle charging system along the lines mentioned above before I fit the interior trim, but I was under the impression that it is necessary to unscrew the battery caps before charging - is this not the case?

Maurice
M. Standish

Maurice, if I recall correctly the battery covers have a very small vent hole incorporated into them. Also a trickel charge would be so minimal that there should be no reason for it to create excessive amounts of gas.
WMR Bill

Maurice

Most batteries now are sealed for life. You may well find it impossible to remove the cover plate/caps. Certainly the case on my batteries.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Bill & Steve,

Thanks for the information. I have just bought two x 6 volt batteries and I'll have a close look at them over the weekend. If I have either caps with holes or sealed batteries, I think I'll install a remote system.

Thanks again.

Maurice.
M. Standish

I am still sticking with using one 12v battery. I have NOT bought a new battery for this car in over 28 years. I have a lifetime battery and it has been replaced many times but never bought.
JEFF BECKER

This thread was discussed between 23/09/2008 and 29/09/2008

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