Smart battery chargers

This section is for technical Q & A
Please try the search function before starting a new thread.
Forum rules
Many subjects will have been discussed before. Please try the search function before starting a new thread.
Check in the Know Your 2 as the information you need may already be there.
Important ! - Please make your topic title as descriptive as possible . titles with just "help" generally dont get as many answers as a title that points to the problem
The forum Administrator has chosen to advise you that this topic is 4 years and 8 months old and that you may wish to begin a new topic or use the search feature to find a similar but newer topic.

Topic author
supercookie
Posts: 103
Joined: 02/03/14 11:14

Smart battery chargers

Post by supercookie »

Any views/opinions on using 'smart' battery chargers ? My MR2 only gets used occasionally.
Do you have to disconnect the battery from the car ? If not, can you connect the smart charger to the cigarette lighter ?

Obviously I want to avoid the hassle of having to remove/replace the spare wheel & disconnect/reconnect the battery from the car.

Any advice greatly appreciated.


User avatar

jeff
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 1622
Joined: 28/04/03 1:00
Current Model: MK2
Years of MR2 Ownership: 20
MR2's Owned: 1
Real Name: Jeff
Gender: Male
Location: Nottingham
Has thanked: 33 times
Been thanked: 16 times
Contact:

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by jeff »

i believe its good practice to disconnect the battery, but i never have
as for cigarette lighter, its only live when the ignitions on iirc

just leave the spare out, i mean how many punctures have you had where you have had to use on ? and if you did get a puncture, would you be far from assistance ?

or you could wire in a solar charger, unsure on how but im sure Jimi has done it and will comment
Not Plan B again!! Why don't we just go with plan B in the first place?
It’s more important to lose a minute in life than your life in a minute

Topic author
supercookie
Posts: 103
Joined: 02/03/14 11:14

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by supercookie »

Hmm...don't fancy leaving the spare out...sods law & all that :no:
User avatar

jeff
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 1622
Joined: 28/04/03 1:00
Current Model: MK2
Years of MR2 Ownership: 20
MR2's Owned: 1
Real Name: Jeff
Gender: Male
Location: Nottingham
Has thanked: 33 times
Been thanked: 16 times
Contact:

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by jeff »

you think its bad in an MR2, on the Seat i have , you have to remove the boot carpet, then loads of foam trays, then the wheel, then there is a cage around the battery with four bolts that needs to be removed, real pita

if you dont want to leave out the wheel, another suggestion is to hardwire a couple of leads to the battery terminals and route them around the spare wheel, you would need to ensure there well insulated when not in use though
Not Plan B again!! Why don't we just go with plan B in the first place?
It’s more important to lose a minute in life than your life in a minute

Topic author
supercookie
Posts: 103
Joined: 02/03/14 11:14

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by supercookie »

Many thanks for the replies Jeff. Couple of years ago I added extra cables from the battery to route around the spare wheel. That's worked fine for me previously when using a normal charger but now having purchased a smart charger, the instructions clearly state it can be left switched on all the time but omits to state whether I should leave the battery connected to the car. :confused1:
User avatar

jeff
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 1622
Joined: 28/04/03 1:00
Current Model: MK2
Years of MR2 Ownership: 20
MR2's Owned: 1
Real Name: Jeff
Gender: Male
Location: Nottingham
Has thanked: 33 times
Been thanked: 16 times
Contact:

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by jeff »

dont see how its much different to a normal charger, all it will do is switch to a maintenance charge when it detects the batteries fully charged
Not Plan B again!! Why don't we just go with plan B in the first place?
It’s more important to lose a minute in life than your life in a minute
User avatar

angpozzuto
Posts: 458
Joined: 25/04/13 21:25
Years of MR2 Ownership: 6
MR2's Owned: 4
Real Name: angelo
Gender: Male
Location: cheshunt
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by angpozzuto »

I'm using one of these smart chargers CTEK MXS 5.0 Fully Automatic Battery Charger (Charges, Maintains and Reconditions Car and Motorcycle Batteries) 12V, 5 Amp - UK Plug
And it can be hard wired to the battery with a clip on connection.
Screenshot_20190630-155549.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Supercharged v6 mk1 build thread
https://www.mr2oc.co.uk/forums/125/166558.html
User avatar

jeff
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 1622
Joined: 28/04/03 1:00
Current Model: MK2
Years of MR2 Ownership: 20
MR2's Owned: 1
Real Name: Jeff
Gender: Male
Location: Nottingham
Has thanked: 33 times
Been thanked: 16 times
Contact:

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by jeff »

they look good, didn't realise they made them with a charging jack
wonder if you can purchase a spare set of jacks so you could use it on more than one car
Not Plan B again!! Why don't we just go with plan B in the first place?
It’s more important to lose a minute in life than your life in a minute

Snorkie
Posts: 64
Joined: 26/11/12 23:25
Years of MR2 Ownership: 1
MR2's Owned: 2
Real Name: Paul
Gender: Male
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by Snorkie »

CTEK, Optimate and a few other well known charges will sell you spare jack leads that you can leave connected to battery.

I use the same charger on the MR2 and my bike.

You don't need to disconnect the battery and you can leave charger connected till you want to use car / bike.

Topic author
supercookie
Posts: 103
Joined: 02/03/14 11:14

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by supercookie »

Thanks guys :th:
User avatar

jeff
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 1622
Joined: 28/04/03 1:00
Current Model: MK2
Years of MR2 Ownership: 20
MR2's Owned: 1
Real Name: Jeff
Gender: Male
Location: Nottingham
Has thanked: 33 times
Been thanked: 16 times
Contact:

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by jeff »

angpozzuto wrote: 30/06/19 15:56 I'm using one of these smart chargers CTEK MXS 5.0 Fully Automatic Battery Charger (Charges, Maintains and Reconditions Car and Motorcycle Batteries) 12V, 5 Amp - UK Plug
any reason you went for the CTEK MXS 5.0 over the MXS 3.8 ?
Not Plan B again!! Why don't we just go with plan B in the first place?
It’s more important to lose a minute in life than your life in a minute
User avatar

angpozzuto
Posts: 458
Joined: 25/04/13 21:25
Years of MR2 Ownership: 6
MR2's Owned: 4
Real Name: angelo
Gender: Male
Location: cheshunt
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by angpozzuto »

jeff wrote: 01/07/19 13:13
angpozzuto wrote: 30/06/19 15:56 I'm using one of these smart chargers CTEK MXS 5.0 Fully Automatic Battery Charger (Charges, Maintains and Reconditions Car and Motorcycle Batteries) 12V, 5 Amp - UK Plug
any reason you went for the CTEK MXS 5.0 over the MXS 3.8 ?
I didn't look into it that closely tbh, I just bought the first one I found on Amazon with good reviews
Supercharged v6 mk1 build thread
https://www.mr2oc.co.uk/forums/125/166558.html
User avatar

jeff
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 1622
Joined: 28/04/03 1:00
Current Model: MK2
Years of MR2 Ownership: 20
MR2's Owned: 1
Real Name: Jeff
Gender: Male
Location: Nottingham
Has thanked: 33 times
Been thanked: 16 times
Contact:

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by jeff »

just order one with a spare set of charging leads
Not Plan B again!! Why don't we just go with plan B in the first place?
It’s more important to lose a minute in life than your life in a minute

Wheelnut
Posts: 47
Joined: 04/02/18 22:15

Re: Smart battery chargers

Post by Wheelnut »

I've got several of the Lidl's smart chargers (£14), had them for years. Keep my
batteries up no problem. You have to go in store start of winter to get one though.

Quick Reply

   
The forum Administrator has chosen to advise you that this topic is 4 years and 8 months old and that you may wish to begin a new topic or use the search feature to find a similar but newer topic.

Return to “MK2”