Minimum current for trickle charger

[kyle]

What is the minimum current you would recommend for a trickle charger on our cars?

Does anyone have one that they would recommend?

[ptjs1]

Kyle,

At the risk of sounding pedantic, I would look for a battery conditioner rather than just a trickle charger.

At our storage unit, we use Ctek MXS 5.0 models on all our cars. A good piece of kit used on everything from a Mini to an XJ220. It's worth looking around as prices seem to vary considerably.

Good luck

Paul

[Thixendale]

I too use a ctek and I am very pleased with it.

[Zennan101]

CTEK is the way to go. Can not fault this easy to use piece of kit. My trickle charger was rendered obsolete and went to the tip for recycling!

[cornershop]

CTek, Lidl, Maypole, Ring - all seem to make similarly functioning chargers.

Would not surprise me if they originated from the same factory in China.

[J44EAG]

"Switch mode" is the spec to look for on any so called "conditioning charger". These chargers are designed just for battery maintenance over an extended period. They are NOT designed as high current units designed to belt the battery up to a reasonable charge level just to get you out of trouble on a frosty winters morning. Switch mode chargers are far more "touchy, feely" than that and note what it says it is designed to do on the box.

I used to hard wire install piles of these types of units on small pleasure craft. They kept battery condition at a peak enabling first time starting when an owner appeared after months of absence in a marina. It avoided disappointment and loads of tears.

In my book, any decent switch mode conditioning charger makes good sense.

Mike K