Any recommendations, folks? I am looking for a charger to be connected permanently in between using the car. And I wonder if there are any which have an inbuilt battery conditioning function as well.

 

Use modern intelligent battery tenders/maintainers to avoid overcharging dangers. Relatively cheap nowadays. Plus Always go for a reputable brand.... just to be sure.

Try www.ctek.com

 

there are several good choices, at all price points. I've been using the Delran Battery Tender Plus, @ about $70, for many years. No overcharging worries. I always plug mine in whenever the car is going to be stationary overnight or longer.

Not only do they do the job very well (my last Optima battery lasted 9.5 years, but they are tough ! I have to admit, I've forgotten to unplug mine twice and ran clean over it. It's now slightly dented, but still 100% functional.

Battery Tender® Plus 12V, 1.25A Battery Charger

Z

 

I just installed a Deltran Battery Tender Jr on all of my cars. I liked them because they have a plug in connector that is left permanently mounted on the car. Charger plugs in when car not in use. No spark risk, as charger will not start until it detects battery voltage. Mounted on the Jag with Positive mounted at the left side Fuse panel under the hood(stud), and negative on a body bolt nearby. Plug End rests beside the left side wiper blade ( needs a hole in the valance cover to slip the line through. Can be connected / unconnected without opening the hood.

 

I use the CTEK MXS5.0 on the XK and MG.

Only bought this year so I've no long term feedback. Leads are not very long, although you do get both battery clip and eyelet business ends so one can be wired in permanently.

I bought one of these:

to try as a lower cost alternative. Doesn't have as many options as the CTEK but it's working fine and the leads are a more useful length.

Deltran available from Amazon and also beat the CTEK on price:

 

+1 for this. I have one myself and can recommend.

 

CTEK (56-158) MULTI US 3300


with extra lead. I have it mounted to the wall of my garage. Forcefully disconnecting it with a 4000 lb car, however, does not seem to damage it. Extra lead is


It will not maintain charge against the ignition being left on, however, like I did last night. Time, however, heals that wound.

 

I purchased this Black and Decker tender on Ebay three years ago for $18.00. Still working great and still available. It even has a cigarette lighter adapter so you can just plug it in the socket instead of connecting it directly to the battery terminals.

 

All very good suggestions. I think I am rather taken with Michaelh’s Leicestercn suggestion, as it has a desulphation (okay, okay, desulfation if you really insist) mode and it indicates what process is being carried out.

I assume that this, as with all the other recommendations, is safe to leave long-term connected?

 

I use a xmas light timer to run the smart charger for only one hour per day. I use Sears brand.

My 2004 XJ8 OEM battery lasted 14 years.

 

Like it!

 

how is the smart charger “smart” if you have to turn it off 23 of 24 hours ?

isn't the whole rationale behind these modern chargers with all their fancy circuitry, that they will reduce the charging to a neutral “float”’ when the battery is @ 100% capacity ? ?

just asking.......

Z

 

It's been caring for the Golf for the past few months. No fires as yet

Comes in a zip carry case.

 

I used to leave the smart chargers on 24/7 but I decided to try the xmas timers. You're right, they are smart enough to stop charging, but, even when idling they still draw a very slight amount of electricity since the displays and indicator lights are on.

 

So would a timer........

 

True,. Electrical circuits can misbehave (I have had a lot of misbehavior in cars over the years) and there is a very slight possibility the charger would not turn off. Rare, I'm sure. I usually leave my XK8 for up to 5 months in a garage 30 miles from may home. I might check on it once during those 5 months. It's overkill, but I just feel better using a timer.

 

Timers aside, one thing I bet we all can agree on is that these XK’s are quite demanding in the electricity department. A battery that’s kept fully charged alleviates many of the false codes popping up, up to and including “restricted performance”, etc.

Not to mention the plus of extending battery life

Z

 

Zray...100% in agreement . My experience has been the same. A fully charged battery keeps the phantom codes away.

XK's are power hungry and need a daily trickle charge of Vitamin "V".

 

Been using Battery Tender Jr's on my fun cars for years with absolutely no problems. About time to put the XK8 away for the winter so once again, it will be hooked up from Nov 15th thru the end of March. The unit is wall mounted and the pigtail is wired to the positive battery post, ground to a bolt close by. Open the trunk, plug it in, close the trunk and he's ready for hibernation.

 

about two months ago a friend started his car and had a massive battery explosion. on a Battery Tender brand maintainer for a few months. the case split in half, acid everywhere. we surmise that most of the liquid boiled off and the battery was full of gas that it was venting into the Corvette's engine compartment. he had unplugged the tender from line voltage but left it attached at the convenience clip under the hood which was open just a crack. if he ventured to disconnect the battery only two things could have occurred. either the situation might have been apparent or some spark from something such as an under hood convenience light, etc. could have ignited it in his face. the tender gave no indication that something was wrong. i had a CTEK fail, but it simply did not maintain proper voltage and ruined a battery.

since our cars have an overboard discharge, things are much safer. do not fall into a false sense of security. and please make sure that your overboard discharge is properly setup. if the battery has two pressure relief ports, one MUST be plugged or plumbed to the overboard discharge. if not, then gas will accumulate in the area, and you know what happens next.

tenders are not set it and forget it items. the timer idea sounds better everyday.