battery charger / conditioner

[Tuga2112]

… Having cooked a battery and alternator using a battery conditioner …

Not sure how that's possible unless the battery was disconnected or did they die at the same time?

after a battery packs, wouldnt it be possible the trickle pulses could have some detrimental effect in the voltage regulator ?

[Simon_P]

Tuga,

You have missed a couple of important points which I believe have lead you to the wrong conclusion.

Reconditioning is the mode on most smart chargers that use the pulses to (allegidly) break down sulphite crystals they do this rarely and usually on batteries that are already on their way out.
Conditioners work by cycling on and off. They work on a fully charged battery to keep it fully charged switching on at say 13.2v and off at say 14.4v they are mostly off. By keeping the voltage in that range they prevent the formation of sulphite crystals.

Lead acid batteries will internally discharge over time as they do the crystals form eventually a disconnected battery will be completely flat and recharging doesn't do much to reverse the process.
Car batteries are designed for producing high currents for short periods, they do not like being deeply discharged (unlike leisure batteries for caravans etc) technologies such as calcium or silver are used as they affect the crystal formation so they last longer an cost more.

The best thing you can do for a Lead acid battery is keep it fully charged, and the easiest way to do it is with a conditioner.

[Blue ass fly]

Just in case you did't know ,there is a live jump start feed under the bonnet at the rear left of the engine bay. Earth to the engine.

I think this is only on the S2.

Ailwyn

Just logged on to ask this very question
Just gone into the garage to start my se and the ign ligjts are dim so ive wired my conditioner onto the battery terminals
Can anyone confirm if theres a live post in the engine bay on a se for boosters - i couldnt find anything obvious
Steve

[dapinky]

Steve,

The simple answer is "No".......

.... but only in so much as it wasn't standard from the factory, (or even a published option) - but they did fit the system to a few cars as a 'special order' or a dealer option, but I've only seen it on 1 UK SE, and a few ROW cars.

When the S2 was produced, it was a 'standard' fitment - but you could opt to have it deleted (but I don't know of any UK cars where they deleted it).

Should you really, really want to - then the parts are still available from Lotus to do a 'proper' fitment.

Alternatively, I have added HT cables from the battery through to the boot (via a dis-car-nect switch) to allow easy access for jump leads and/or battery conditioner connection.

I have also added an extra cigarette lighter type 12V socket wired directly to the battery (via a 5A fuse) and fitted it in the bulkhead behind the drivers seat. This means I can either charge a phone or connect a solar panel/battery conditioner without having to have the ignition on.

[Fredjohn]

Most decent conditioners come with 2 or 3 types of battery connectors on fly leads.
I used the fasten on type permanently attached to the battery and fed it over/through the bulkhead into the cabin. It hangs near the seat belt and it's easy just to plug in the conditioner when required.
In fact I have 2 fly leads connected: one for the c-tek, the other for a cheapo charger or solar panel charger.

[Blue ass fly]

Steve,

The simple answer is "No".......

.... but only in so much as it wasn't standard from the factory, (or even a published option) - but they did fit the system to a few cars as a 'special order' or a dealer option, but I've only seen it on 1 UK SE, and a few ROW cars.

When the S2 was produced, it was a 'standard' fitment - but you could opt to have it deleted (but I don't know of any UK cars where they deleted it).

Should you really, really want to - then the parts are still available from Lotus to do a 'proper' fitment.

Alternatively, I have added HT cables from the battery through to the boot (via a dis-car-nect switch) to allow easy access for jump leads and/or battery conditioner connection.

I have also added an extra cigarette lighter type 12V socket wired directly to the battery (via a 5A fuse) and fitted it in the bulkhead behind the drivers seat. This means I can either charge a phone or connect a solar panel/battery conditioner without having to have the ignition on.

Thanks for the info
Extra 12v socket is a great idea

[Blue ass fly]

Most decent conditioners come with 2 or 3 types of battery connectors on fly leads.
I used the fasten on type permanently attached to the battery and fed it over/through the bulkhead into the cabin. It hangs near the seat belt and it's easy just to plug in the conditioner when required.
In fact I have 2 fly leads connected: one for the c-tek, the other for a cheapo charger or solar panel charger.

I bought one from a local factors and have secured the lead to the battery and poked the end through the cover in the same way as you
Thanks for the response

[scotlan]

I have also added an extra cigarette lighter type 12V socket wired directly to the battery (via a 5A fuse) and fitted it in the bulkhead behind the drivers seat. This means I can either charge a phone or connect a solar panel/battery conditioner without having to have the ignition on.

Most decent conditioners come with 2 or 3 types of battery connectors on fly leads.
I used the fasten on type permanently attached to the battery and fed it over/through the bulkhead into the cabin. It hangs near the seat belt and it's easy just to plug in the conditioner when required.
In fact I have 2 fly leads connected: one for the c-tek, the other for a cheapo charger or solar panel charger.

I bought one from a local factors and have secured the lead to the battery and poked the end through the cover in the same way as you
Thanks for the response

Quite a Co-incidence as I just fitted a cigarette lighter socket and 2 USB's (£3.99) on Ebay, at the rear wheel arch and also ran a USB cable along the tunnel to emerge at the N/S airvent for the Tomtom. At the same time as I fitted a Halfords Genius conditioner!

Sorryfor poor picture in boot!

[Monty]

I've bought a Ring RSC404 Charger and it has winter mode to keep battery topped up whilst car isn't being used.
https://www.ringautomotive.com/en/product/RSC404


It only comes with the clamps to attach to the battery but I want to make up I wee wiring harness so its plug and play, my question is:-

What size wiring do I need for a 12v 4amp charger?
What type of connection plug to use?

[GeoffSmith]

0.75mm² csa should be fine.

I've used ones like these.

[Monty]

Thanks Geoff, super fast reply

[Monty]

I've bought a Ring RSC404 Charger and it has winter mode to keep battery topped up whilst car isn't being used.
https://www.ringautomotive.com/en/product/RSC404


It only comes with the clamps to attach to the battery but I want to make up I wee wiring harness so its plug and play, my question is:-

What size wiring do I need for a 12v 4amp charger?
What type of connection plug to use?

Done the wiring loom but used xt60 connectors. Btw fecking hate soldering