Battery charger

[Lori]

Does anyone have any recommendation on where to buy a car battery charger. Never bought one before. Are they all pretty much basic or should I look for specific features? May sound stupid, but always left these things to the husband (who is overseas for the moment). Thought LeRoy Merlin might be an option, but perhaps an auto parts store would be better?? Any suggestions out there?...Any idea what a fair price would be?

[Val_2]

Before you rush out and buy one, check that your car battery can be recharged as many now are throw away and completely sealed. If it is just the one-off charge you need to get going, chat up your local garagiste and he will do it for you on his big one,probably for nothing. These can be dangerous tools if you have no idea what to do especially with acid spitting about.

[Mpprh]

Hi

a few points :

the normal cheap chargers charge slowly. They are often known as trickle chargers and can be left on overnight.

the more expensive ones can charge more quickly and have sophisticated protection devices to prevent overcharging.

Prices start at about Euro 15. You can buy them at hypermarkets, DIY stores and the Feu Verte type of car accessory store.

Peter

[Alcazar]

Personally, I'd buy at a Norauto type place, auto specialist.

Don't forget to say if it's for charging the battery off a diesel, as theses are heavy duty batteries, and require a heavy duty charger.

As in all things, the more you pay (within reason), the better it will be, and the more likely to do the job for ever. I've just paid £28 for a VERY good one from Halfords.

If you've never used one before, either take advice, (off here, Haynes manual, neighbour etc etc) or try your car manual for advice.

Alcazar

[Dave&Olive]

A mechanics answer :- why do you need a battery charger ? because the battery is flat.. why is the battery flat because it is A      not holding the charge then you need a new battery

B      because its not charging, electrical fault get it fixed

c      mechanical fault i.e. fan belt  fit new one

answer you donot need a battery charger fix the fault and save money   modern batteries do not last for ever if they need charging they are goosed, modern alternators can recharge a battery to 35% in 15 mins

please save your self some money you will only use it once

[Mpprh]

Hmm

there are circumstances where you need a charger :

left headlights on by accident

didn't turn off boot light

flattened battery due to no fuel

flattened battery due to flooding

car has not been started for three months

And the usual expat story ............... car has been parked in the barn for 6 months

Peter

[Dave&Olive]

push start jumper leads or tow start still no need for a charger                     or park it on a hill

[Nelson]

push start jumper leads or tow start still no need for a charger                     or park it on a hill

Can` t push/tow start automatic.

Simple battery charger will cost less than good set of jump leads

Nearest hill of any size 5k away

Better still buy a power station and you can start your car anywhere.

Regards colin

[Lori]

Thanks to you all. I have enjoyed reading all the different posts. Learned a bit too. We need the charger because the car doesn't get used enough. My husband is always overseas (well practically always) and I can only use one car at a time (stop laughing). I try to use the Toyota (the one least used) to take my daughter to and from school, but have noticed in winter, this is simply not enough use and the battery will sometimes go dead. I am embarrassed to continue asking my neighbor to help me. I did manage to learn how to use the jumper cables - don't laugh. I suspect that will be all I ever need. Just wanted to know about the battery charger as a last resort. There is a Feu Vert in Carpentras, so I can check out what they have if it comes to that.

Thanks again,

Lori

[Dave&Olive]

Can` t push/tow start automatic

as a mechanic thats a myth no wonder you get ripped off when you take your cars for repair.......

 

lord nelson was the best and even he took it  in the eye

kiss me har     

[Miki]

Don't know about a myth but you've got to run pretty fast to bump start an automatic

 

[Dick Smith]

I read somewhere (Volvo manual, I think) that you can bump start an auto if you can get it up to 30 mph. So that's a ton and a half of Volvo, against the resistance of the transmission - someone's got a sense of humour!

[Pucette<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Pucette<FONT><P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">"Qui ne connaît pas la campagne lhiver, ne connaît pas la campagne et ne connaît pas]

Anyone tried bump starting a tractor?

[Dick Smith]

Now that sounds like a laugh on a frosty morning...

I just thought as well - if you were to try to bump start a big auto like my Volvo you wouldn't have any brakes or steering until the engine caught. That would be a laugh, too.

[Will]

[quote]Anyone tried bump starting a tractor?[/quote]

Yes, and it was quite a laugh.

It was a David Brown tractor, dating from the 1950s so was old even then. It had two 6V batteries, one of which exploded, so bump starting was the only way to get it going. I'm sure you couldn't do it with a much more sophisticated modern tractor, all the electrics did on that one was start the engine and power the lights (which I don't think worked anyway). I only mention it because I found out the other day that one of our near neighbours in Normandy (semi-retired farmer) has an identical tractor to that, which he still uses sometimes. I think it's the only other David Brown tractor I've seen anywhere. The company is still in existence under American ownership, making marine gears among other things. I believe it owned UK car maker Aston Martin for a while - that makes sort of sense because there are several Lamborghini tractors round here too.

Nothing to do with battery chargers I know, but we are a fount of useles knowledge on this forum.

[Miki]

I believe it owned UK car maker Aston Martin for a while - that makes sort of sense..........

Will,

As a young man living in West London, not too far away from us, was a place where David Brown had a large(ish) factory of sorts, sorry what exactly went on inside has long been lost in the passing of time ! Anyway, it was from those dates that I always believed that the Aston Martin DB series, stood for David Brown, am I wrong ?

We have towed automatics, again in years gone by, to try to get them going but if memory serves me well, unsuccesfully and there is nothing like one of those high powered "get 'em going" shock aid to the "dead" battery to get you on the go, too expensive for home use but a garage's best friend.

I have to say, I have never heard of an automatic being bump started by pushing it manually but my experience is not that of a mechanic, so...........

Just a thought but didn't some of the old tractors have the possibility of the good old starting handle ?

 

 

[Mpprh]

Hi

Well if we want to talk about the difficulties of push starting ...............

Anyone push started a boat ?

The answer is here :

http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=ym&Number=621616&page=4&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&part=all

You'll need to copy & paste I guess.

Peter

[Dick Smith]

Anyway, it was from those dates that I always believed that the Aston Martin DB series, stood for David Brown, am I wrong ?

I think I read that somewhere ('Motorsport' probably).

[Jonzjob]

"A mechanics answer :- why do you need a battery charger ? because the battery is flat.. why is the battery flat because it is A      not holding the charge then you need a new battery"

You forgot 3. Lots of short journeys, on the school run for instance. A car battery charger will charge any car battery, petrol or deisel. Just because the battery has a larger capicity does not mean that it needs a bigger charger, it will just take longer to charge. Lots of short runs where the battery gets a bashing on start and not topped up by the altenator will cause the battery to sulphate. A sediment forms in the bottom of the battery and partly shorts out the plates.

There is not really any chance of acid spitting all over the place and even if it does get on the skin it will not burn if it is washed off fairly soon. It will play hell with your clothes though. The specific gravity for battery acid is 1250 fully charged, which is quite weak. thge main problem with battery charging is that if it is done in a confined space when the battery is fully charged it gives off hydrogen gas. If this can't escape it can cause an explosion, but it would take a long time to build up to that.

So basically get a good charger from a supermarket or garage, cahrge the battery in the car if you can, connect the negative lead first and don't worry. There is enough air blowing around the battery to disperse any gas that MIGHT form and then enjoy your motoring. If it still won't start, then get a new battery.

Something else to check, are the battery terminals tight and not corroded???

John.

[mascamps.com]

Depends on the automatic... you may be able to push start a normal 3 or 4 speed one but you can't push start a CVT (continuous variable transmission) one as you'd never be able to get it into gear once you got going.