Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[pauls]

Quick question is there a way you can test a battery charger. I have one which I think has stopped working when I turn it on the charge light flashes once and then thats it. the spade fuse looks ok.Any quick tests before I go and by another one

[Entwood]

If you have a voltmeter .... measure the voltage of a battery without the charger connected.

Connect the charger and turn it on, remeasure the voltage.

If the voltage does not rise by about 2 volts then the charger is putting out nothing

[pauls]

No volt meter iam afraid any other ideas

[Kevin Wood]

What model of charger is it?

Sounds like a smart charger. If so, could it be that the battery is full, or defective? If it doesn't draw any current the charger will assume the battery is full and stop the charging cycle immediately. Worth trying on another battery, IMHO.

[flyer 0712]

Try a 12volt bulb with two wires on the holder..one clip from charger to each wire....that should show any power..

[Andy B]

No volt meter iam afraid any other ideas

A multi-meter of some kind is a must in any house hold. For occasional use, a cheapo meter will be good enough ..... no need for £100's Fluke meters 

[pauls]

What model of charger is it?

Sounds like a smart charger. If so, could it be that the battery is full, or defective? If it doesn't draw any current the charger will assume the battery is full and stop the charging cycle immediately. Worth trying on another battery, IMHO.

Hi kevin, the charger is a Halfords fully automatic battery charger. The battery is on my wifes tino at the moment and seems to be ok, it is just because she does short trips all the time and this time of year with lights and demisters on she never gets enough charge back in the battery. Am I wrong on thinking that even if the battery doesnt need a charge then the "power on fuse ok" light should still light up green.

[78bex]

I got the smaller version of this halfords charger for my bike
Green light glows but that`s about it,  does sweet FA in charging anything.
I got an absaar charger on the bay bit expensive but works a treat

[pauls]

I got the smaller version of this halfords charger for my bike
Green light glows but that`s about it,  does sweet FA in charging anything.
I got an absaar charger on the bay bit expensive but works a treat

Cheers for that mate, The charger has happily worked for the last couple of years including about 3 weeks ago, I just cant remember if the lights came up or not.

[tigers_gonads]

Lidl was selling a duel voltage smart charger last week for 15 quid iirc.

Not much output (about 4 amps) but a pretty good bit of kit for the price.

I know, ones sat in my man cave 

[jonnyboyws6]

Aldi too. Spot on for the money. I've had one for a few years, just bought another as a spare.

[pauls]

Just bought another charger. I normally leave the battery in the car to charge it. Connect the red plug to red on battery and black on black.
Question my new one states red on red then black to body if your car is "negativelyngrounded battery" How would i know, does it matter

[Andy B]

....

 if your car is "negatively grounded battery" How would i know,

Yes it is  . New positive grounded/earthed cars are long gone. 

does it matter

It most certainly does! 

[pauls]

....

 if your car is "negatively grounded battery" How would i know,

Yes it is  . New positive grounded/earthed cars are long gone. 

does it matter

It most certainly does! 

Andy this not for my car its the wifes nissan almera. But just to confirm black needs to be connected to the car not the battery

[Andy B]

..... But just to confirm black needs to be connected to the car not the battery

Either is OK  .  Electrically they're the same thing.
If I connect a charger to the Omega I usually use a bolt on the plenum, only because if I connect it to the battery negative it'll foul the bonnet when it closes.