What battery charger should I get?

[nzspokes]

So the charger that was made in 1979 is probably past its best and cant charge lithium batteries.

What should I get as a replacement? Im no expert on this stuff so hence the question.

I have a mix of gel, acid and lithium batteries.

[layton]

I brought one of these years ago cut the alligator clips off put a plug from the battery to under the pillion seat and plug the bike in every now and then, works a treat for me. Didn't want to spend much on a trickle charger at the time

.https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/autohaus-battery-charger-ahbc-3.8i-intelligent-smart-6v-12v-3.8amp/R1803208.html

[Blackbird]

I've had the Oxford Oximiser "intelligent" charger for many years and it's been fine. Plenty of reviews on YouTube. Whether the higher price is worth it over cheaper brands, I wouldn't have a clue.

[pete376403]

+1 for the Oxford Oximiser, but lithium batteries are a special case, I'd go with the makers recommendations on those. With lead acid batteries the worst that can happen is the battery is stuffed, but when lithium batteries go bad, they go REALLY bad (google "lithium battery fire")

[nzspokes]

I've had the Oxford Oximiser "intelligent" charger for many years and it's been fine. Plenty of reviews on YouTube. Whether the higher price is worth it over cheaper brands, I wouldn't have a clue.

Thats kinda where Im at.

[Laava]

If you have lithium battery go "flat" then you need a very specific type of charger to wake it up. Most lithium dedicated chargers won't do it. It is at this point you will regret going down the lithium batt road. dAMHIK.

[nzspokes]

If you have lithium battery go "flat" then you need a very specific type of charger to wake it up. Most lithium dedicated chargers won't do it. It is at this point you will regret going down the lithium batt road. dAMHIK.

I have twice and a jump start has woken them up.

[BMWST?]

not sure a single charger can do the best for a lead acid and a lithium.That is the sort of mix you might find in an overland vehicle though so maybe redarc may have a suitable charger.

[pritch]

I have a small but growing collection of battery chargers.

An old "dumb" charger which is faster than the smart ones.

An Optimate 4 somewhat like this: https://tecmate.com/products/optimate4dp/

Then purchase of an AGM battery suggested I needed this: https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/mxs-5-0

CTEK do a Lithium specific model.

On batteries not capable of being recharged: while reading up chargers I came across an item that suggested that if a smart charger cannot detect any charge at all it will not recognise that there is a battery connected, so it won't begin to charge. A second battery holding some charge, connected behind the first battery (in parallel?), should be enough to indicate that a battery is present and cause the charger to begin its sequence.

[Honest Andy]

Ctek are on special at Repco this weekend.
If you're quick...

Why did you buy Lithium? Just curious.
Lithiums sounded tempting but I didn't like the fact that lithium tends to go straight from perfect to flat without warning. Then there's the potential for a fire. Small risk I suppose but who knows? None of my bikes have a lithium-specific charging system so I'm a bit suspect.
They are smaller and lighter than lead-acid and AGM so great for a race bike running total loss but I don't have one of those :weep:

[nzspokes]

Ctek are on special at Repco this weekend.
If you're quick...

Why did you buy Lithium? Just curious.
Lithiums sounded tempting but I didn't like the fact that lithium tends to go straight from perfect to flat without warning. Then there's the potential for a fire. Small risk I suppose but who knows? None of my bikes have a lithium-specific charging system so I'm a bit suspect.
They are smaller and lighter than lead-acid and AGM so great for a race bike running total loss but I don't have one of those :weep:

Lithium in 3 bikes. One because it was spare. BMW was a hard starter so the Lithium spun it faster and the other because it was cheap.

[Oscar]

Ctek are on special at Repco this weekend.
If you're quick...

Why did you buy Lithium? Just curious.
Lithiums sounded tempting but I didn't like the fact that lithium tends to go straight from perfect to flat without warning. Then there's the potential for a fire. Small risk I suppose but who knows? None of my bikes have a lithium-specific charging system so I'm a bit suspect.
They are smaller and lighter than lead-acid and AGM so great for a race bike running total loss but I don't have one of those :weep:

+1 for Ctek.
Quality item.

[pritch]

There was a fire damaged a large part of the MotoGP E bike field while in storage. Whether that was due to lithium batteries I don't know, but it would seem possible.

Those bikes get their first gallop in anger tonight at the Sachsenring. The E bikes have a special fire truck and crew. If there is an E bike fire, the plan is that they won't fight the fire at the scene, they will pick up and remove the burning bike. That should add a certain visual interest to proceedings...

[Navy Boy]

+1 for the CTek. I also have an Optimate (Triumph branded but it's an Optimate unit) and that's good too. The CTek can do all types of battery if memory serves too.

Whether it's worth the higher price is debatable but they pay for themselves in fairly short order I reckon.

[Swoop]

+1 for the CTEC.
I bought one of these https://www.repco.co.nz/en/brands/ctek/ctek-battery-charger-12v-5a-mxs5-0/p/A1247337 and it is also fine to use on Calcium-calcium batteries.

You should be able to pick one up around the ~$80- mark if you shop around.

[Oscar]

The refurb option on the Ctek is great.