[vtl]

This is what I use (EDIT: Kent beat me to it!):

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-240V-...gAAOSwFnFV~9UQ

Any basic charger will shut off when the battery is charged. You charge from the terminals in the engine bay which goes through the car's charging system anyway.

If you are doing MHD flashes, a 5A will be insufficient. This 20A charger is great, keeps the battery topped up with the fuel pump running and the headlights on.

Just gotta make sure you have a good connection, don't clamp onto any of the dull galvanized bolts for a ground, that may give you a large voltage drop.

[CashedUpBogan]

Although the eBay special probably can't revive a battery like the smart chargers like your Ctek one. I have owned Ctek products before and they're great. I currently have one of these Ctek bluetooth battery monitors thanks to EB89 recommended it after buying a cheaper product but had problems connecting to bluetooth all the time with the app. The Ctek one is faultless

[CYL]

Originally Posted by vtl

This is what I use (EDIT: Kent beat me to it!):

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-240V-...gAAOSwFnFV~9UQ

Any basic charger will shut off when the battery is charged. You charge from the terminals in the engine bay which goes through the car's charging system anyway.

If you are doing MHD flashes, a 5A will be insufficient. This 20A charger is great, keeps the battery topped up with the fuel pump running and the headlights on.

Just gotta make sure you have a good connection, don't clamp onto any of the dull galvanized bolts for a ground, that may give you a large voltage drop.

sorry for off topic.
But may I ask if 5A really insufficient for MHD flash?
Some say that it is sufficient?
With the 20A charger, does it do the stage charging/maintenance of the battery like the ctek?

I trust vtl since he is the expert in the electrical if you have read all the electrical mods that he has done.

[EB89]

Ill sell you my CTEK 5AMP if you want? I have two now

[CashedUpBogan]

Originally Posted by EB89

Ill sell you my CTEK 5AMP if you want? I have two now

lol why do you have two?

[CashedUpBogan]

Originally Posted by CYL

sorry for off topic.
But may I ask if 5A really insufficient for MHD flash?
Some say that it is sufficient?
With the 20A charger, does it do the stage charging/maintenance of the battery like the ctek?

I trust vtl since he is the expert in the electrical if you have read all the electrical mods that he has done.

You definitely need one more than 10A.

With the initial flash, it can take up to 38 mins. While the ignition is on, our cars electrics go like crazy especial the fuel pump. A common alternative is to unplug the fuse for the fuel pump, which is the biggest battery drainer.

If your battery is healthy, it should be able to sustain enough voltage for a full write without being charged. Your battery will still start and run your car if the voltage is below 10A, but MHD stops working as it needs a minimum 10A reading from your OBD port to function. If you're in a flash cycle and it drops below 10A, you'll temporarily brick your DME. It's not a major problem as you just have to start the process all over again.

But let's say you're flashing your only car. The voltage drops below 10A. You brick your DME. You can't go anywhere. I suppose you could still use the 5A charger and charge up the battery to full and try again

[vtl]

Originally Posted by CashedUpBogan

You definitely need one more than 10A.

With the initial flash, it can take up to 38 mins. While the ignition is on, our cars electrics go like crazy especial the fuel pump. A common alternative is to unplug the fuse for the fuel pump, which is the biggest battery drainer.

If your battery is healthy, it should be able to sustain enough voltage for a full write without being charged. Your battery will still start and run your car if the voltage is below 10A, but MHD stops working as it needs a minimum 10A reading from your OBD port to function. If you're in a flash cycle and it drops below 10A, you'll temporarily brick your DME. It's not a major problem as you just have to start the process all over again.

But let's say you're flashing your only car. The voltage drops below 10A. You brick your DME. You can't go anywhere. I suppose you could still use the 5A charger and charge up the battery to full and try again

Think you're confusing amps and volts here

Yeah the 5A isn't suitable, if you have a crap battery the flash can still drain it during a flash.

[CYL]

Originally Posted by CashedUpBogan

You definitely need one more than 10A.

With the initial flash, it can take up to 38 mins. While the ignition is on, our cars electrics go like crazy especial the fuel pump. A common alternative is to unplug the fuse for the fuel pump, which is the biggest battery drainer.

If your battery is healthy, it should be able to sustain enough voltage for a full write without being charged. Your battery will still start and run your car if the voltage is below 10A, but MHD stops working as it needs a minimum 10A reading from your OBD port to function. If you're in a flash cycle and it drops below 10A, you'll temporarily brick your DME. It's not a major problem as you just have to start the process all over again.

But let's say you're flashing your only car. The voltage drops below 10A. You brick your DME. You can't go anywhere. I suppose you could still use the 5A charger and charge up the battery to full and try again

Thanks.
Will get that $40 20A charger today.
I am not too sure how good is the Ctek, it says that it can do something like recondition/maintain the health of the battery.
What about the 20A charger? e.g. if I leave the car in my garage for an extended period (more than 2 weeks), can it be used to charge the battery without damaging it?
It's ok if it doesn't, I will just use it solely for the MHD flash.

[CashedUpBogan]

Originally Posted by vtl

Think you're confusing amps and volts here

Yeah the 5A isn't suitable, if you have a crap battery the flash can still drain it during a flash.

haha fuck. Voltage measured in amps?!?! What was I thinking?! I was watching NBA finals at the time. What a game! GSW to lose one more though

[CashedUpBogan]

My work electrician explained electricity to me really well last week. Compare it to plumbing. The voltage (volts) is like the water pressure, the resistance (ohms) is like the pipe size and the current (amps) is the flow rate

[7smurfs]

Can recommend the CTEK battery charger - the basic one has AGM charge and condition as well.

[vtl]

Originally Posted by CYL

Thanks.
Will get that $40 20A charger today.
I am not too sure how good is the Ctek, it says that it can do something like recondition/maintain the health of the battery.
What about the 20A charger? e.g. if I leave the car in my garage for an extended period (more than 2 weeks), can it be used to charge the battery without damaging it?
It's ok if it doesn't, I will just use it solely for the MHD flash.

Any cheapo battery charger will stop charging once the battery is at full capacity. This one is no different, read the listing, its got an LED to indicate when its full and stops charging

[vtl]

Originally Posted by CYL

What about the basic phone charger? Just out of curiosity.
Heard that it's not good to keep the phone charged once it's 100% already.

Don't know who perpetuates these myths. Phones stop charging once they reach 100%. Anyway getting a bit off topic here...

[Socket]

better change the name of this thread to "all you ever wanted to know about battery chargers and Aussie ebay buy-it-now"

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by Socket

better change the name of this thread to "all you ever wanted to know about battery chargers and Aussie ebay buy-it-now"

[CashedUpBogan]

Originally Posted by vtl

Don't know who perpetuates these myths. Phones stop charging once they reach 100%. Anyway getting a bit off topic here...

lol did he delete his post?

[CashedUpBogan]

Originally Posted by Socket

better change the name of this thread to "all you ever wanted to know about battery chargers and Aussie ebay buy-it-now"

Sooooo there's some Ozbargainers on here huh? Let's see how much of an ozbargainer you are. How many eneloop rechargeable batteries do you have?

[CYL]

Originally Posted by CashedUpBogan

lol did he delete his post?

Yes I did since it is way too off topic, so tried to delete irrelevant post.

[EB89]

Originally Posted by CashedUpBogan

lol why do you have two?

Got the 5AMP first then got the 15AMP cos I though it was a good idea lol.

[CYL]

Just bought a set stock spark plug - Good for stock car or lightly tuned car?

$120 for 6 spark plug

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BOSCH-SPA...gAAOSwZ8ZW5VFD

[CashedUpBogan]

Originally Posted by CYL

Just bought a set stock spark plug - Good for stock car or lightly tuned car?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BOSCH-SPA...gAAOSwZ8ZW5VFD

might wanna try posting the link again. No bueno

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by CashedUpBogan

might wanna try posting the link again. No bueno

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BOSCH-SPA...gAAOSwZ8ZW5VFD

That's what he was trying to post