Finally found someone having similar sentiments like i do regarding car battery charger. I own the same charger by the way.

Workshop people con us drivers left right centre saying that MF batteries can't last beyond 2 years. Then we takut takut go change every 18-24 months. Actually, even normal ones can last double that time if periodically put it under charge. Can save money on the long run but many still don't believe it.

I usually do a maintenance charge overnight once a month. How's your regime?

If got more than 1 car at home, pays itself back much faster. But many don't understand the benefit as it takes time to pay itself back.

Another really cheap investment for car battery health is a simple multimeter, measure every few months to make sure battery in good health. If lower, put it to charge. If still cannot go back to normal, that means showing signs of battery dying. At least no need to be suddenly stranded with a dead battery.

Another one is to get AGM type of battery. Damn expensive, costs 3x normal premium MF batteries, but can last the life time of the car. If put under the charger, can last above 15 years.

It is actually called "reconditioning" mode, not boost mode. No need to remove terminals, just charge like normal, no ill effects on all the cars that i ran with this mode.

No, it won't affect the electronics in the car. The battery itself already acts as a giant voltage regulator, just not a good idea to start the car with the charger still plugged in (although technically won't have any ill effects either, but just to be on the safe side). However, there is a version that can support jump start.

I bought mine a number of years ago for slightly below RM400 from RS components. Now RM500+ rather normal considering that RM depreciated significantly.

Here's the link that i used before : http://my.rs-online.com/web/p/battery-char...motive/7934092/

Can last at least 3 years if :
1) driven on high speed long distance frequently
2) put on a periodic maintenance charge with a dedicated lead acid battery charger

Depends on your battery condition, usually takes around 4-6 hours to complete the charging programme for smaller sized batteries. But for convenience sake, I just leave it overnight. If you want it faster, get the higher amperage version, but of course more expensive la...The device is automated, just plug in, select the charging mode and wait.

Not only MF, normal wet type also can.

AGM type of batteries are not more advanced, the basic principle still same like normal lead acid battery, just that much denser. AGM batteries are the only ones that can be truly "revived" if the charge got fully depleted.

But damn heavy though, the AGM version that can fit in my car is 50% heavier than the unit that is currently inside my car

The real advanced ones are lithium type starter batteries, super light, only weighs 3-4kg. These are not those found in the battery pack of a hybrid car as the circuitry is different for fast charge/discharge. Good units starts at least from the price of a quarter of an Axia already...

This post has been edited by wkc5657: May 18 2017, 01:47 PM

cannot use home address?

Oh i see...

Maybe the company allows claim from any authorised reseller.

Aiyo...already got charger, then why still upsize so much, unnecessary weight penalty only... But i think you need proper AGM battery like Odyssey or Optima batteries that can handle more charge and discharge cycles. Those normal or slightly premium range of MF batteries can't handle that much cycles. Proper AGM batteries can last the lifetime of your car if maintained properly.

For normal driving, charge once every 3 months also quite sufficient already. But i also hook up the charger on the first weekend of a new month to reduce the hassle of remembering the timing.

The charger itself will also need to monitor ambient temperature and internal resistance in your battery to avoid an electrical fire, so the timing will vary. The final stage is actually called trickle charge, that means the charger will reduce the output to top up the final 10%, or to maintain the battery (usually during prolonged storage or winter as cold temperature causes faster self discharge) Just like normal handphones, the final stage takes longer time. After bulk charging is done, good enough to unplug already.

If there are no electrical leaks or unknown phantom loads, if battery can't last for 3 months on normal driving without charging, the problem is at the battery, either it is a crap unit, on the verge of dying or the capacity is too low for the load required by the car.

I believe there is no other reliable way other than to have direct contact to test....

Maybe some other sifus can enlighten us.

This post has been edited by wkc5657: May 22 2017, 04:27 PM