RodW Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 Floowing recent starting probs (thanks to all who gave help) it seems that I need a battery conditioner. Searched on this site and came up with two -Optimate and Airflow. Rang Shadowfax engineering to order an Optimate to be greeted by a sales person genuinely trying to be helpful: "If it's for a car you need an Accumate." - But its a Seven and I think they are motorcycle batteries. - "But a car battery will need the bigger eyelets and the higher charging rate of the Accumate". - But I think the Seven owners who have bought one have bought the Optimate. - "The Optimate is for people with motorbikes and cars. The Accumate is for cars." etc. etc. Advice/recommendations, please. RGW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 phone this no they will help they make the battery for caterham . they also make the conditioner they will tell you a local supplier they cost about £30.00 thats what we sell them for Banner Batteries (GB) Ltd. Units 7 & 8 Canal View Business Park Wheelhouse Road, Towers Business Park, Rugeley Staffordshire WS15 1UZ Tel. (01889)57 11 00 Telefax (01889)57 73 42 e-mail: office.bgb@bannerbatteries.com fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMMO Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 I was very lucky and got a free battery conditioner when I purchased my car. It's called an alternator. You probably have one too. If you look under your bonnet it's driven the crank pulley by a belt. 😬 AMMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budgie Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 You can get one from Halfords for about £18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Den Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 Yep, I agree with Budgie - mine's a Draper conditioner, just under 20 quid from Halfords. Works well, on my 7 and my mates' twincam Escort. Den 😬 - Self portrait - still unable to remove the smile! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Brother Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 AMMO - 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 Steve Se7en-Up! Less is more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 Buy the Airflow, highly regarded Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 I use one of these here It works. You can't ask any more of it than that really can you? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Just to increase your confusion, I got excellent service and an Optimate3 from MDS Battery. But then I've got a car with a bike engine... does that confuse matters more?!? 😬 No really, the Optimate is great so far. I wired in the fused flylead which comes with it so that it is accessible by the nearside front suspension (battery is located lying down in the bottom of the nose), so I just park up, plug it in, and forget about it. Cool. Hope this helps Moomin www.megabird.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 I use the same one from race-technology. It works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 I use the race technology too. Greg, Q 86 NTM (Green 185BHP XF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlShack Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Cheap one from Halfords does me - not the Draper one, but Sparkrite, or something like that. Does a proper charge & then switches into conditioner mode once charged. All for £20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmandsd Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 I use an optimate and think they're ideal for car's that aren't used that often or stored through Winter. I use a l'weight racing battery and a l'weight alternator and the optimate gives the battery what it needs when it's out of use i.e. It's connected to the battery all the time but doesn't over charge. Home of BDR700 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Walker Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Airflow unit is a super piece of kit and you can hard wire the socket straight onto the battery and bring it just inside the car through the bulkhead above oassenger footwell. *thumbup* H7 CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted October 18, 2002 Share Posted October 18, 2002 I use two. One for a spare battery (for testing equipment and charging model car batteries) and the one that runs the CarCoon and has a built in charger. Have to say, the cheap, small sized Draper one (about which I initially had some doubts) about works really well, & has done so all year. That 'spare' battery only sits on the bench with that unit attached so no alternator to 'whack' in a good charge. Before anyone says I've got too much money if I have a spare batt I might add that it was given to me by my local garage from a three month old car that had been, err, 'modified' against another car. Slight crack at top of case so insurance job. Hot glue gun sorted that out!!!!!!! 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted October 19, 2002 Leadership Team Share Posted October 19, 2002 I've used an Optimate since replacing the battery a couple of years ago. Works great, easy to wire to give a plug-in connection under the dash on the drivers side - too lazy to walk round! I'll let you know in a few years if it works........ If you're in need of a new battery, Fred's posting of Banner's address is the place to start - K-Series battery - £25 +vat. Bargain! Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE GILBERT Posted October 19, 2002 Share Posted October 19, 2002 I am another Optimate user. More than happy with the unit and would recommend to anyone. See My Zetec Power 7 Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Walker Posted October 21, 2002 Share Posted October 21, 2002 Can you tell me if these conditioners can be bought with a cigar type fitment as I've had a cigar socket put in the car 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excess baggage Posted October 23, 2002 Share Posted October 23, 2002 I'm with AMMO and Steve on this one. The rest of you that posted replies that ignored the free accessory that comes with every 7 should be banned from this site. Wimps, all of you! 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 EB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireblade Posted October 23, 2002 Share Posted October 23, 2002 Andrew, I'm also looking for a charger with a cigarette lighter plug. Just found this... here Seems expensive though (45+9-£54!!!). John Latham (....just....need...to.......register.........the............damn............thing.....now!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Haighton Posted October 23, 2002 Share Posted October 23, 2002 I've got both. They both work on a bike and a 7. Take your pick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Walker Posted October 23, 2002 Share Posted October 23, 2002 John, it does look perfect but I agree with you vis the total price. It must be possible to get one cheaper with the cigar fitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian B Posted October 23, 2002 Share Posted October 23, 2002 Erm .....Why not just fit a Cigar plug on the 'cheap' ones 🤔 Try here Ian - MI 5EVN - Sumpless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Walker Posted October 24, 2002 Share Posted October 24, 2002 Thanks Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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