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battery and holder for Renault HY

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Battery charger - trickle charger for winter storage (OptiMate 1). Switchable between 6 volts and

12 volts. This small continuous charger is ideal for permanently connecting to a battery during the winter break. State-of-the-art technology protects against reverse polarity of the connections. It is suitable for normal lead batteries (those with acid). The maximum charging current is 0.6 amps. Please note: You cannot use this charger to quickly charge or reactivate empty batteries! It is therefore designed to keep the battery fresh and, if necessary, charge it very slowly. The scope of delivery also includes a charging cable that can be permanently connected to the battery. Simply route the plug connection to the outside and the charger can be connected without opening the bonnet.

Battery charger for 12 volts (OptiMate 6 Ampmatic). Charging capacity: 6 amps. The 'Swiss Army

knife' among battery chargers. You can connect all types of batteries (STD, AGM, EFB, GEL batteries). Almost all sizes can also be connected (3AH > 144Ah). This charger can even reactivate deeply discharged batteries (down to a discharge of 0.5 volts)! Its smart electronics make it possible. You can also test batteries. It has a safety circuit in case it is connected incorrectly. It controls the charging current according to the ambient temperature and has many other options. Whether it's a lawnmower, boat, car, motorhome, motorbike or tractor, this charger automatically adjusts to everything. And let's be honest, who knows what kind of battery is installed in modern vehicles these days? With this, it doesn't matter! Only modern electric vehicles cannot be charged with it! Of course, it can also be used as a normal battery maintenance charger. Our tip if you have several vehicles that are stored over the winter: get one of these chargers and equip the other vehicles with our maintenance chargers. The scope of delivery also includes a charging cable that can be permanently connected to the battery. Simply route the plug connection to the outside and the charger can be connected without opening the bonnet. Regular desulphation is important for a long service life of lead-acid batteries. And this is what these modern chargers can do.

Battery charger for 6 volts + 12 volts (OptiMate 5 6V/12V). Charging capacity: 3 amps at 12 volts

4 amps at 6 volts. This battery charger and trickle charger only charges lead-acid batteries (i.e. the batteries in classic cars). It can be used for both 6 volt and 12 volt batteries. This charger can also reactivate deeply discharged batteries (up to a discharge of 0.5 volts)! The clever electronics make it possible. You can also test batteries. It has a fuse circuit in case it is connected incorrectly. It controls the charging current according to the ambient temperature and has many other options. Regular desulphation is important for a long battery service life. And this is what these modern chargers can do.

Coloured battery terminals. Red for positive. Black for negative. Suitable for all types. The risk

of mixing up the terminals when connecting the battery is now minimised. These coloured battery terminal connectors are suitable for cables with a maximum diameter of 12 mm (cable cross-section up to 113 mm²). They fit terminal sizes of 16-19 mm. They are suitable for 6 V and 12 V batteries. And they look great too! Made in Germany

Ground cable 530mm long, universal fitting.

Ground cable (battery ground strap), with battery pole clamp and ring tongue. Length: 250mm. Cable

diameter: 22mm ². Made in the European Union. Universal fitting.

Ground cable (battery ground strap), with battery pole clamp and ring tongue. Length: 300mm. Cable

diameter: 22mm ². Made in the European Union. Universal fitting.

Ground cable (battery ground strap), with battery pole clamp ring tongue. Length: 350mm. Cable

diameter: 22mm ². Made in the European Union. Universal fitting.

Ground cable (battery ground strap), with battery pole clamp and ring tongue. Length: 500mm. Cable

diameter: 22mm ². Made in the European Union. Universal fitting.

Ground cable 500mm long, universal

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Why does a car battery discharge when the car is not in use?

If a car isn’t driven for an extended period, the car battery can discharge. There are physical and technical reasons for this. Sulfation, incomplete charging, and leakage current play a particularly important role in classic cars.

Desulfation of Car Batteries

Desulfation is a process for regenerating lead-acid batteries, typically classic car batteries. The goal is to restore the capacity of a battery that has been reduced by deposits of lead sulfate crystals.

Key facts about sulfation

  • Cause of sulfation: When a lead-acid battery is deeply discharged for an extended period or is rarely fully charged, hard deposits of lead sulfate crystals form on the lead plates. These deposits insulate the plates, preventing the battery from absorbing or releasing charge.
  • Effect of desulfation: Using special battery chargers or battery pulsers, these crystals can be partially broken down and returned to the electrolyte. This improves the active surface area of the lead plates, allowing the capacity to recover partially or even largely.

Methods for desulfating lead-acid batteries

  • Battery chargers with a desulfation mode: These devices use special charging cycles, often with higher voltages or short pulses, to dissolve sulfate crystals.
  • Battery pulsers or Megapulse: These devices are connected to the battery continuously or intermittently and generate high-frequency current pulses designed to break down deposits.

Important notes on battery regeneration

  • Desulfation works best for mild to moderate sulfation.
  • It can extend the life of an old battery, but is no guarantee of repairing a completely defective battery.
  • The regeneration process requires patience and can take several days.
  • This method is only suitable for lead-acid batteries.

That is why it is important to distinguish carefully when selecting a battery charger: does the device merely charge and maintain the battery, or does it also feature a desulfation function? Even regular trickle charging can significantly extend the service life of a classic car battery.

Battery chargers for classic cars and classic car batteries

We offer three different chargers for classic cars and vintage vehicles:

  1. A charger for 6-volt and 12-volt batteries that is used exclusively for charging. It does not have a desulfation function.
  2. A charger for 6-volt and 12-volt batteries that is suitable only for lead-acid batteries—that is, for the classic car battery that was predominantly used in the past. This charger features a desulfation function.
  3. A 12-volt charger that can be used with many different battery types. It is therefore also suitable for modern batteries in boats, RVs, lawn mowers, and cars. Of course, this charger can also charge and maintain the classic lead-acid battery in a classic car. This charger also features a desulfation function.

As a general rule, whenever a battery is discharging, you should always check for leakage current.

Leakage Current in Classic Cars and Dead Batteries

Leakage current is a common problem in classic cars and is often the reason why the battery is already dead after just a short period of inactivity. While modern vehicles require a certain amount of standby current for control units, unwanted current losses in classic vehicles are usually caused by aging, moisture, or dirty electrical connections.

Why classic cars often have leakage current

  • Moisture and dirt: Dust, grease, and moisture can form a conductive coating on insulators, such as those on the ignition coil or the battery. Current flows through this coating unnoticed.
  • Porous insulation: Old cable insulation becomes brittle and cracked over time. Moisture that penetrates can then create a conductive connection to the body and thus to ground.
  • Corrosion: Contacts, connectors, and ground points corrode over decades. Verdigris or rust not only increase resistance but can also create unwanted leakage paths.
  • Stuck relays: Mechanical relays can get stuck in the on position, keeping a circuit permanently closed.
  • Unprotected loads: The starter motor or alternator is often connected directly to the battery. Defective diodes in the alternator can even drain the battery overnight.

What you can do to prevent leakage current

  1. Clean the battery and terminals: Keep the battery surface clean and dry. Apply terminal grease to the connections to reduce corrosion and leakage paths.
  2. Troubleshooting with a multimeter:
    • Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and connect a multimeter set to amperage measurement in series between the terminals.
    • Then pull each fuse one by one. If the reading drops significantly when a specific fuse is pulled, the affected circuit has been found.
  3. Install a battery disconnect switch: A so-called "bone" or "NATO bone" completely disconnects the battery from the vehicle electrical system during extended periods of inactivity and reliably prevents any current flow.
  4. Use a trickle charger: A smart charger compensates for minor current losses and keeps the battery in good condition during periods of inactivity.
  5. Check cables and ground points: Clean corroded ground points on the body and replace brittle cables to prevent unwanted discharges.

If the fault cannot be found despite blown fuses, the cause often lies in unprotected components such as the alternator or starter motor. In this case, the only effective solution is usually to disconnect these components specifically for testing.