06-03-2019, 05:47 PM
I have followed this thread with interest.
I have one example each of both the Lidl and Aldi "smart-chargers". (Incidentally both have identical specs. and are both manufactured in Germany but by different companies). I also have 2 fairly new Exide Vintage range 6V 80Ah batteries; one mounted in the chummy and the other, at present, "on the bench". I have had the Lidl charger connected to the battery in the chummy - which it was maintaining at a constant 6.8 volts, the Aldi charger was connected to the battery on the bench which it maintained at 7.1 volts.
Motivated by this thread I decided, as an experiment, to change over the two chargers. The observed result of this was that both chargers held the chummy battery at around 6.8 volts and the bench battery at around 7.1 volts. At this point I noticed that the battery isolating switch in the chummy had been left on - this meant that the 6v to 12v up convertor that powers my satnav and charges my phones was connected across the battery. Off load this only draws less than 100 milliamps but, it appears that this small load was sufficient to prevent either charger reaching a terminal voltage in excess of 6.8 volts. This was verified by isolating the battery which then, after a period on charge, topped out at 7.1 volts matching its twin.
If you are to compare various "smart chargers" make sure that the batteries, in every case, are totally isolated from all other connections.
I have one example each of both the Lidl and Aldi "smart-chargers". (Incidentally both have identical specs. and are both manufactured in Germany but by different companies). I also have 2 fairly new Exide Vintage range 6V 80Ah batteries; one mounted in the chummy and the other, at present, "on the bench". I have had the Lidl charger connected to the battery in the chummy - which it was maintaining at a constant 6.8 volts, the Aldi charger was connected to the battery on the bench which it maintained at 7.1 volts.
Motivated by this thread I decided, as an experiment, to change over the two chargers. The observed result of this was that both chargers held the chummy battery at around 6.8 volts and the bench battery at around 7.1 volts. At this point I noticed that the battery isolating switch in the chummy had been left on - this meant that the 6v to 12v up convertor that powers my satnav and charges my phones was connected across the battery. Off load this only draws less than 100 milliamps but, it appears that this small load was sufficient to prevent either charger reaching a terminal voltage in excess of 6.8 volts. This was verified by isolating the battery which then, after a period on charge, topped out at 7.1 volts matching its twin.
If you are to compare various "smart chargers" make sure that the batteries, in every case, are totally isolated from all other connections.