Battery Conditioners

If you have a second car that rarely gets used, a trickle charger is ideal for maintaining the battery's power. We put six to the test

Auto Express Car Reviews

August 2005

Flat batteries are the bane of owning a classic car or infrequently used second motor. Leave the vehicle idle for a few weeks, and just when you need it there's the dreaded click as you turn the key.

The solution is to keep the battery topped up with a trickle charger, ensuring immobilisers and the like won't run it down while the car sits in the garage. There's a wide choice on the market, but which leads the charge for top honours?

Verdict

At £50, the CTEK 36 is the most expensive product on test, but it combines three charging modes in a unit that can work as a reviver and a conditioner.
The Accumate and Airflow performed well, with the former narrowly securing second position - although these chargers are more geared to conditioning only.