Optimate Battery Charger Question

[YamFazFan]

Would a 12 volt Optimate motorcycle battery charger be suitable for charging a car battery?


Many thanks YFF

[fazersharp]

Dont know but I have a YAM branded one that can also do cars but there is a switch to turn it to car mode but I dont know what the difference is

EDIT after Jos post to be clear mine is not an optimate with yam branding but a CTEK with yam branding

[joebloggs]

My optimate has a setting for car batteries

[fatbloke62]

i've used mine for years on the car as well as the bike

[Frosties]

If it's say an Optimate 3 without a car function mode then it will be fine but will take days to charge say a 60AH car battery. Outputs for bike batteries are lower. So yup will be fine but may take a lot longer than a dedicated car charger or bike charger with switchable output.

[darrsi]

In the real world a battery is a battery.
A bike charger will most certainly charge a car battery, but the ampage on a car battery will obviously be higher so will just take longer.
My "battery man" at work goes by the rule that chargers should pump out a quarter of a batteries ampage.
Ie: a 12amp battery should have a 3amp charger, or less, to avoid overcharging or frying it.
But a bike charger falls well within those limits.
As long as it has a trickle charge mode it'll be fine.

[darrsi]

If i remember correctly a trickle charge bounces around the 10% charging mark once a full charge is near.

[YamFazFan]

The charger is an Optimate 3 without the switch for car batteries. Sounds like it will be OK, but just take a long time.

Ta for replies

[darrsi]

The website says it has a 0.8 amp output, which is very low.

[tommyardin]

My battery conditioner put out less than 1amp, it an Oxford unit

[ProdigalSon]

No good if I wanted a quick start but I use my Optimate 3 to keep the battery on my car topped up and that's a 95Ah .