Car battery charger. Recommendation

[Chudy85]

Hello,

Currently I have back from Volvo dealer and they told me that my starter battery is on 50% only. Of course they told me that if I want they can charge battery free of charge but I need car and cannot left them with them in nearest future.
My question is which battery charger will you recommend for me? I would like to charge my battery myself over the weekend.
Also I have checked manual and I should charge battery use charging point in engine compartment.
Could you please advise me how to do it safety for car electronics.

I was thinking to buy this charger:
Draper 53491 6V/12V Smart Charger and Battery Maintainer (10A)

Is it any option to charge starter battery just by driving?

[bobby2000]

Originally Posted by Chudy85

Hello,

Currently I have back from Volvo dealer and they told me that my starter battery is on 50% only. Of course they told me that if I want they can charge battery free of charge but I need car and cannot left them with them in nearest future.
My question is which battery charger will you recommend for me? I would like to charge my battery myself over the weekend.
Also I have checked manual and I should charge battery use charging point in engine compartment.
Could you please advise me how to do it safety for car electronics.

I was thinking to buy this charger:
Draper 53491 6V/12V Smart Charger and Battery Maintainer (10A)

Is it any option to charge starter battery just by driving?

I personally use a Optimate smart charger and since I don't use my XC60 a great deal it spends most of its time on charge, at the moment it's on sorn for 3 months until March.
Just connect live lead direct to positive side of battery and negative to a good earth point of car, there is a shiny post to the right of battery, which I believe is for this purpose.

[Philip Fisher]

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=322363

[Chudy85]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=322363

How I could missed this thread I dont know.

Huge thanks

[Goatherder]

Originally Posted by Chudy85

Hello,
Is it any option to charge starter battery just by driving?

Does anyone not think this is a bit odd ? This is a valid question because apparently, according to a Volvo tech that I sat down and talked with, the "support" battery can only be charged correctly (to 100%) with a trickle charge battery charger. I too was told the same thing "we can do this for you overnight, but of course the car needs to be left with us".
We are in 2022 - why are we having to ensure the battery is topped up from some external source (and specifically a trickle charge)....this is madness and really thought the tech was having a laugh. Once the support battery gets down to 67%, your Volvo will not start and you will receive a "Critical 12v battery" error and a call to VOC. Known issue. Software update may fix it (which they applied)...dealer is not sure, and they are still awaiting feedback from Sweden.

For point of reference...I have a B5D - so a mild hybrid, which does not operate/drive on the battery AT ALL..it is a diesel engine with an emission compliance-fudging battery system. Don't get me wrong....it is is a great technology, but it is only there to get the CO2/NO2 numbers down.