Complete Buying Guide: MILENCO OPTIMATE Product Range

A leisure battery that's left sitting over winter, or discharged repeatedly through a busy touring season, doesn't last as long as one that's properly maintained — which is the problem the Milenco OptiMate 6 is built to solve.

What it does

OptiMate 6 is a multi-stage 12V smart charger that tests, saves, charges and maintains lead-acid batteries automatically. It analyses the battery first and applies the correct program itself, then keeps it at 100 percent for long-term storage without overcharging — useful whether the battery's in a motorhome, caravan, campervan, car, motorcycle or boat.

The automatic program

The charger works through analyse, recover/desulfate, charge, test and maintain stages without you needing to select settings manually, and its Ampmatic control adjusts the charge to suit the battery's size and condition. It's safe to leave connected long term, and is spark-safe with reverse-polarity and short-circuit protection built in, housed in a weather-resistant casing with clear status LEDs.

Compatibility

It works with deep-cycle and starter 12V lead-acid batteries, including flooded, AGM, gel and EFB types, so it covers most leisure batteries fitted to caravans and motorhomes.

What's included

The charger comes with a crocodile clamp quick-connect lead for occasional use, plus a fused ring-terminal lead you can leave permanently attached to the battery for easy plug-in charging, along with a mains lead and user guide.

Using it well

Fitting the ring-terminal lead to the battery and plugging the charger in whenever you're parked up is the easiest way to keep on top of maintenance — just make sure polarity is matched correctly (red to positive, black to negative) and the area is well ventilated while it's charging.