Projecta adds spark to lithium battery market
After a comprehensive three-year development and testing period, Projecta has launched a new 12V lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery range, suitable for agriculture and off-road applications.
Projecta's popular ‘Charge N’ Maintain’ automatic battery charger range has now been recharged – with the introduction of new features across four new models.
Ideal for agricultural, automotive and marine applications. The compact new ‘connect & forget’ charger variants are ‘Smart Chargers’ because they contain technology that provides switchable charging stages, to ensure accurate and efficient battery charging and maintenance. This allows longer life and improved battery performance over an extended period.
All models in the Charge N’ Maintain range are able to ascertain the battery’s level of charge, allowing the charger to regulate its load and optimise charging and stopping when the battery reaches capacity.
Along with their smart-charging capabilities to prevent overcharging of batteries, the range also provides spark-free operation. It is protected against accidental reverse connection, significantly increasing safety. For reliability, the range is weatherproof to IP65, supplied with an interchangeable fused wiring harness is also included for permanent installation.
The Charge N’ Maintain range begins with a 4-stage, 0.8 Amp 12V model (AC008). It them moves to a 4-stage AC015 model, rated at 1.5 Amp 12V, to the 8-stage, 4 Amp 6V/12V model (AC040).
The latter can be used for charging flat or low batteries, including 6V batteries that are sometimes found in older vehicles.
The largest unit is the 8-stage, 8 Amp 12V AC080, which has adjustable output to suit the battery type but is exclusive for use with 12V batteries.
Said to be easy to operate, AC008 and AC015 models feature colour code charge indicators showing ‘Power on’, ‘Charging’ and ‘Fully Charged’. Meanwhile, the AC040 and AC080 variants are equipped with LCD screen displays to monitor charging status.
Winning four of the big categories at the 2026 New Zealand Cheese Awards feels special, says Meyer Cheese general manager Miel Meyer.
Local cheesemakers are being urged to embrace competition from imports but also ensure their products are never invisible in the country.
Ireland's Minister of state for Agriculture says it’s hard to explain to Irish farmers the size and scale of NZ farms.
Dairy farming in New Zealand offers career progression and this has motivated 2026 Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year Navdeep Singh and Jobanpreet Kaur.
A partnership between Canterbury milk processor Synlait and the world's largest food producer, Nestlé, has been celebrated with a visit to a North Canterbury farm by a group including senior staff from Synlait, the Ravensdown subsidiary EcoPond, and Nestlé's Switzerland head office.
Canterbury milk processor Synlait is blaming what it calls "a perfect storm" of setbacks for a big loss in its half year result for the six months ended January 31, 2026.
OPINION: Synlait's woes show no sign of ending anytime soon.
OPINION: The mainstream media's obsession with (sleazy) 'tabloid' issues were to the fore at Fonterra's recent media conference to discuss…