Battery charger recommendations ?
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Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Battery Tender Plus - $47.99 @ Walmart.
+1 except last I checked it's cheaper on the web.
Battery Tender Plus - $47.99 @ Walmart.
+1 except last I checked it's cheaper on the web.
If you want to maintain, Battery Minder is the best in that area, for a decent charger in the 6 to 15 amp, the Schumacher Speed Charger series should fit the bill. I think Walmart has them. The Speed Charger series goes through a few phases of charging to speed things up.
Most chargers these days are not the old heavy charger with a fat transformer. They are switching. I would like to think they did it because switching is better, but I assume its just cheaper.
Unsure about fixing batteries via desulphation. I will report on my test soon.
Most chargers these days are not the old heavy charger with a fat transformer. They are switching. I would like to think they did it because switching is better, but I assume its just cheaper.
Unsure about fixing batteries via desulphation. I will report on my test soon.
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I am replacing one of those old heavy chargers with the fat transformer. It lasted a vey long time.
Originally Posted By: Donald
--snip--
Most chargers these days are not the old heavy charger with a fat transformer. They are switching. I would like to think they did it because switching is better, but I assume its just cheaper.
Unsure about fixing batteries via desulphation. I will report on my test soon.
Originally Posted By: Donald
--snip--
Most chargers these days are not the old heavy charger with a fat transformer. They are switching. I would like to think they did it because switching is better, but I assume its just cheaper.
Unsure about fixing batteries via desulphation. I will report on my test soon.
I have a schumacher speed charger that I like pretty well, have used it to recover some pretty dead batterys, including one that took a few cycles through the process.
I am happy with this speed charger . I do not know about longevity yet as I have had it for just under a year but it seems to work well. It has brought back one auto battery and one lawn tractor battery I thought were done.
Use code TRT30 for 30% off.
Use code TRT30 for 30% off.
CTEK makes great chargers. However I found a Black and Decker on amazon for cheap that is probably also just fine http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-BM3B-...+decker+charger
Originally Posted By: tnt31
I am happy with this speed charger . I do not know about longevity yet as I have had it for just under a year but it seems to work well. It has brought back one auto battery and one lawn tractor battery I thought were done.
Use code TRT30 for 30% off.
Why did you think they were gone? Just low voltage? And how did you conclude they were brought back to life?
I just bought something with a group 26 battery, 525 CCA, date 11/2010. Very very low voltage. Cells not low on water. Had to use manual charger for a few hours. Then Schumacher speed charger until it was listed as 100%.
Conductive check next morning showed 325 CCA and "battery bad".
I am happy with this speed charger . I do not know about longevity yet as I have had it for just under a year but it seems to work well. It has brought back one auto battery and one lawn tractor battery I thought were done.
Use code TRT30 for 30% off.
Why did you think they were gone? Just low voltage? And how did you conclude they were brought back to life?
I just bought something with a group 26 battery, 525 CCA, date 11/2010. Very very low voltage. Cells not low on water. Had to use manual charger for a few hours. Then Schumacher speed charger until it was listed as 100%.
Conductive check next morning showed 325 CCA and "battery bad".
Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: tnt31
I am happy with this speed charger . I do not know about longevity yet as I have had it for just under a year but it seems to work well. It has brought back one auto battery and one lawn tractor battery I thought were done.
Use code TRT30 for 30% off.
Why did you think they were gone? Just low voltage? And how did you conclude they were brought back to life?
I just bought something with a group 26 battery, 525 CCA, date 11/2010. Very very low voltage. Cells not low on water. Had to use manual charger for a few hours. Then Schumacher speed charger until it was listed as 100%.
Conductive check next morning showed 325 CCA and "battery bad".
The auto battery would not crank the vehicle it was in and the lawn mower battery would not in the lawn tractor. I charged them with a standard old fashioned charger and the auto battery would start the car but within a couple of days it would no longer crank the car. Did this over and over about 5 times. The lawn mower batter would not start the car even after a charge. I tool them both to AAP, O'Reillys, and Autozone to have tested and they all indicated they needed charging even though I had charged them. I let AAP keep and charge then retest and same result. I bought this charger and charged them wth it. The batteries each improved but were still not fully charged. Not sure what was wrong but after about four or five charges with this charger both the Auto battery was finally up to about 98% of capacity and the Lawn battery to 91% and each has worked without needinf any more charging since. Not sure what was wrong with them that they would not charge anywhere near capacity but this charger ended up getting them there.
Originally Posted By: tnt31
I am happy with this speed charger . I do not know about longevity yet as I have had it for just under a year but it seems to work well. It has brought back one auto battery and one lawn tractor battery I thought were done.
Use code TRT30 for 30% off.
Why did you think they were gone? Just low voltage? And how did you conclude they were brought back to life?
I just bought something with a group 26 battery, 525 CCA, date 11/2010. Very very low voltage. Cells not low on water. Had to use manual charger for a few hours. Then Schumacher speed charger until it was listed as 100%.
Conductive check next morning showed 325 CCA and "battery bad".
The auto battery would not crank the vehicle it was in and the lawn mower battery would not in the lawn tractor. I charged them with a standard old fashioned charger and the auto battery would start the car but within a couple of days it would no longer crank the car. Did this over and over about 5 times. The lawn mower batter would not start the car even after a charge. I tool them both to AAP, O'Reillys, and Autozone to have tested and they all indicated they needed charging even though I had charged them. I let AAP keep and charge then retest and same result. I bought this charger and charged them wth it. The batteries each improved but were still not fully charged. Not sure what was wrong but after about four or five charges with this charger both the Auto battery was finally up to about 98% of capacity and the Lawn battery to 91% and each has worked without needinf any more charging since. Not sure what was wrong with them that they would not charge anywhere near capacity but this charger ended up getting them there.
Originally Posted By: tnt31
Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: tnt31
I am happy with this speed charger . I do not know about longevity yet as I have had it for just under a year but it seems to work well. It has brought back one auto battery and one lawn tractor battery I thought were done.
Use code TRT30 for 30% off.
Why did you think they were gone? Just low voltage? And how did you conclude they were brought back to life?
I just bought something with a group 26 battery, 525 CCA, date 11/2010. Very very low voltage. Cells not low on water. Had to use manual charger for a few hours. Then Schumacher speed charger until it was listed as 100%.
Conductive check next morning showed 325 CCA and "battery bad".
The auto battery would not crank the vehicle it was in and the lawn mower battery would not in the lawn tractor. I charged them with a standard old fashioned charger and the auto battery would start the car but within a couple of days it would no longer crank the car. Did this over and over about 5 times. The lawn mower batter would not start the car even after a charge. I tool them both to AAP, O'Reillys, and Autozone to have tested and they all indicated they needed charging even though I had charged them. I let AAP keep and charge then retest and same result. I bought this charger and charged them wth it. The batteries each improved but were still not fully charged. Not sure what was wrong but after about four or five charges with this charger both the Auto battery was finally up to about 98% of capacity and the Lawn battery to 91% and each has worked without needinf any more charging since. Not sure what was wrong with them that they would not charge anywhere near capacity but this charger ended up getting them there.
The % you list, how is that determined?
It sounds like there is also a problem with the charging system in the vehicles.
I have a similar speed charger from Schumacher but it has not worked any miracles.
Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: tnt31
I am happy with this speed charger . I do not know about longevity yet as I have had it for just under a year but it seems to work well. It has brought back one auto battery and one lawn tractor battery I thought were done.
Use code TRT30 for 30% off.
Why did you think they were gone? Just low voltage? And how did you conclude they were brought back to life?
I just bought something with a group 26 battery, 525 CCA, date 11/2010. Very very low voltage. Cells not low on water. Had to use manual charger for a few hours. Then Schumacher speed charger until it was listed as 100%.
Conductive check next morning showed 325 CCA and "battery bad".
The auto battery would not crank the vehicle it was in and the lawn mower battery would not in the lawn tractor. I charged them with a standard old fashioned charger and the auto battery would start the car but within a couple of days it would no longer crank the car. Did this over and over about 5 times. The lawn mower batter would not start the car even after a charge. I tool them both to AAP, O'Reillys, and Autozone to have tested and they all indicated they needed charging even though I had charged them. I let AAP keep and charge then retest and same result. I bought this charger and charged them wth it. The batteries each improved but were still not fully charged. Not sure what was wrong but after about four or five charges with this charger both the Auto battery was finally up to about 98% of capacity and the Lawn battery to 91% and each has worked without needinf any more charging since. Not sure what was wrong with them that they would not charge anywhere near capacity but this charger ended up getting them there.
The % you list, how is that determined?
It sounds like there is also a problem with the charging system in the vehicles.
I have a similar speed charger from Schumacher but it has not worked any miracles.
% charge was tested using a conductance tester. The auto's charging system has tested normal by AAP. I did not test the lawn tractor. However after getting the batteries to what I will term as restored they batteries have been in the vehicles for about 8 months with absolutely no problems so it seems there is no issue with their charging systems. My best guess is each suffered from sulfication and this charger helped with that but it took multiple cycles of charging. It is a small sample but for me it was successful. I am sure there are better battery chargers out there. But for my use (which I will consider light duty) and the money invested I am very happy with this charger.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Battery Tender Plus - $47.99 @ Walmart.
+1 except last I checked it's cheaper on the web.
+2 and cheaper at costco.
Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Battery Tender Plus - $47.99 @ Walmart.
+1 except last I checked it's cheaper on the web.
+2 and cheaper at costco.
Does the Battery Tender do desulphation and have high and low temp compensation? The Battery Minder does (the newest one).
I would consider the Battery Tender and Battery Minder mainly a maintainer since they charge at < 2 amps.
If you need a real charger (6 to 15 amps), then the speed charger series from Schumacher is a good buy at Walmart.
They both have their uses.
I would consider the Battery Tender and Battery Minder mainly a maintainer since they charge at < 2 amps.
If you need a real charger (6 to 15 amps), then the speed charger series from Schumacher is a good buy at Walmart.
They both have their uses.
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Does anyone have the older Battery Minder 2012 model? Does it do OK with standard AGM batteries? The description says it does, but then they also have an AGM-specific model that's more expensive...
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Does anyone have the older Battery Minder 2012 model? Does it do OK with standard AGM batteries? The description says it does, but then they also have an AGM-specific model that's more expensive...
I also have a Battery Minder 2012 but no AGM batteries. (And 2 other Battery Minders).
I would get one specific to an AGM if it were me.
Does anyone have the older Battery Minder 2012 model? Does it do OK with standard AGM batteries? The description says it does, but then they also have an AGM-specific model that's more expensive...
I also have a Battery Minder 2012 but no AGM batteries. (And 2 other Battery Minders).
I would get one specific to an AGM if it were me.
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