Battery Charger Testing Results

[D1dad]

Sure, I have used a simple 1.5 amp on board Schumacher battery tender on a Group 34R Odyssey battery...it worked too, but is less than ideal. Lot's of stuff works, but is not following the manufacturer recommendations.

It’s for sure not what I’d use, the guy has a 100k fishing boat but won’t spring for the correct charger lol. I guess, some charger is better than no charger. I’m amazed that they show the 2012 agm as “not for charging” in their chart. Any idea why?

 

[f355spider]

It’s for sure not what I’d use, the guy has a 100k fishing boat but won’t spring for the correct charger lol. I guess, some charger is better than no charger. I’m amazed that they show the 2012 agm as “not for charging” in their chart. Any idea why?

Too small of output. Fine for float or maintenance charging.

 

[f355spider]

Lo, Odyssey chargers look to be Ctek.
I guess using a genuine Ctek should be avoided since they're not on the list.
https://www.odysseybattery.com/charger-comparison-tool/
https://www.ctek.com/charging-solutions/battery-chargers

The issue is Odyssey has a specific charging specifications they want followed. So the private labeled Cteks sold by Odyssey are not the same as what Ctek sells. The question is how important it is to follow the manufacturer recommendations...will you get the same life using some other AGM rated battery charger?

 

[pasadena_commut]

Lot's of stuff works, but is not following the manufacturer recommendations.

There can be differences even when doing nothing untoward. When an old (14 years now?) BatteryTender Jr. (.75A) is used to charge the AGM battery on our Prius at the front jump point the final open circuit voltage is reliably about 0.1V lower than when the same battery is charged with a recent BatteryMinder 1500 (1.5A). So "charged" but not quite "fully charged", or at least "not as charged". I don't think the current rating differences are relevant, but rather that the circuitry in the newer charger somehow recognizes that it should go a little higher on the AGM battery.

 

[UncleDave]

The entire point of a quality battery tender is you leave it connected continuously. You should have no problem.

Note that NOCO is not on the Odyssey recommended charger list. But most chargers with an AGM setting should be fine.

https://www.odysseybattery.com/charger-comparison-tool/

Bingo. You can clamp on almost anything, but that doesn't mean it will work continually plugged in over the long haul.

Optimate 6 is still recommended after something like 15 years.

 

[meep]

Feast your eyes on this baby.

Victron Energy Blue Smart IP67... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TMPN5QT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I bought the 24v version. Yes, it’s spendy. I’ve used their “blue solar” products for RV power and found them to be markedly better than most of the stuff out there. This solid metal charger is rain proof and weighs a couple of pounds. It’s multi-stage and supports lead acid and lithium chemistries. It’s a “set and forget” type in that you configure and monitor it with Bluetooth. It can do power supply mode. Theres also an advanced tab which allows custom voltage setpoints. Replace the ring terminals with clamps and youve got a fabulous charger. I’ve only run it for a few hours, but at full output it’s barely warm to the touch. Bluetooth app will provide volts and amps readouts.

This is an entirely different league than NOCO and the variants we typically discuss.

 

[GSCJR]

The entire point of a quality battery tender is you leave it connected continuously. You should have no problem.

Note that NOCO is not on the Odyssey recommended charger list. But most chargers with an AGM setting should be fine.

https://www.odysseybattery.com/charger-comparison-tool/

I'm shocked with that recommended charger list, here's why:

My in-laws own a '91 XJ6, garage kept with very low mileage; I don't even think they drove it at all this summer. For years, my FIL would say that the battery was always dead, despite having it hooked to an old charger/maintainer, he said it never worked. Last fall, I decided I was going to investigate why this antique would always go dead.

I started with the basics, I recharged the 18 month old battery only to find out it would fail a load test. Next was a parasitic draw test; .5A . My testing discovered that after turning off the engine and exiting the vehicle, the instrument cluster would not shut off. I did not want to go any further at this point, due to both a lack of parts availability and desire to disassemble the dash, I came up with a solution.

I installed a new battery and a swan terminal disconnect, so that during the infrequent use that this vehicle sees, it would not deplete the battery. Further, I took that non-working charger/maintainer and put it to the test! No problem, it works flawlessly, over one year later, the battery is still charged!

Now back to my original statement, the list of approved chargers, linked above, contains my FIL charger/maintainer! It's the first one on the list, the 1206CC by ACI, now here's where it gets really interesting. Their website has not been updated since 2008, and their chargers have a life span rate of only 30,000 plus power on hours!

http://www.acichargers.com/

 

[D1dad]

I just gave the northern tool another shot on my lawnmower battery that tested fully charged. It delivered 14.72 for 30 hrs before it finally went into float mode. Apparently this is a stupid smart charger! Every other quality charger I have would have been done in a few hrs, since it actually tests the battery and doesn’t just straight up, cook the battery. What damage this thing can cause is tbd.

 

[D1dad]

I'm shocked with that recommended charger list, here's why:

My in-laws own a '91 XJ6, garage kept with very low mileage; I don't even think they drove it at all this summer. For years, my FIL would say that the battery was always dead, despite having it hooked to an old charger/maintainer, he said it never worked. Last fall, I decided I was going to investigate why this antique would always go dead.

I started with the basics, I recharged the 18 month old battery only to find out it would fail a load test. Next was a parasitic draw test; .5A . My testing discovered that after turning off the engine and exiting the vehicle, the instrument cluster would not shut off. I did not want to go any further at this point, due to both a lack of parts availability and desire to disassemble the dash, I came up with a solution.

I installed a new battery and a swan terminal disconnect, so that during the infrequent use that this vehicle sees, it would not deplete the battery. Further, I took that non-working charger/maintainer and put it to the test! No problem, it works flawlessly, over one year later, the battery is still charged!

Now back to my original statement, the list of approved chargers, linked above, contains my FIL charger/maintainer! It's the first one on the list, the 1206CC by ACI, now here's where it gets really interesting. Their website has not been updated since 2008, and their chargers have a life span rate of only 30,000 plus power on hours!

http://www.acichargers.com/

No offense. But these look more like something you’d use to charge a laptop versus an automotive battery. When it comes to an electrical system I want something proven. Maybe this company is big in Canada but I’ve never heard of them.

 

[GSCJR]

I would agree with you @D1dad, that the device looks like a toy, but it works. What I found most shocking was, that Odyssey Battery recommends them, even though their website is almost 20 years old and that the actual device is nearly impossible to find.

 

[f355spider]

Now back to my original statement, the list of approved chargers, linked above, contains my FIL charger/maintainer! It's the first one on the list, the 1206CC by ACI, now here's where it gets really interesting. Their website has not been updated since 2008, and their chargers have a life span rate of only 30,000 plus power on hours!

http://www.acichargers.com/

Looks like the website was last updated in 2010, not 2008.
Copyright © 2005 ACI Advanced Chargers
Last modified: 04/08/10

Is the service life stated in their IFU? Can't find it on their website or literature. In any event it comes with a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser. Just hang onto the receipt.
http://www.acichargers.com/warranty.htm

 

[GSCJR]

@f355spider, I copied and pasted right from the bottom of the page http://www.acichargers.com/ below:

Send mail to [email protected] with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2007 ACI Advanced Chargers
Last modified: 07/23/08

Further, directly from http://www.acichargers.com/technology.htm, scrolling to the 7th bullet point, under Features shows:

• Life span rate of 30,000 plus power-on-hours.

I'm not even sure if the company is still around to honour the warranty. Regardless, it's a great little unit. I also found out last night from my FIL, that he periodically installed it on their 2020 RDX (now my wife's) with an AGM battery (they're snow birds), only after I verified that it worked flawlessly on their XJ6 with a FLA battery. Ideally he should have 2 units to avoid installation and removal from both vehicles. I wonder if the battery (FLA or EFB) in their new 2025 RX350 will like sitting for months at a time, that thing has way too many unnecessary electronic gadgets in my opinion.

 

[f355spider]

@f355spider, I copied and pasted right from the bottom of the page http://www.acichargers.com/ below:

Send mail to [email protected] with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2007 ACI Advanced Chargers
Last modified: 07/23/08

Further, directly from http://www.acichargers.com/technology.htm, scrolling to the 7th bullet point, under Features shows:

• Life span rate of 30,000 plus power-on-hours.

I'm not even sure if the company is still around to honour the warranty. Regardless, it's a great little unit. I also found out last night from my FIL, that he periodically installed it on their 2020 RDX (now my wife's) with an AGM battery (they're snow birds), only after I verified that it worked flawlessly on their XJ6 with a FLA battery. Ideally he should have 2 units to avoid installation and removal from both vehicles. I wonder if the battery (FLA or EFB) in their new 2025 RX350 will like sitting for months at a time, that thing has way too many unnecessary electronic gadgets in my opinion.

I definitely wouldn't install on the car, use the included ring terminals to the battery (extend the plug if needed) and run the cord out the grill to plug into the charger. I have set up all my cars that way. For one car I ran the cord up near the wiper arm to plug in...it was easier to go in that direction. Never have to open the hood.

Then you can move the charger to whichever car needs it at the time.

 

[Carlostrece]

I use and like a BatteryMinder 1500 which is a 1.5A smart pulsing trickle charger. It's excellent, IMO. I just ordered another one from Amazon for $50 for my mom's car.

I don't know if it's pulsating float charge really desulfates the battery, or if that's just feel good advertising, but it does a great job charging and maintaining my Buick Park Ave group 34 battery.

Do pulsating chargers really reverse or prevent sulfation?

 

[repairman54]

I use and like a BatteryMinder 1500 which is a 1.5A smart pulsing trickle charger. It's excellent, IMO. I just ordered another one from Amazon for $50 for my mom's car.

I don't know if it's pulsating float charge really desulfates the battery, or if that's just feel good advertising, but it does a great job charging and maintaining my Buick Park Ave group 34 battery.

Do pulsating chargers really reverse or prevent sulfation?

My motorcycle and snowmobiles like the BM. 3 batteries over 10 years old batteries in them. Always on the BM when parked.

 

[D1dad]

Off the OP but my son and law and I have used a few of these over the last few winter with no ill effects. I don’t know that you’d find a better price on a reliable charger.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NJD36LH?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_13&th=1

 

[Carlostrece]

My motorcycle and snowmobiles like the BM. 3 batteries over 10 years old batteries in them. Always on the BM when parked.

That's excellent! Good to hear. I've bought a Battery Minder 1500 a year ago. So far I love it! However, I haven't owned it long enough to know how it will affect my G34 flooded battery's lifespan.

 

[D1dad]

That's excellent! Good to hear. I've bought a Battery Minder 1500 a year ago. So far I love it! However, I haven't owned it long enough to know how it will affect my G34 flooded battery's lifespan.

I’ve got one hooked up to my 2018 right now. I can’t for the life of me figure out why this thing pumps out 14.6 on a fully charged battery for 24 hrs, before it goes into maintenance mode? It’s like this thing is on a timer! Cant be good for a battery.

 

[f355spider]

I’ve got one hooked up to my 2018 right now. I can’t for the life of me figure out why this thing pumps out 14.6 on a fully charged battery for 24 hrs, before it goes into maintenance mode? It’s like this thing is on a timer! Cant be good for a battery.

I thought you have the Northern Tools/Battery Minder 1 amp Model #12117TV, not the Battery Minder 1.5 amp Model 1500.
Note that the 12117TC and the 1500 use different charging algorithms.

 

[D1dad]

I thought you have the Northern Tools/Battery Minder 1 amp Model #12117TV, not the Battery Minder 1.5 amp Model 1500.
Note that the 12117TC and the 1500 use different charging algorithms.

Yep. It is the northern tool. I get the 1500 and mine mixed up.