- Joined
- Jul 28, 2024
- Messages
- 2,120
anyone use or familiar with the brand?
PulseTech battery charger/maintainer
- Thread starter Wireman1987
- Start date
Even if it's a good charger/maintainer, don't expect anything from the pulse function. Think marketing.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2024
- Messages
- 2,120
how do we know this pulse charging is truly (Gimmick)?
I’ve had mine for roughly 6 years. Used the heck out of it. Still works great.
IT DOES WORK. Just not every time..
I noticed my 02 Silverado started cranking slower, let it sit on the charger over the weekend, and for the next year it started up like normal again.
I was able to get 8 years out of my zero turn lawnmower battery, by using this once or twice for a 72 hour period over the winter months.
I had a “shop” battery from a core I never returned from a battery that wouldnt hold a charge. It was used and abused to jump cars, be overcharged, and put on that pulsetech charger frequently. After 2 years in the garage my father in law needed a battery that would get him home.. he ended up running that battery in his xterra for 2 years.
I try and use this charger at least 24-48 hours on all my vehicles.. it really seems to help.
Like most others on here.. I try to get every penny out of my tools and equipment. I believe this thing has saved me $100s.
Some batteries are just too far gone, or internally shorted, or have a bad cell. But some can be saved and prolonged.
I’m not sure how the newer smart chargers compare, or if the technology is the same. I love mine though. No regrets
IT DOES WORK. Just not every time..
I noticed my 02 Silverado started cranking slower, let it sit on the charger over the weekend, and for the next year it started up like normal again.
I was able to get 8 years out of my zero turn lawnmower battery, by using this once or twice for a 72 hour period over the winter months.
I had a “shop” battery from a core I never returned from a battery that wouldnt hold a charge. It was used and abused to jump cars, be overcharged, and put on that pulsetech charger frequently. After 2 years in the garage my father in law needed a battery that would get him home.. he ended up running that battery in his xterra for 2 years.
I try and use this charger at least 24-48 hours on all my vehicles.. it really seems to help.
Like most others on here.. I try to get every penny out of my tools and equipment. I believe this thing has saved me $100s.
Some batteries are just too far gone, or internally shorted, or have a bad cell. But some can be saved and prolonged.
I’m not sure how the newer smart chargers compare, or if the technology is the same. I love mine though. No regrets
I think the pulse is for desulfation. I am thinking there are certain conditions of sulfation where it could help and others either not much or not at all. Not sure a battery owner can determine that.
BatteryMinder techs told me it can take a few weeks to revive a sulfated battery.
BatteryMinder techs told me it can take a few weeks to revive a sulfated battery.
Gimmick ??? Not so much.
The US Military uses Pulse Tech chargers and conditioners in their battery maintenance programs.
Here is Pulse Tech's extensive military catalog.
https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1508702-military-catalog-2024/0?
I think Pulse Tech holds 8 to10 patents for battery charging, I don't know if some are related to physical product hardware design or all are charging process patents.
20+ years ago a Pulse Tech charger brought back some of my trolling motor battery's back to usable condition and I have been a user ever since. I have had great luck with them and use them at work. About 2 weeks ago I bought 4) of these to condition our fleet of 24 volt = four battery/6 Volt battery single man picker lifts, electric hand jack and scissor lift. Some had the Pulse Tech Maintainers on them but the "pulse" is far less when it has to go though 4 batteries. We wanted to be able to pulse all four 6 volt batteries over the week end with dedicated units. I bought one for myself at home since my older Pulse Tech is now 10 years old and just a 2.5 volt unit, I wanted to get the newer 6/12 volt 4 amp version and keep the 2.5 amp as a backup or loan out.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0778/6017/6148/files/300X010_XC450_Datasheet_v3f.pdf
They are on sale now, on Amazon
.
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f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
If you are experiencing a loss of capacity or battery not holding a charge, could be a sign of a battery experiencing sulfation.
I read in the Battery Minder instruction manual, that it can take 2 to 4 weeks of continuous use for the desulfation process to complete.
I have also seen this quote in their IFU:
NOTE: Do not expect to completely dissolve sulfate in a day. Long established sulfate will require a longer period to be completely dissolved. Be patient, and you will be rewarded with a "sulfate-free" battery.
It took a month to restore a 3 1/2 yr old battery from soh 65% to 100%. I wasn’t sure I could get there.
By the way, don’t buy the cheapo Northern Tools version of the BatteryMinder since it is by name only and does not use the same algorithm as the Standard BatteryMinder. This is from BatteryMnder customer service when I questioned them.
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f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
Good point. I own a Battery Minder 2012 AGM and 128CEC2, and recently purchased the Battery Minder "wall wart" 12117TC to try out. I noticed it can run on the charging mode for long periods of time...longer than I was conformable with...I saw over 20 hours running at 14.82v (temp compensated in a mid 30F garage), before I unplugged it and called Battery Minder customer service rep. "Dave" the CSR said this was normal operation and it can run for up to 3 or 4 days before it drops to float mode, then maintenance mode, depending on battery condition. I found this odd, since this battery is normally maintained on a 2012 AGM and tests fine. The regular Battery Minders never run more than 4 hours in the charge mode before reaching maintenance mode, on an otherwise healthy, charged battery.
I have since, been only using it in float/maintenance mode by pressing the button on it, as soon as I connect it up to one of my cars. After pressing the button, it drops to around 12.65v and stays there for about 24 hours (float mode), before it ramps up to maintenance mode at a temperature compensated 13.5v to 13.6 in my chilly garage. If I were to use this on a daily driven vehicle, its never going to get up the maintenance mode before I drive off again.
(btw I chart these voltages as one of my cars I installed a bluetooth battery monitor)
Is 14.8v at 1amp charging for a few days risking damage due to overcharging? (though I don't know if it is really outputting 1amp, it could be ramping down over time? I don't have the tools to check that) If not damaging, I might leave it on the charge cycle and see how long it really takes to start floating.
Another strange thing about the 12117TC: one of my BMWs as two AGM batteries installed in the front and rear of the car. I have installed a Battery Minder "Y" adapter so I can charge both batteries at the same time. With the 12117TC connected up, it cycles like my other Battery Minders...it will switch to the maintenance mode after only a few hours. On two cars with a single AGM battery, it take an extended amount of time to get to the float mode.
https://www.batteryminders.com/multiple-battery-connector-210-AY
This is the published algorithm for the Battery Minder 12117TC. Note the separate float, versus maintenance mode.
Here is the algorithm for the Battery Minder 2000 series, to include both the 2012 and 2012 AGM. Note there is no float, it drops directly to maintenance mode.
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I despise the 12117TC and returned it back to Northern. I used my older 750ma BatteryMinder for my Odyssey AGM to do the float 13.7 V and for the wife’s flooded cell battery if the temperature < than 40F.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
Does it data log? I'm too lazy to keep checking it constantly...
I'm probably going to just buy another 128CEC2. I'm not too worried about the 12117TC, I purchased during a sale last fall and only paid about $25, perhaps $30 with shipping. I may just box it up and flip it on eBay.
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f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
Pulse Tech doesn't temperature compensate. I was about to buy one, until I read the instructions for use and product sales sheet
Otherwise it looks like a decent product.
Details here:
https://pulsetech.com/products/xtreme-charge-xc450-battery-charger-maintainer-and-conditioner
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No data logging.Does it data log? I'm too lazy to keep checking it constantly...
I'm probably going to just buy another 128CEC2. I'm not too worried about the 12117TC, I purchased during a sale last fall and only paid about $25, perhaps $30 with shipping. I may just box it up and flip it on eBay.
Correct.
Well, then I’m out. I had one in my cart but considering I’d be using it in some pretty cold and sometimes hot temps it doesn’t make sense. I’ll just stick with my Nocos and the cheapo Axtra that charges my mower and toys.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
I think for the price point ($40), this four amp Pro Logix looks promising. Has temperature compensation and works on all chemistry types, including lithium Ion. Only question is how effective the desulfation mode is. The desulfation mode is not continuous like some brands, instead it detects a certain parameter that must be met, then it will run that mode before completing charging and maintaining.
https://www.amazon.com/Clore-Automo...575851&ref_=pd_hp_d_atf_ci_mcx_mr_ca_hp_atf_d
Like Battery Minder, it will resume charging after a power outage.
The lowest price Battery Minder (online) is around $92 with free shipping, and no tax.
This one is for flooded and AGM batteries. They make a separate model specific for Odyssey AGMs.
https://www.batterystuff.com/batter...2-amp-charger-maintainer-desulfator-2012.html
I looked at the pro logix and it pretty much checks all the boxes. The pulse tech seems to be a proven charger to bring batteries back from the dead. I was able to restore a 4 yr old Everstart maxx that had spent its entire life in my Nissan that has smart charging, which means that the battery is constantly running around on an about a 50% charge with my genuis 5. It took several runs in the repair mode function, but I was able to get the battery back to 95% SOH and take a charge of 90%. Prior to, the SOH was 45% (replace battery) and wouldn’t charge over 55%. My nephew installed the battery in his work car and just made it through a week of negative temps. I still may get the pulse tech, but I’m going to reach out to them about using it in cold Ohio winters and 95 degrees in the summer. If they use these for the military, you’d think that some thought went into this.
