trickle Charger ideas

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LazyDog

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My step dad has a 2007 Volvo that he seldom drives and will like to install a trickle charger to maintain the battery fully charge.

Any recommendations at which brand to get or what to look for. I never bought one before!

Thanks for the replies
 
3-5 amps is huge for a trickle charge! 1/2 amp is plenty.

If the car's stored outside I would seriously consider a solar charger.

May want to consider a quick connect or get a model with one, so you can leave a pigtail on your battery permanently and just grab the connection dangling through the grill.
 
the regular battery tender jr is 750ma.

if it's a hassle to run a cord (car stored outside) a decent solar charger is also a good option.
 
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Look at the Noco Genius G750:
When my 2017 Ram 6.7L sits for 7-15 days at a time in the garage I plug in the G750 and it keeps both batteries fully charged within 8-12 hours. Its amazing how much of a pull is on todays batteries with all the new electronics that are in the autos now.

The G750 will really be helpful during those cold winter months: Knowing every time I pull out of the garage into the winter weather both batteries are full and ready to go.

Also have one mounted on the other side of the garage for the wifes car.
 
Originally Posted by -SyN-
Look at the Noco Genius G750:
When my 2017 Ram 6.7L sits for 7-15 days at a time in the garage I plug in the G750 and it keeps both batteries fully charged within 8-12 hours. Its amazing how much of a pull is on todays batteries with all the new electronics that are in the autos now.
The G750 will really be helpful during those cold winter months: Knowing every time I pull out of the garage into the winter weather both batteries are full and ready to go.
Also have one mounted on the other side of the garage for the wifes car.


Get a smart charger, trickle chargers are old school and the new batteries are quite demanding so they require a charger that "thinks"
My advice is to get a CTek if you can't find a CTek get a Noco Genius, but the way the two are built inside is worlds apart..
 
I have a Battery Tender Junior (it is a smart charger) that works great for keeping a seldom driven car topped off. Inexpensive, dependable, and probably the way to go for your needs. You'll want something more powerful if you need to actually charge a totally dead battery, however.
 
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OptiMATE 3 or OptiMATE 4(.8 amp).Best maintainer/charger I have ever had. No buttons, just plug and let it go. I also have the 6 for up to 5 Amps of charging power. Even the 2 would be good, which can be had for $32 on Amazon right now.

Also the battery tender jr would be good.

I believe Ctek to be a great product, but I haven't used any of them.

Had some noco stuff years ago. Had problems with several of them.

Just my experiences.
 
Originally Posted by LazyDog
My step dad has a 2007 Volvo that he seldom drives and will like to install a trickle charger to maintain the battery fully charge.

Any recommendations at which brand to get or what to look for. I never bought one before!

Thanks for the replies


First you want a battery maintainer or float charger, not a trickle charger. I prefer a Batter Minder. The better ones have high and low temp compensation. So the battery does not get under or over charged in winter or summer.

Temp compensation is not needed if you bring the battery into the basement, but I doubt you want to do that.

HF has some cheap ones, unsure of quality.
 
Originally Posted by Kestas
Couldn't a person use an old converter that puts out 12v 500ma?


It would have to be around 13.5 volts.
 
I saw a link to this eBay seller for the Battery Tender Jr for $17.15. No connection but I do use one for motorcycles when I leave them parked.
 
I have 2 HF $4.99 specials 1/2 amp. DIL's Rav4 has had an ongoing issue since new. There is a faulty sensor in the transfer case? that throws a code. That will prevent the car from passing inspection. The quick and dirty fix is a topped off battery. Putting the battery on a HF cheapy got him a sticker. Yes, Kestas it is just a 12 v 1/2 amp transformer. It also has an additional black box that I think shuts it off at 14.xx volts. I keep one in the Rat's engine and give it a charge evry month. The Rat sits mostly. I want to see if I can keep the battery 3 yrs or longer. If I can, I'll be satisfied.
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Originally Posted by StevieC
I just bought a C-Tek for my Toyota Highlander to keep the battery topped off when it's parked over night because the smart charging system likes to keep it at 12.3v instead of fully charged. Not saying that's a bad thing but I would prefer it to be fully topped off.


Interesting. I always check the voltage and CCA (using my Midtronics PBT 300) on my batteries after charging is finished with my C-TEK and the green light is on. Voltage is always 12.6 or 12.7 on all my vehicles.
 
With the charger it's about 12.6-12.7 but if I don't charge it and leave it up to the vehicle to decide it under charges it to 12.3. The manual says 12.3 is normal. After doing some reading it's supposed to extend the life of the battery if you slightly under charge a flooded lead acid battery. News to me but who am I to argue with Toyota engineers.
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