Battery Chargers

[pancho]

These two chargers have somehow managed to supply my lead acid battery charging needs for the last twenty or twenty five years, the one lived in the engine compartment of a boat for a season,,, and shows it.... They still work.   As you can see I needed to upgrade about fifteen years ago, but I seem to use things until they completely used up.



I am ready to upgrade and wonder who had found a charger, or chargers that they are happy with. I would like to find something that will work all batteries from small 7ah gel cells to large deep cycle batteries,, something that is smart enough or adjustable so you won't fry smaller batteries, but can still deliver the amps to charge a 800 cca truck battery within a reasonable time. Anybody find anything like that out there??

[Hef]

I have one from Sears. It has two settings; 2 amp or 10 amp. Shuts off automatically when battery is fully charged. Have had it for 10+ years, never had a problem. Used a Battery Tender when I had the Goldwing which also worked great.

[Jess from VA]

I have a nice portable Craftsman that has both trickle (.X, but no brain to shut it off) and 2/10/50 amps.  Then I have several Battery Tender Jr's, that keep my bikes and car topped up 24 X 7 (with a brain) for years and years.  The Craftsman you always use a timer, the BTJ's you leave hooked up as long as you want (or forever when not riding/driving).  The BTJ will not bring up a dead battery, and won't even try (brain).  It will probably bring up a weak battery, but not quickly. 

[gordonv]

I bought a CTEK 3300, seems to do all my needs, except one.

Am considering going to a Lithium Iron battery. You can charge with a regular charger, but for maintenance and the like, you should have a LiFe charger. So between a $200+ battery, and another new charger of say $80+, I'm hesitating doing this anytime soon, until I actually have a battery failure.

[sandy]

You'll need two for all those needs. I have Jes's Craftsman unit for jump starting big batteries and Gordon's CTEK for smart charging.

[pancho]

I bought a CTEK 3300, seems to do all my needs, except one.

Am considering going to a Lithium Iron battery. You can charge with a regular charger, but for maintenance and the like, you should have a LiFe charger. So between a $200+ battery, and another new charger of say $80+, I'm hesitating doing this anytime soon, until I actually have a battery failure.

Not sure why you would go to the Li ion battery Gordon, They are great for energy density for things that run on a battery, but for our bikes that rely on a battery for starting and a smoothing load for the alternator output,, not sure that there would be any advantage...  YOu pointed out one disadvantage,, price.

I'll take a look at the CTEK 3300

[hubcapsc]

I have one that is smart (turns off when done) for car batteries, and dumb (fries 'em
if you don't turn 'em off) for 6 volt batteries... read the small print on the box and
make sure you don't get one like that...

-Mike

[gordonv]

Am considering going to a Lithium Iron battery. You can charge with a regular charger, but for maintenance and the like, you should have a LiFe charger. So between a $200+ battery, and another new charger of say $80+, I'm hesitating doing this anytime soon, until I actually have a battery failure.

Not sure why you would go to the Li ion battery Gordon,

In my case, it is an Iron not ion battery. Fe

In my case, I don't ride too often, and live in a townhouse that has a zero % policy on doing any work on vehicles on strata property. Technically, this includes hooking a charger to my bike, etc, etc, etc.

So with a .1% discharge per month, this works for those weeks/months that I don't ride the bike. Last time I rode was mid Oct.

[pancho]

Got you,,,,  well that is news to me, I was not aware of the technology. Sounds like a good choice for your situation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery

[Black Dog]

Been using two of these for the past 6 years, and they work like a champ!

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332201_200332201

They are on a great sale now too!  Not only does it charge the battery, but they will desulphate them too.  Each charger can charge up to 4 batteries.  I have the two batteries from my boat, the battery from my lawn tractor, and the one from my Vexilar (ice fishing fish finder) on one.  On the other I have the Valk and my ATV...  At $20 now, by two for less than the price of one 

Black Dog

[pancho]

Thanks guys,,  as I researched these chargers I see there is more technology in chargers these days,, high frequency pulse charging for battery rejuvenation, etc.. 

I think I will still need two or more chargers for my needs, but for the time being, I will start with a smaller modern maintainer/charger as 7AH gel cells are on the immediate maintenance menu. The sale price on the Northern Tool item sold me,,, thanks Black Dog

[MarkT]

I've found 2 chargers are needed to fit my needs.  I have an automatic 6 amp Ray-O-Vac charger for maintenance.  I installed a plug compatible with the heated-clothes socket on all 3 bikes, and left the clamps in place.  Added liquid elect tape to all the bare metal of the red clamp, and keep it clamped on the strain-relief section of one of the wires, to prevent shorts.  It's also a good idea to plug it into your garage door opener light socket so every time you open the door you get 5 minutes of charge time.

I also have a timer and power switch controlled NAPA cart charger and engine starter 2/10/20/40/80/225amp 6/12v (it's big, on wheels).  This one will desulfate a large car battery (if it's recoverable). You have to use it carefully, setting the power and time after measuring the volts and checking a chart.  I have other chargers but once I got these two, they fill my needs for the bikes and cages.