Battery charger question

[Eric Lang]

I have been using a battery charger that is around 30 years old. Seems
like it has been working well the last few years, but I wonder if
getting a new one will give me a better charge.
Is a battery charger just a battery charger, or is there a difference?
Thanks!

[J Buck]

<I have been using a battery charger that is around 30 years old. Seems
like it has been working well the last few years, but I wonder if
getting a new one will give me a better charge. Is a battery charger
just a battery charger, or is there a difference?>

I, for one, am no expert, but seems to me if it's charging your battery,
then it's charging your battery. The only way a new one will give you a
'better' charge is if it charges faster.

I am pretty sure of one thing though... you'll get replies differing
from this one LoL

[Henry Hefner]

J Buck wrote:

> <I have been using a battery charger that is around 30 years old. Seems
> like it has been working well the last few years, but I wonder if
> getting a new one will give me a better charge. Is a battery charger
> just a battery charger, or is there a difference?>
>
> I, for one, am no expert, but seems to me if it's charging your battery,
> then it's charging your battery. The only way a new one will give you a
> 'better' charge is if it charges faster.
>
> I am pretty sure of one thing though... you'll get replies differing
> from this one LoL

Yep, here's a differing one. I have always been told that a battery will
last longer if you charge it slowly. I remember my dad would always
check with the service station (remember those?) where he would buy a
battery to make sure they used a trickle charger on them, rather than a
fast charge. have batteries changed in this respect? Or does it make no
difference?

[Baitgal]

http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/owners-guide/understanding/charging.html




"Henry Hefner" > wrote in message
...
> J Buck wrote:
>
> > <I have been using a battery charger that is around 30 years old. Seems
> > like it has been working well the last few years, but I wonder if
> > getting a new one will give me a better charge. Is a battery charger
> > just a battery charger, or is there a difference?>
> >
> > I, for one, am no expert, but seems to me if it's charging your battery,
> > then it's charging your battery. The only way a new one will give you a
> > 'better' charge is if it charges faster.
> >
> > I am pretty sure of one thing though... you'll get replies differing
> > from this one LoL
>
> Yep, here's a differing one. I have always been told that a battery will
> last longer if you charge it slowly. I remember my dad would always
> check with the service station (remember those?) where he would buy a
> battery to make sure they used a trickle charger on them, rather than a
> fast charge. have batteries changed in this respect? Or does it make no
> difference?

[Doc \(The Tin Boat King\)]

Too fast a charge rate will produce excessive heat and warp the plates in the battery. Warp them enough and they will touch
causeing a shorted cell and a junk battery. I use a Vector VEC 1090 A 20/10/2 amp charger. They contain a microchip the reads
battery condition an when the battery is full it shuts down and reads "FULL".It will go to a "Standby" mode if the battery is
takeing alot of amps then turn back on after a few minutes of cool down time. I got mine at Wally World for about $60. Doc
================================================== ==================

"Henry Hefner" > wrote in message ...
J Buck wrote:

> <I have been using a battery charger that is around 30 years old. Seems
> like it has been working well the last few years, but I wonder if
> getting a new one will give me a better charge. Is a battery charger
> just a battery charger, or is there a difference?>
>
> I, for one, am no expert, but seems to me if it's charging your battery,
> then it's charging your battery. The only way a new one will give you a
> 'better' charge is if it charges faster.
>
> I am pretty sure of one thing though... you'll get replies differing
> from this one LoL

Yep, here's a differing one. I have always been told that a battery will
last longer if you charge it slowly. I remember my dad would always
check with the service station (remember those?) where he would buy a
battery to make sure they used a trickle charger on them, rather than a
fast charge. have batteries changed in this respect? Or does it make no
difference?

[J Buck]

Well, I *did* say I was no expert.

[Dale Coleman]

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 20:09:55 -0500, Eric Lang >
wrote:

>
>I have been using a battery charger that is around 30 years old. Seems
>like it has been working well the last few years, but I wonder if
>getting a new one will give me a better charge.
>Is a battery charger just a battery charger, or is there a difference?
>Thanks!

Hi all, what are you charging? Deep cycle trolling batteries?

Does your old charger have a timer? Or a low 2 amp rate? If yes keep
it!

What I have found is the new chargers can offer a more accurate charge
and help prevent overcharging. They have a chip in them that monitors
the charge and will cut off the charge when the battery is fully
charged.

The only problem is you will need to get one that is designed to
charge deep cycle batteries. The lower price chargers like what you
might find in the auto department only seem to work well on a cranking
battery and only if it is down but not fully discharged.

Fully discharging any lead acid battery is not good but it happens all
the time.

I have found the chip in the newer battery chargers can not handel a
fully discharged battery.

When I get a fully discharged cranking battery I can often bring it
back to life by hooking up an old pre chip 2 amp charger for a long 18
hour or so charge.

Hope this helps, DC

--
Dale Colemam

[AJH]

Wal Mart has a deep cycle battery charger 2/10 amps with auto shutoff
for about 30 bucks..

[Jerry Barton]

Try this and see if there's any answers for you.
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq.htm

"Eric Lang" > wrote in message
...
>
> I have been using a battery charger that is around 30 years old. Seems
> like it has been working well the last few years, but I wonder if
> getting a new one will give me a better charge.
> Is a battery charger just a battery charger, or is there a difference?
> Thanks!
>

[Eric Lang]

Based on the feedback here, seems like the only thing I am missing is
an automatic "shut-off". I charge at 2 amp rate, very slow. I beat the
batteries pretty good every season (2 deep cycles running 24 volts)
and they seem to last pretty long (2.5 seasons)..

Thanks for all of the good feedback!

-EL

[Bill Darden]

Hi EL,

To add my two cents. The new chargers have more features, are more
flexible (for the new battery types) and have more automation than the
older ones. I used a 20 amp 15-volt power supply out of a NCR
computer for years as my primary charger. Now I use a small three
stage, temperature compensated, "smart" charger" (Deltran's Battery
Tender International) for my wet car and deep cycle batteries.

If you have the time, please see Section 9 in the FAQ on
www.batteryfaq.org for more information about lead-acid battery
charging, chargers and tips on buying one. The different battery
types are defined in Section 7 and dealing with sulfation is in
Section 16.

If you have some large deep cycle trolling batteries (>100 amp hours),
you might want to look at the 12 amp, three stage Schumacher
SS-120A-PE charger for approximately $80, but it is not temperature
compensated, so you would need to use it at room temperature. I have
dozens of charger manufacturers listed in the Battery References and
Information Links List on the same Web site under the Chargers, Float
Chargers and Smart Chargers Sections. Another possibility is you
continue using your old manual charger with a timer if it works well
and buy a small float charger to maintain your batteries at 100%
State-of-Charge to prevent sulfation. The key is that you need to
turn the charger off when the battery is fully charged to keep from
overcharging it and that can be a hassle watching the current meter or
guess how much time it will take to set the timer.

If you have additional questions, I will be glad to try and answer
them.

Kindest regards,

BiLL......

(Please remove "NOSPAM")

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 19:05:26 -0500, Eric Lang >
wrote:

>
>Based on the feedback here, seems like the only thing I am missing is
>an automatic "shut-off". I charge at 2 amp rate, very slow. I beat the
>batteries pretty good every season (2 deep cycles running 24 volts)
>and they seem to last pretty long (2.5 seasons)..
>
>Thanks for all of the good feedback!
>
>-EL
>