On Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:11:18 -0600, rw wrote:

Frank Reid © 2008 wrote:
One thing I know is that I don't have a battery charger to keep my
boat battery up to speed on a trickle charge. I don't have the boat
so I don't have the charger. Right now, the battery on my lawn
tractor is dead and its not in a place I can get my car.
Frank Reid

Carry your car battery to the lawn tractor. Don't forget the jumper cables.

Er, no, not unless you have another car (or fully-charged car battery) on
standby. And if you choose to ignore that advice, first and foremost, verify
that the "lawn tractor" is 12VDC negative ground and not 6VDC positive ground
(he didn't mention what the "lawn tractor" is). The smart move, whatever
voltage, is to check the water level in the tractor battery, and if it's OK,
take the tractor battery to whomever you wish that has a good charger and have
it charged. While it's charging, unass $50-$80.00 and go get an "electronic
charger" (I have and like this one, but YMMV -
http://www.bdonlinestore.com/product...DT+VEC1095ABD& - I think I
paid around $50.00 on sale at your favorite Mart...). If it's bone dry, go get
another battery, if it's just a bit low, top it off before charging it
(distilled water, if available).

Jumping a tractor from a car (or boosting one from the battery out of your car
if you don't have a tester, etc. or a spare, even if you _know_ it's 12V pos.
grd.) is a risky move - YMMV, but I've seen and heard of enough "weekend
farmers" (or innertube models) wind up with a dead tractor battery and a dead
truck battery...what's really funny is when they wind up with a dead cell phone
battery, too, and have to walk, like, a mile or something...

TC,
R