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Trickle chargers #2832412
10/13/20 06:35 PM
10/13/20 06:35 PM
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Moved to N.E. Tennessee
GomangoCuda Offline OP
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It's getting to be that time of year again. What do like? There must 50 different ones on Amazon. There seems to be new more advanced models every year. Are any of their claims valid Or just snake oil advertising hype? Are they really any better than any old 2 amp charger? If you have 2 or more batteries in a vehicle does each one need a dedicated trickle charger or can they be charged in parallel?
Thanks.


In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
Re: Trickle chargers [Re: GomangoCuda] #2832418
10/13/20 06:47 PM
10/13/20 06:47 PM
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Andrewh Offline
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I used to like battery tender, till I found out their warranty was garbage, and of course that fire the one member had.

I currently use shumacker and ctek.

The ctek one is for agm batteries and has the desulfating thing built in. no idea if it works well or not.
It doesn't seem to save batteries, or make them last any longer really. Still been replacing them every 5 years or so just like normal.

But it does prevent them being dead after sitting for a while. or doing lots of short hops.

As for charging multiple batteries it can, it will just be slower.

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: Andrewh] #2832421
10/13/20 06:53 PM
10/13/20 06:53 PM
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So Near, Yet So Far
topside Offline
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Schumacher for me, although I do have a Duralast (AutoZone) that's also been trustworthy.
Been using both for many years without a problem.
Had a couple Black & Deckers, shorter lifespan.

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: topside] #2832437
10/13/20 07:49 PM
10/13/20 07:49 PM
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Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
62maxwgn Offline
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Never needed one,every couple months start and let run for about 20/30 min,never had a battery that didn't last 7 /8 yrs or longer,the reproduction battery in my bird is over ten yrs old..

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: 62maxwgn] #2832439
10/13/20 08:01 PM
10/13/20 08:01 PM
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Omaha Ne
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TJP Offline
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I just disconnect the negative cable and that seems to really make them happy smile twocents beer

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: TJP] #2832443
10/13/20 08:11 PM
10/13/20 08:11 PM
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Posts: 20,352
Eagle, Idaho
Neil Offline
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Yes, disconnect the battery, or take the battery out an put it in a warmer place. I've let past cars I've owned sit from October to March in an unheated building and they still turn over fine.

Some batteries are just a joke. I know someone who has to put the charger on his stuff if it sits for more than a few months, even in warm weather. down

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: topside] #2832454
10/13/20 08:33 PM
10/13/20 08:33 PM
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Moved to N.E. Tennessee
GomangoCuda Offline OP
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I have had a Shumacker trickle charger for decades. It works. I also have a much newer Shumacker charger that can be set for 2, 10, or 20 amps and three types of batteries. It steps down to 2 amp trickle when it gets close to full charge. Readout shows percent of charge and voltage. I had a gift Black and Decker trickle charger that got so hot the first time I plugged it in that it went in the trash after it cooled down. Same person gave me a Craftsman the following year. It works. I should have at least one more thus this topic. shruggy


In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
Re: Trickle chargers [Re: GomangoCuda] #2832469
10/13/20 09:06 PM
10/13/20 09:06 PM
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Posts: 900
Washington
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hemienvy Online content
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I got the Optima charger, though maybe it's not a trickle charger, can't remember.
$89 at Summit.
I like it.

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: GomangoCuda] #2832495
10/13/20 10:25 PM
10/13/20 10:25 PM
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Morristown Tn.
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71birdJ68 Offline
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What type of battery? It makes a difference.

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: GomangoCuda] #2832516
10/13/20 11:44 PM
10/13/20 11:44 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
plazomat Offline
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Ctek on my battery since 2014 - still going.

A little on the pricey side - but worth every penny. I have not had to replace a battery since I started using it. Sits in my cold unheated Canadian Garage all year, car maybe comes out 4-5 times a year. Used to get 3 years out of interstates previously.

Plaz

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: 71birdJ68] #2832517
10/13/20 11:46 PM
10/13/20 11:46 PM
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Posts: 4,707
Moved to N.E. Tennessee
GomangoCuda Offline OP
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Originally Posted by 71birdJ68
What type of battery? It makes a difference.

Plain old lead acid car batteries. Not AGM. I can disconnect the battery in my 50 year old Barracuda but the computers in the 97 Firebird and 2017 motorhome don't like being disconnected for longer than it takes to swap batteries. Both of those vehicles are hard on batteries. The Barracuda has had 2 batteries in the last 20 years. First one lasted about 15 years. Lol. I use marine batteries in it. whistling

Last edited by GomangoCuda; 10/13/20 11:53 PM.

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
Re: Trickle chargers [Re: GomangoCuda] #2832522
10/14/20 12:13 AM
10/14/20 12:13 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,449
On the run…
BloFish Offline
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Disconnect the negative cable and trickle charge every so often, that has worked for me.


It really doesn't matter whether you win or lose…
as long as you look good doing it!

‘65 A100
‘69 ‘Cuda
‘73 Vega GT
‘06 Mega Cab
‘14 Mercedes SLK
Re: Trickle chargers [Re: GomangoCuda] #2832565
10/14/20 07:22 AM
10/14/20 07:22 AM
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USA
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360view Offline
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USA
For several years I have been impressed with this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Pulsetech-Xt...8-1&keywords=desulfating+charger#Ask

When it gets the battery fully charged,
the “trickle” cycle consumes 1 watt of power more than when the unit is on but no battery connected,
which is roughly 1/14.2 = 70 milliamps “Trickle Current”

It can charge two batteries in parallel.

I wish it had a 90% charged LED too, instead of individual LEDs for 75% and 100%,
or a 1-100% digital readout.

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: 360view] #2832593
10/14/20 08:56 AM
10/14/20 08:56 AM
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Halifax, VA.
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moparjack44 Offline
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Been using my Battery Tender for probably 20 years. Got from O'Reilley, no problems, and I use it all season. I keep it hooked to my battery and just plug it in when I drive into the garage.
Jack


K.I.S.S.
Re: Trickle chargers [Re: hemienvy] #2832595
10/14/20 09:06 AM
10/14/20 09:06 AM
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Tulsa OK
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Originally Posted by hemienvy
I got the Optima charger, though maybe it's not a trickle charger, can't remember.
$89 at Summit.
I like it.


These are great, I have worked for a Battery Distributor for 22 years and this is what I use on my stuff at home.

If you put your car away with a fully charged battery, and there is no electrical draw you should have a fully charged battery after a few months.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: Trickle chargers [Re: GomangoCuda] #2832609
10/14/20 10:10 AM
10/14/20 10:10 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline
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I've been using these for years and they work great. They're the only ones I've found that also do desulfication.

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


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Trickle chargers [Re: DUFFMAN] #2832690
10/14/20 12:58 PM
10/14/20 12:58 PM
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I have a few chargers but i only charge batteries that are sitting every couple months. Even an actual battery tender I don't trust the cheap chinese electronics to leave them plugged in and hooked up all the time.
A friend of mine has one of those ctek chargers. It works with regular batteries too and is nice that it tells you how charged it is and also the battery condition. I'd pick one up the next time i need one and want to spend that money on it.

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: Andrewh] #2832951
10/15/20 10:15 AM
10/15/20 10:15 AM
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St. Louis, Mo
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318 Stroker Offline
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Originally Posted by Andrewh
I used to like battery tender, till I found out their warranty was garbage, and of course that fire the one member had.


Will plugging a trickle charger into a GFI outlet prevent a fire if the charger shorts out?

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: 318 Stroker] #2832952
10/15/20 10:20 AM
10/15/20 10:20 AM
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Andrewh Offline
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Originally Posted by 318 Stroker
Originally Posted by Andrewh
I used to like battery tender, till I found out their warranty was garbage, and of course that fire the one member had.


Will plugging a trickle charger into a GFI outlet prevent a fire if the charger shorts out?


I don't think so.
A GFCI outlet measures the power coming in and then returning to your panel as it completes the circuit. It was designed to detect any difference more than 4 or 5 milliamps and to react quickly (less than one-tenth of a second) to shut down any circuit out of this small range.

which is not the issue. It is using all that power to create fire. It isn't shorting through something to ground. It is shorting to itself.

Re: Trickle chargers [Re: Andrewh] #2833159
10/15/20 09:01 PM
10/15/20 09:01 PM
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St Louis, MO 63026
convx4 Offline
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I was given a tip by the battery store owner when I bought my last battery.

He said to buy a timer that allows the charger to run once a week. He said tenders allow the battery to to develop a bad memory cycle.

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