Float charger

[w2amr]

I picked up one of these at Walmart for $20, looks like a great deal. I'll use it for the chevelle, I have 2 smaller units for the motorcycles.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=schumacher+maintainer+battery+charger&wrapid=tlif12903573961071&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=3374841030773664129&ei=lErpTIG6CsP-8AaGq7WqCQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CEkQ8wIwAg#

[NQ6U]

Do you think it would work well for small gel cell batteries?

[w2amr]

Do you think it would work well for small gel cell batteries?
I would probably go with one of these, and the price is right.
"Works on ALL wet cell, gel-cell or the new OPTIMA™ batteries. Works on ALL years,ALL make & model 12 volt car, truck or motorcycle batteries."http://www.lectriclimited.com/battery-butler.htm#BBFC100 - Float Charger

[KA5PIU]

Hello.

I wait until I can get them at Harbour Freight on sale.
And, yes, as long as the ratings are good it will work just fine for gel cells.
In fact for smaller gel cells it is a normal rate automatic charger and not just a float charger.

[n2ize]

Hello.

I wait until I can get them at Harbour Freight on sale.
And, yes, as long as the ratings are good it will work just fine for gel cells.
In fact for smaller gel cells it is a normal rate automatic charger and not just a float charger.

I was looking at a few simple circuits that can be built cheap and used to float charge almost any common 6-12 volt lead acid battery such as are used in alarms, ups supplies, motorcycles, etc. Pretty simple to build.

[kc7jty]

Sez Wal mart price is $25.

[K8MCN]

I use pretty much the same float charger to keep my generator's gel cell topped off. I start the generator monthly to make sure it is ready when we need it, but
the charger has kept the battery ready to go for a year......

[kc7jty]

A 9 volt 500ma to 1A wall wart would probably work fine for a car battery.

[KA5PIU]

I was looking at a few simple circuits that can be built cheap and used to float charge almost any common 6-12 volt lead acid battery such as are used in alarms, ups supplies, motorcycles, etc. Pretty simple to build.
Hello.

The trouble is that when they are on sale at harbour freight they are cheaper than you could ever buy the parts.
http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/battery/15-amp-three-stage-onboard-battery-charger-maintainer-99857.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html

[kc7jty]

Harbor Freight stuff can be pretty crappy. I'd hit the $7.99 one though.

[KG4CGC]

http://www.qsl.net/wb3gck/charger.htm
this looks like it will fill that urge.

[w2amr]

Sez Wal mart price is $25.And the price was marked $20 at the store.

[kc7jty]

Have to see what they are here.

Still think a 9v wall wart should work fine.


The following is common for a six-cell automotive lead-acid battery at room temperature:

* Quiescent (open-circuit) voltage at full charge: 12.6 V
* Fully discharged: 11.8 V
* Charge with 13.2–14.4 V
* Gassing voltage: 14.4 V
* Continuous-preservation charge with max. 13.2 V
* After full charge the terminal voltage will drop quickly to 13.2 V and then slowly to 12.6 V
* Open circuit voltage is measured 12 hours after charging to allow surface charge to dissipate and enable a more accurate reading.
* All voltages are at 20 °C, and must be adjusted -0.022V/°C for temperature changes.

If a 9v wall wort produced 13.5v max/13v min (without any load) it should work perfectly.

[w2amr]

I was ready to pay $25 for it. It's that nice.

[kd8dey]

Harbor Freight stuff can be pretty crappy. I'd hit the $7.99 one though.

Bought 2 of those last year to keep a pair of sealed wheelchair batteries charged for my station.

[kc7jty]

Bought 2 of those last year to keep a pair of sealed wheelchair batteries charged for my station.

Are they holding up & doing everything right?

[kd8dey]

Right now the batteries are at school on loan for a class project. They are Building an electric vehicle using one of those gas buggie frames. The chargers are sitting in a desk drawer. those chargers are for maintaining a charged battery, not for charging a dead one :)

[kc7jty]

never used em? At least they didn't burn up.

[kd8dey]

never used em? At least they didn't burn up.

Used them for a while before i moved to this QTH. never got around to hooking it all back up.
All them friggin surgeries etc...then ended up in school.