Trickle Charger
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 128
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From: Enfield CT
Trickle Charger
Anyone know where I can get a top quality trickle charger for my vette? I've heard horror stories from people that have bought bargain units and fried their batteries and electrical systems. Vette's been down for about a month now and I already see a signficant drop in battery charge. Thanks.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 102
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From: Carson City NV
Trickle Charger Suppliers
Here's a good source for the Battery Minder, other types of chargers and batteries:
http://www.batterymart.com/batteryminder.php
Steve
http://www.batterymart.com/batteryminder.php
Steve
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Trickle Charger (iceman47)
If you already own a battery charger, then all you need is an interval timer. Set it up for its smallest interval each day (usually 15 mins) and have it charge your battery each day. This won't overcharge your battery, won't harm your electronics, and it will keep your battery up. Don't believe that your battery will be just fine if you disconnect it!!!! Lead acid batteries self discharge about 1% each day and the plates will collect lead sulphate which is a good insulator and then you will have a good door stop! Lead acid batteries need to have their charge kept up when not in use.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 749
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From: South Boardman MI
Re: Trickle Charger (jfb)
Got a Sears "Battery Minder" for Christmas from my wife. Works great. I noticed when I raise the hood and the lights come on, the charger kicks into charge mode. When it's charged it puts out a few milliamps and when it needs to charge it's 1.5 Amps. I think it cost her around $35.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 110
From: Austin Texas
Re: Trickle Charger (iceman47)
I've been happy with the one I got from Griot's Garage.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=77655
These guy's sell to the collector car market...you know $100k and up cars use this thing to keep the batteries charged on their Ferarri's, Porsche's, etc.
If it's good enough for them, good enough for me.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=77655
These guy's sell to the collector car market...you know $100k and up cars use this thing to keep the batteries charged on their Ferarri's, Porsche's, etc.
If it's good enough for them, good enough for me.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Trickle Charger (jfb)
I don't deny the desirability of a trickle charger.
But I do have to take issue with this. One percent a day would be 30% a month. My Corvette will crank over normally and start after reconnecting the battery following a 4 month hiatus, with no apparent ill effects. If it were discharging at 1% a day, the 120 day break, should leave it deader than... My precomuter pick up will crank, like new, after 10 months of sitting, without disconnecting the battery, and it requires a LOT of cranking to refill the carburator ater that long a period.
After trying to start my car the first spring, and finding a dead battery, I started bring the battery into a warmer area and recharging it, perodically. One year I ran out of time to remove the battery, and I simply disconnected it.
I DO agree with this. Modern batteries do NOT like to be deep cycled. More than a couple of dead batteries will send you shopping for a new one. Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
Don't believe that your battery will be just fine if you disconnect it!!!! Lead acid batteries self discharge about 1% each day...
After trying to start my car the first spring, and finding a dead battery, I started bring the battery into a warmer area and recharging it, perodically. One year I ran out of time to remove the battery, and I simply disconnected it.
...the plates will collect lead sulphate which is a good insulator and then you will have a good door stop!
RACE ON!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Trickle Charger (CFI-EFI)
The 1% isn't 1% of its full charge each day, its 1% of its current charge! That means lead acid batteries discharge on an exponential curve, that they lose a smaller amount each day. Your pick up sitting for 10 months and then starting up is probably a candidate for the Guiness book of world records!!
Lead acid batteries do not like sitting for long periods doing nothing and as the battery discharges, lead sulphate collects on the plates and reduces its amp hour capacity and eventually makes an open circuit between the battery posts and a ruined battery. Just read the posts this coming spring about the batteries that complainers say they had to buy for their C4's that sat all winter and wouldn't take a charge. I've been posting for the whole time I have been a CFer to periodically charge the battery on your winter stored C4.
Lead acid batteries do not like sitting for long periods doing nothing and as the battery discharges, lead sulphate collects on the plates and reduces its amp hour capacity and eventually makes an open circuit between the battery posts and a ruined battery. Just read the posts this coming spring about the batteries that complainers say they had to buy for their C4's that sat all winter and wouldn't take a charge. I've been posting for the whole time I have been a CFer to periodically charge the battery on your winter stored C4.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
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From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Trickle Charger (iceman47)
At least five years ago, I bought a battery tender wannabe from Wal-Mart. I've been using it ever since. It works real well. I think I paid $16.00 for it.
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From: HOME OF THE FREE. BECAUSE OF OUR BRAVE. Babylon NY
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '20
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
Re: Trickle Charger (jfb)
I am not against trickle chargers or periodic top off recharges. I just think they are less necessary than some.
I have no doubt. However, most of these posts will be from owners that didn't disconnect their battery. The computer cars draw from the battery when not in use, unlike my stone aged pick up.
I am not calling this a bad idea.
I just fired it, this week, for the first time since March. I had to move it to allow access for the snow plows in the parking lot. The temp was approx 35*, but we've had plenty of nights where it has fallen below 20*, so far. It does this every year with a 6-10 month idle period. With the snow, I'l be driving it for the next few months.
Another point for your case, is that as the battery discharges, the electrolite turns to water and has a higher freezing point. A discharged battery is much more easily frozen. I have to go out now, to top off the charge in my battery, in preparation to disconnect it. See ya in the spring.
RACE ON!!!
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 12:35 PM 1/4/2004]
Just read the posts this coming spring about the batteries that complainers say they had to buy for their C4's that sat all winter and wouldn't take a charge.
I've been posting for the whole time I have been a CFer to periodically charge the battery on your winter stored C4.
Your pick up sitting for 10 months and then starting up is probably a candidate for the Guiness book of world records!!
Another point for your case, is that as the battery discharges, the electrolite turns to water and has a higher freezing point. A discharged battery is much more easily frozen. I have to go out now, to top off the charge in my battery, in preparation to disconnect it. See ya in the spring.
RACE ON!!!
[Modified by CFI-EFI, 12:35 PM 1/4/2004]
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,651
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From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Trickle Charger (iceman47)
"Battery Tender" user here. Got three Vettes. Got three Battery Tenders.
Battery Tender: Worth their weight in 'money SAVED' not buying new batteries.
Nuff said.
Battery Tender: Worth their weight in 'money SAVED' not buying new batteries.
Nuff said.
