Using CenTech 2 amp charger during winter
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Using CenTech 2 amp charger during winter
Can I leave my CenTech charger hooked up for long periods when I'm not driving my 2003 during winter? I had a very dead battery and would like to keep it charged but not sure if leaving ot hooked up when not using is a good idea.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 383
From: Chandler AZ
I have 2 and bought them with coupon for $5.00 each at different times.
I don’t trust leaving it on all the time, I will put it on for 12-24 hours at a time then remove charger, wait until next day and check battery voltage with multimeter so battery can have time to settle down, sometimes right after charging the voltage will be higher, next day it drops back down.
Also use the other one for 1965 C10 truck with Edelbrock pro flo 4 fuel injection.
Even with the very best most expensive charger, I think people say C-tek or something like that, don’t trust it hooked up all the time.
Also if C5 sits long just disconnect the negative battery cable so it doesn’t discharge, still check voltage once in a while even with negative cable removed
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 355
From: Northville, MI
For a flooded battery long term charging should be 1.25a, for an AGM battery it should be 0.75a. For the last 20 years I have been using a charger and those were from a GM sight I found years ago. My OEM battery lasted 9 years and the others I replaced every 8-9 years. In the summer months I will occasionally check the voltage after sitting overnight without a charger and when the battery is 12.5V or more everything stays the same. After about 7 or 8 years I will find the battery going below the 12.5V threshold and know it is getting time to replace the battery.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,828
Likes: 4,637
IMHO, 2A is going to put too much into the battery if used 24/7. I once forgot to remove a 6A charger that was left on for 24-36 hours. Ruined an 8 month old battery. Yes, thats 3x the amps, but....Just saying...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
I wouldn't !!! Why you ask - well years ago - I left one of those Cheap Harbor Freight chargers hooked to a "spare" car battery I had lying around. One day - I checked the voltage (while the charger was connected to the battery) - that little charger was putting out 14.9 volts.
My spare battery was now a core return.
If you want to leaver a maintenance charger hooked up - get a C-Tek or a Battery Minder.
My spare battery was now a core return.
If you want to leaver a maintenance charger hooked up - get a C-Tek or a Battery Minder.
