Trickle charger questions |
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Trickle charger questions |
bandjoey |
Jan 19 2019, 09:53 PM
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#1
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bandjoey Group: Members Posts: 4,923 Joined: 26-September 07 From: Bedford Tx Member No.: 8,156 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I've used this HF battery trickle charger for several years. Plug it in and forget it for weeks at a time. Very low and slow charge.rate. Then one day my battery, coil, and pertronics all fried at the same time while out on the road.
The shop said never use a trickle charger for more than 6 hours a day. They said no one really knows why everything went out at once and the long term use of this charger was possibly the cause. Sometimes the car sits up to 2 weeks without driving it. If I pick up a new charger do you think it should it be used for just a few hours at a time? Will a different brand be better for our cars and how long should it be connected to the battery? If I don't use a trickle charger how long do I need to drive the car to top off the battery? Attached thumbnail(s) |
mepstein |
Jan 19 2019, 10:08 PM
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#2
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,223 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I know many people who use trickle chargers on their cars, Porsche’s and other high end vehicles. Some with 20-50 cars in their collections. Never heard the issue that you had.
I use this one. Works great. Attached thumbnail(s) |
Mark Henry |
Jan 19 2019, 10:10 PM
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#3
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that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
If you want to leave it on all the time you need a smart charger.
For winter storage I take all of my batteries out, summer cars, lawn tractor, boat, etc. and put them on a bench (never on concrete floor) and I charge them once a month at 2amps only. |
mepstein |
Jan 19 2019, 10:10 PM
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#4
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,223 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
Someone who understands electronics (not me) can probably answer your question properly.
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bandjoey |
Jan 19 2019, 11:01 PM
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#5
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bandjoey Group: Members Posts: 4,923 Joined: 26-September 07 From: Bedford Tx Member No.: 8,156 Region Association: Southwest Region |
What is the difference in a Battery Tender and a Smart Charger?
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PlaysWithCars |
Jan 20 2019, 01:51 AM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 521 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Southeast of Seattle Member No.: 1,323 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I used to use a Harbor Freight trickle charger until it cooked a battery. Switched to Battery Minder brand chargers and never looked back. Been using them for 10+ years and never had a problem. I leave them on long term but never 24/7/365 only because I have more batteries than chargers so I need to switch them around. I like the desulfation feature on them to extend battery life.
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Valy |
Jan 20 2019, 02:05 AM
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#7
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,671 Joined: 6-April 10 From: Sunnyvale, CA Member No.: 11,573 Region Association: Northern California |
The charger can't fry your coil, ignition since the key switch is off. It may damage the battery but only if the charger goes bad. And the type of damage to the battery will cause it to lose max voltage.
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TravisNeff |
Jan 20 2019, 06:05 AM
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#8
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region |
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Rleog |
Jan 20 2019, 06:43 AM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 608 Joined: 12-October 03 From: Middleton, MA Member No.: 1,239 Region Association: North East States |
You might also consider CTEK smart trickle chargers. I have two of them and have been using them for years. They have settings for lead-acid and AGM batteries.
https://smartercharger.com |
campbellcj |
Jan 20 2019, 08:00 AM
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#10
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I can't Re Member Group: Members Posts: 4,539 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California |
I use a Porsche-branded CTEK (mostly on other cars) and it's great though pricey. These smart chargers automatically turn-off or cycle on/off when they detect the battery is all charged-up.
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Olympic 914 |
Jan 20 2019, 09:52 AM
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#11
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Group: Members Posts: 1,661 Joined: 7-July 11 From: Pittsburgh PA Member No.: 13,287 Region Association: North East States |
You might also consider CTEK smart trickle chargers. I have two of them and have been using them for years. They have settings for lead-acid and AGM batteries. https://smartercharger.com (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) CTEK - 7002 has modes for AGM and de-sulfication. Use mine plugged into the cig lighter socket. comes with battery connection. Only odd thing, the ends are not usual sae. but you can get an adapter. |
Mark Henry |
Jan 20 2019, 10:20 AM
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#12
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that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
I've used a bunch of CTEKs, many 996 customers cars have them, seen them fail to charge. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
meh... I'll stick with my battery bench and charge them on a schedule. |
bandjoey |
Jan 20 2019, 10:42 AM
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#13
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bandjoey Group: Members Posts: 4,923 Joined: 26-September 07 From: Bedford Tx Member No.: 8,156 Region Association: Southwest Region |
.75a 1.1a 3.5a. ?
What size is best for the 914 |
Amphicar770 |
Jan 20 2019, 11:49 AM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,188 Joined: 20-April 10 From: PA, USA Member No.: 11,639 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I keep several card on a multi-line smart battery tender, no problems. Harbor Freight charger ... I think you have your answer / culprit.
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Tom_T |
Jan 20 2019, 12:53 PM
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#15
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TMI.... Group: Members Posts: 8,318 Joined: 19-March 09 From: Orange, CA Member No.: 10,181 Region Association: Southern California |
Bill - as others have said -
1. For long term storage with it continuously hooked-up, you'll need the type which has the "smart" system which senses when, what & how much the battery needs for recharging, as well as when to stop charging. This is true for both the plug-in & solar types. 2. HF mostly sells low end junky stuff prone to fail - which is why they only warranty their products for 90 days, unless you pay more for an extended warranty, in order for them to cover their added costs for inevitable returns. Anything more complicated the zip ties, tape or basic tools - get it elsewhere, or at least get their extended warranty if you must buy a "smart charger" there at your own risk. But remember that their warranty won't cover damage to anything else like your coil, etc.! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Tom /////// |
branston |
Jan 20 2019, 01:07 PM
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#16
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Member Group: Members Posts: 89 Joined: 17-October 12 From: Michigan Member No.: 15,053 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
I have a few of these Schumacher maintainers attached to my cars all winter long without issues. Including my 914
I like the hook lets you hang it on the car and nice when stored 6v/12v it is used on my early vehicles too. https://www.batterychargers.com/en/products...tery-maintainer cheaper else where on line, let me Google it for you: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=schumacher+sc2 |
Big Len |
Jan 20 2019, 02:03 PM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,747 Joined: 16-July 13 From: Edgewood, New Mexico Member No.: 16,126 Region Association: Southwest Region |
If you're not using the car for 2 weeks at most, you shouldn't need a trickle charger. What's the age of your battery?
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r_towle |
Jan 20 2019, 11:13 PM
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#18
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Custom Member Group: Members Posts: 24,560 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Taxachusetts Member No.: 124 Region Association: North East States |
Smart charger will charge till full, then shut off.
It will monitor the battery and when it sees the battery go below a certain level, it will turn on and charge again. Constant charging will melt the lead and cause a short in the battery. |
UROpartsman |
Jan 21 2019, 12:50 PM
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#19
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Member Group: Members Posts: 291 Joined: 22-October 15 From: Simi Valley, CA Member No.: 19,288 Region Association: None |
I use this one. Works great. X2, Battery Tender float chargers are very good, probably the most common model for large car collections. Storing batteries on a concrete floor used to be an issue due to moisture, but that ended when the manufacturers started using plastic cases. https://northeastbattery.com/do-cement-floo...-car-batteries/ |
bandjoey |
Jan 21 2019, 03:53 PM
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#20
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bandjoey Group: Members Posts: 4,923 Joined: 26-September 07 From: Bedford Tx Member No.: 8,156 Region Association: Southwest Region |
thanks for all the info. since I'm a shade tree mechanic, and like automated tools, the smart charger is the way to go... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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