| Author |
Message |
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 982
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 12:13 pm: | |
Yes, good point being made here. The "maintainers", "smart charger" or "fully automatic" battery chargers will trickle charge the battery at a relatively low (condusive to long life) charging rate (1 to 2 amps). When the battery reaches full charge, it will taper off to a very low "float charge" of perhaps 50 to 100 milliamps. If the voltage every drops low enough, it will revert back to charging again. These can be safely left connected to the battery indefinitely, with only 6 to 12 month checks of battery fluid levels required.
I drive my cars sufficiently to rarely require the use of my battery maintainers, but do have one connected to my motorcycle for the past couple years and it starts right up each time. Love it! |
Barney Guzzo (Trinacria)
Member
Username: Trinacria
Post Number: 270
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 9:39 am: | |
Paul is correct. Do not just use a "trickle charger". If you want to keep it on, you have to use one of the newer "smart" battery maintainers. You want to apply the correct voltage without overcharging. The smart chargers apply different voltages at different times to charge correctly. It has something to do with how the plates react with the chemicals and keeping them from boiling (espicially in a "maintenece free" battery). Not maintaining the battery propery will decrease the life and efficiency of the battery greatly. |
Paul Bianco (Paulie_b)
Member
Username: Paulie_b
Post Number: 320
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 7:30 am: | |
look for a product called "Battery Tender". It is not the same as a trickle charger. |
Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Member
Username: Tork1966
Post Number: 715
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 8:15 pm: | |
I concur on the trickle charger, I leave my car hooked to one all winter...love it!! |
Paul Bianco (Paulie_b)
Member
Username: Paulie_b
Post Number: 315
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 7:10 pm: | |
they are worth having. have used them for many years. even helps prolong life of the battery. nothing worse than wanting to take the car out and having the car NOT start! OK.....get to the battery, get out the charger..... |
Omar (Auraraptor)
Member
Username: Auraraptor
Post Number: 690
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 6:56 pm: | |
FABS, Barry, thanks for the info.
Barry, I agree, but like to install maintainers on all my cars so that I can just 'plug them into the wall" more or less when I am done driving them....and then leave them when the winter comes. |
Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member
Username: 308gtb
Post Number: 555
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 6:47 pm: | |
Omar,
Go to the manufacturer's website. They probably have a manual in .pdf format for your maintainer which you can download.
The best battery maintainer is driving your car.
Barry |
FABS (Caruso360)
New member
Username: Caruso360
Post Number: 49
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 6:40 pm: | |
That's correct. Red to positive, black to negative. |
Omar (Auraraptor)
Member
Username: Auraraptor
Post Number: 689
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 6:38 pm: | |
I lost the manual to my maintainer..but if I recall the red wire goes to +, black to -. Is that correct? Just making sure. How Would I know if I have it backwards? Thanks for answering my question, though it it kinda simple. |