I guess I'll just have to disagree.
I really don't have the need for a float or computerized charger. For my farm duties.. I've either got a weak battery that needs a boost to start.. thus neeidng a beefy charger with a 50+a booster setting, Or one with a hefty charge setting like 10a or 25a that I can kick on while I grab a sandwhich and then kick her over to boost to make her start.
Not having power out where the bulk of my equipment is parked makes having a float charger more than useless.
Having anything but the most expensive computerized chargers that have an overide setting is also more than useless on a battery that is stone dead.. or even has taken on a small residual reverse charge. In the past i've tried to use computerized chargers of cheap and mid grade, and had them refuse to charge a dead or reversed battery. For the money of the super-duper controller ones.. i can have a 5-8x bigger 'plain' charger/booster.
Besides.. it aint that hard to peer down into a cell and check water level.
Peak charge voltage only becomes an issue when the battery is at or near full charge, and the duration is ongoning.. which I specifically specified.. I.E. a plain charger is fine if the user is tending to it.
If the average 'joe' lacks the grey matter to use a vom.. thet's their problem. They can either read the chinglish manual.. or buy a nice one and read the 5 language manual.. or better yet.. they could have taken electronics in school instead of study hall or golf.. or even better.. taken some usefull electronics courses in college either as electives if they had a non tech major.. or as applicable courses in the case of a tech major. Still.. there are also many opportunities with adult enrichment classes in many communities.
There are some things the average person should know how to do.. even if they ar physically unable to do them.. or lack the proper tools.
Changin' oil, and reading a vom are 2 of those high up on the ( my ) list.
Same with computers... in the old iron days.. people were computer users.. nowadays many people are computer operators.. can be said of most devices and appliances.. people know how to operate them.. but not what makes them tick.. or how to repair them... i see this as a HUGE problem in our society.. and may eventually lead to our downfall as other countries are relied upon for 'service'.. as we become a huge island of no-nothings..
Soundguy
patrick_g said:
I tend to basically disagree that an amp meter or voltmeter as typically employed by the average joe will show you the danger of too long of a charger session. The killer effect is the peak voltage in the waveform of the plain Jane charger.
Even though average current or average voltage is not showing too high a level so as to indicate overdoing it, the voltage peaks will tend to boil off electrolyte.
I agree completely that for a short session (not days on end) the old fashion or simple DIY charger is likely fine. The dual timer arrangement mentioned before was a clever self defense move against the vagaries of the old fashion charger.
Most new chargers of decent design go into a float condition after the heavy lifting has been completed and are safe for longer sessions without needing a timer.
On another but related note. Lets say you buy a solar panel that will make a few amps in bright sun. It is sold for use in 12VDC batt charging applications. You hook it up and aim it south and up at a 45 degree angle and walk away a happy camper. Later you measure the voltage and it is 14.2 (Hooray!) and you even use an amp clamp or open the ckt and insert an amp meter and see only a several hundred miliamps (Again Hooray!)
Then months later you find the battery electrolyte mostly gone and the battery ruined, WHY?? Most solar panels for 12 volt nominal service put out at least 20 volts or more. Without a charge controller (active circuitry) the panel doesn't quit charging at 14.2 vdc or so, it just slows down some.
Most small solar panels sold for putting on your dash or whatever and plugging into your lighter outlet do not come with controllers. If they are small enough in area and thus output they may never cause a problem but if you get a larger panel with some umph and don't use a controller it can overcharge and damage the batt over time.
IF you have an old fashion charger, using it with a timer may be a safer approach but getting a modern charger with tapered charge and float is a better idea. They often have a switch to select deep cycle or starter service batt.
Pat
