Do Trickle Chargers Really work....

skyhook · Feb 16, 2015

Well here's my story,
About 3 weeks ago, after reading a few threads here on the issue, i decided to go out and buy one at Wall-Mart,
$20 bucks, it clamps on and you plug er in, delivers .7 or 2 amps, I chose 2 amps. I leave it on permanently in the winter, plugged in.
I did this because my big girl tlb ( actually one of the smaller ones in its class) only has one battery (new) and a 65 hp Perkins power plant. ( think I'll call her Bertha because she's so hard to turn over).
After wiring a digital multimeter in my system, without the trickle charge, I would have 12.3 volts showing when i turned on the key.. ( block heater is also plugged in for about 2 hours prior).
I would then insert the fuse for my "pre-heat" and count to 15 ( I'll fix this issue when it gets warmer), and my meter would drop to about 11.4 volts, Bertha would turn over slow, very slow (-25C).

Now with this "trickle charger", when I turn on the key, my voltage is at 14.3 volts and when I insert the fuse for my pre-heat, (15 seconds) it drops to 13.3 and she turns over like she should.

Yesterday,,,it was -25C, winds blowing and darn cold, had Bertha plugged in for about 3 hours (block heater), and the trickle on as usual, Its always plugged.
Turned the key on, but forgot to put my fuse in for the pre-heat, although I did do the count of 15:confused2:
Low and behold, she fired right up like it was the fourth of July.:thumbsup: Almost instantly.
So for those of you who constantly run down your batteries from trying to get er going, GET ONE.:thumbsup:

NewfieDan · Feb 16, 2015

I agree. I don't have trickle charger like you have but I do have battery tenders on all my seasonal toys. They only deliver about .75A. As an example my motorbike is a 2007 and is still on its original battery. I figure that the tender is keeping it topped up and in good shape.

skyhook · Feb 16, 2015

You know Dan, I may have used the wrong terminology, mine is also a battery tender.
Thanks.

Parkanzky · Feb 16, 2015

Just to make sure everyone knows the right terms:

A trickle charger will pump 2 amps (or whatever it's set to) into the battery no matter what. These are OK for gently bringing a dead battery back to life overnight, but shouldn't be left on 24/7.

A float charger, battery maintainer, or tender will monitor the battery's voltage and only charge it when it needs juice to stay topped off. These are meant to be plugged in long-term.

pmsmechanic · Feb 16, 2015

$20 at Walmart....in Canada! I'll need to go and have a look. Most that I've seen are $60.

nikdfish · Feb 16, 2015

I like the Deltran Battery Tender Jr. (0.75A) smart chargers. With Amazon Prime, they are < $27 delivered. I have connector pigtails on various items (gator, mower, jump box, deep cycle battery, etc.) so they can get rotated through periodically. Extra pigtail connectors are available at about $5.

Nick

oosik · Feb 16, 2015

Yes, I keep a Deltran Battery Tender Plus on the tractor all winter. Never had any problems starting it without the tender - I'm just trying to extend the life of the battery in the tractor. I paid $60 for the unit.

Otherwise, the batteries out of all the winterized seasonal equipment are in the spare bedroom and I use a standard charger on them every three months.

k0ua · Feb 16, 2015

nikdfish said:
I like the Deltran Battery Tender Jr. (0.75A) smart chargers. With Amazon Prime, they are < $27 delivered. I have connector pigtails on various items (gator, mower, jump box, deep cycle battery, etc.) so they can get rotated through periodically. Extra pigtail connectors are available at about $5.

Nick

These are very good. they were on sale for $20, but looks like they have went back up to 25 with prime free shipping

Amazon.com: Battery Tender 021-0123 Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger: Automotive

check · Feb 16, 2015

I got the "Battery Tender" brand on the weekend because my ATV battery was slowly draining down, and it is -30 at the cottage. The problem is that I have a snowplow on it, which is raised and lowered by the winch. These ATV winches use a lot of power, and I believe that the ATV does not recharge the battery enough. If all I do is plow each time I am up. So, when you put the ATV away and go away for a week or so, the battery is in pretty poor condition. Had to get a new battery, but left the Battery Tender on when I left the cottage. This time, when I return, I am sure the ATV will fire right up. And those little beads that you can connect right to the battery with rings on the end of the leads or just the cats meow. Very convenient for me, since my Can Am 650 Max ATV has the battery tucked up in an area where the posts are basically inaccessible unless you take the battery right out.

adimice · Feb 16, 2015

I've had rel good luck with $17.00 solar maintainers from Harbor Freight. Two boats with 4 batteries, Kubota 3830, 2001 Chevy PU, they sit all winter in the barn in Maine. We get there in April, and all motors fire right off.

k0ua · Feb 16, 2015

adimice said:
I've had rel good luck with $17.00 solar maintainers from Harbor Freight. Two boats with 4 batteries, Kubota 3830, 2001 Chevy PU, they sit all winter in the barn in Maine. We get there in April, and all motors fire right off.

I use one of those up in the upper barn where there is no "juice" to keep the lawn mower battery up thru the winter.. Works good.

Oaktree · Feb 16, 2015

Parkanzky said:
A trickle charger will pump 2 amps (or whatever it's set to) into the battery no matter what. These are OK for gently bringing a dead battery back to life overnight, but shouldn't be left on 24/7.

I dunno about that. Years and years ago I built a trickle charger using a 12V transformer and a bridge rectifier, I included an ammeter in the + lead. When I first connect it, the meter will show a 1-2 amp reading, but as the battery charges it drops to almost nothing. I wouldn't want to leave it on a lawnmower or motorcycle-type battery long term for fear of over-charging it, but on a larger battery it doesn't seem to do any harm.

Agree though that one of the newer "smart" chargers would probably be better as a maintainer.

check said:
I got the "Battery Tender" brand on the weekend because my ATV battery was slowly draining down, and it is -30 at the cottage. The problem is that I have a snowplow on it, which is raised and lowered by the winch. These ATV winches use a lot of power, and I believe that the ATV does not recharge the battery enough. If all I do is plow each time I am up. So, when you put the ATV away and go away for a week or so, the battery is in pretty poor condition. Had to get a new battery, but left the Battery Tender on when I left the cottage. This time, when I return, I am sure the ATV will fire right up. And those little beads that you can connect right to the battery with rings on the end of the leads or just the cats meow. Very convenient for me, since my Can Am 650 Max ATV has the battery tucked up in an area where the posts are basically inaccessible unless you take the battery right out.

I hear ya. The one on my ATV was tucked in the right rear wheel well, of course that side is against the building where I park it. Since those small batteries are kind of pricey and don't last more than a couple years I welded up a bracket behind and below the rear luggage rack and put in an old car battery. Posts are easy to get at for charging and a battery that was "retired" from my wife's car is still going strong here 5 years later.

Beltzington · Feb 16, 2015

I use the BatteryMinder and am sure it works on my expensive AGM watercraft batteries. I also use it on a marine Optima battery I use for a trolling motor and portable power. I have not had good luck on recharging dead lead-acid car batteries I just don't think it has the amps.

Northern Freight routinely has the on sale for less than $20.

oldballs · Feb 16, 2015

I've used a Deltran Battery Tender ($50) for about 8 years now. Then I decided to get a couple of the Schumacher ($20) brand to save a few bucks. The Schumacher brand crapped out just over the warranty period....2 years. Thus I bought a couple more Deltrans. I doubt that Northern or anybody else sells the Deltran for $20 bucks....just sayin'....i.e. "Deltran Battery Tender Plus".
Cheers,
Mike

FTG-05 · Feb 16, 2015

I have the Schumacher SE-1-12S automatic trickle charger hardwired to my Ford F-350. I just plug it in in the front bumper area where the engine heater cord is located. I have no problem whatsoever leaving my truck plugged in while it's cold (for south TN). It keeps the PSD batteries charged up and warm(er). SE-1-12S:

I also have a Battery Minder but I haven't found it since we moved last summer, it's still in one of out moving boxes. I would not hardwire the BM into a battery since it will drain a battery eventually if left wired to the battery but not plugged in.

RaydaKub · Feb 16, 2015

I'm thinking of adding a 12V socket (cigarette lighter) somewhere on my BX so that I can borrow the neighbor's lawn sprayer. I'd also like to add a tender. I'm thinking that being able to plug the tender in with a plug like that would be awesome. Thoughts?

k0ua · Feb 16, 2015

RaydaKub said:
I'm thinking of adding a 12V socket (cigarette lighter) somewhere on my BX so that I can borrow the neighbor's lawn sprayer. I'd also like to add a tender. I'm thinking that being able to plug the tender in with a plug like that would be awesome. Thoughts?

That should work, but I added an SAE two prong connector on the back of the lawn tractor for the exact uses you mentioned. A little more duraable and compact than the Cig lighter socket and plug.

Amazon.com: Hopkins 47965 2-Pole Flat Extension: Automotive

Of course you can get them at almost any auto parts store too.

k0ua · Feb 16, 2015

k0ua said:
That should work, but I added an SAE two prong connector on the back of the lawn tractor for the exact uses you mentioned. A little more duraable and compact than the Cig lighter socket and plug.

Amazon.com: Hopkins 47965 2-Pole Flat Extension: Automotive

Of course you can get them at almost any auto parts store too.

I made sure that the exposed plug was the ground on the one on the mower so if it flopped around and touched the chassis it would not matter. Also Anderson power poles would be another choice.

Amazon.com: anderson power pole

varmint · Feb 16, 2015

Posted about these before, but some time ago I bought several Harbor Freight battery tenders for about $5 each... they work fine, keeping outdoor equipment batteries nicely charged. My old B8200 had an exposed battery, so the alligator clips were fine, but to simplify things, since my more recent tractors have their batteries under cover, I just wired up an outlet (with a fuse, of course, and plug in the maintainer. I suppose if I ever wanted to, I could use it for a 12v power source, as well.

RaydaKub · Feb 16, 2015

k0ua said:
That should work, but I added an SAE two prong connector on the back of the lawn tractor for the exact uses you mentioned. A little more duraable and compact than the Cig lighter socket and plug.

Amazon.com: Hopkins 47965 2-Pole Flat Extension: Automotive

Of course you can get them at almost any auto parts store too.

I was looking at a cig socket only because that is what the sprayer already has on it. Could make a pigtail with that connector also I suppose but it seems like that adds 1 more point of failure.