Smart battery chargers with reconditioning modes

[def38]

I've got a couple of these. I maintain large diesel engine start batteries (motorhome), riding mower, automobile, motorcycle and tractor batteries.

Priced right and they have variable outputs for various sized batteries. Haven't lost a battery yet. Just attach, plug in and walk away. These chargers do all the rest. They don't call 'em smart chargers for nothing.

Amazon.com: Schumacher SSC-1���A SpeedCharge 2/6/1� Amp Battery Charger and Maintainer with 5�-Amp Battery Clips: Automotive

IMO, the small, maintainers are all but worthless. The are rarely able to recover a deeply discharged battery and they are not cheap.

I have resurrected several batteries for friends that were going to the recycle center. Currently, lead acid batteries are costly, dangerous and environmentally hazardous. Save all of them you can.

 

[rbstern]

I ended up getting a Schumacher SSC-1000a. It's already brought two small 12v batteries back to life by cycling them thru desulphation mode.

Very impressed with the charger.

 

[def38]

I ended up getting a Schumacher SSC-1000a. It's already brought two small 12v batteries back to life by cycling them thru desulphation mode.

Very impressed with the charger.

Excellent choice.

 

[ultrarunner]

Just putting this out there...

Picked up 5 ea of the Battery Tender 3 amp 6-12v chargers at Costco last night.

Stocking stuffers at $29.99 ea.

There is a 3 ea limit but Mom was with me so we had her ring up 2 of the 5.

I believe the 3 amp with 6-12 volt is a Costco exclusive and I was not going to miss it again.

 

[oosik]

You guys are making me feel better....... I thought I was a little overboard - I've got three of the units. Two Deltran Battery Tenders and one TecMate Optimate 4.

When the replacement batteries can be obtained cheaply - tenders don't seem to make sense. I've got units on my big tractor battery and motorcycle battery. In either case replacements ARE NOT cheap.

And in the dead of winter ( isn't it ALWAYS the dead of winter when you must plow snow) I want my tractor to fire right up. No futzing with starter cables, spare batteries etc.

 

[Garandman]

Bought the Battery Tender Solar Controller. You hook it to a solar panel and it provides the same charging profile as the plug in models.

We also have one Battery Tender Plus, a NOCO Genius charger, and a Clure smart charger.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's settled... some of us are charger junkies... count me in.

Nothing more frustrating than finding a dead battery when you have work to do.

Don't need a charger for my daily driver but for equipment I use once a week or once a month or even seasonally having the right charger to keep the battery topped off is one less thing to worry about.

Like most things... my ancient Tenders are not from China... the Costco units picked up this week are.

How many use the included leads to make a semi-permanent installation for easy charger hook up.

My nephew has a buggy and motor cycle... the battery for the motor cycle is kind of buried... he used the lead and it makes hooking up a snap.

Seems Costco has gone all Interstate for batteries and the AC Delco is no more. I've never had anything to take back to Costco but I hear Costco is not hard when it comes to returns...

Saw a guy with a dozen folding tables in the return line... it looked like he had an event and doesn't need them anymore.

 

[sixdogs]

With a wide range of old (not serviceable) batteries, I was able to see about a 10-13% improvement by using various desulphation methods. My conclusion at the time was that once trashed, they can't be returned to any real service. For an abused battery that is not quite ruined, best bet would be either long term float charging once fully charged (sealed battery) or an equalizing charge on a standard lead acid battery.
I do believe desulphating chargers prolong a battery's service life, and may improve a questionable battery.

I do the recondition and desulphate thing with a NOCO charger and batteries that should be dead are still working several years later. I've got some batteries over 12 years old. That doesn't seem possible but they are.

 

[ArlyA]

We've got several Schumacher chargers and quite happy with them. I'm told that all electronic style chargers from this company have the desulphation mode built into them.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I do the recondition and desulphate thing with a NOCO charger and batteries that should be dead are still working several years later. I've got some batteries over 12 years old. That doesn't seem possible but they are.

sixdogs I have been using the red Black and Decker 40 amp smart chargers for about 10 years to recover dying batteries using the Desulfate Mode and Equalizing Mode.

I keep some 6 amp Dumb Chargers for the tough nuts that do not want to take a charge. I put them on 6 amp setting and the B&D in Desulf mode (one cycle is 24 hours). After three of these cycles I have seen deep cycle batteries run time increase by 50%. I have found in a good battery that is just discharged that over night the manual 6 amp charger will taper to about 1 amp of output with the voltage of about 15+ volts. If it is a starting battery on a diesel engine and it will only taper down to 2-3 amp output and voltage never makes it up to 15+ voltage I make a note to replace it before winter especially if it needs to start in freezing weather and does not have access to 120 volt AC.

I am talking about flood lead acid batteries that I now can get 2X battery life expectancy. Yes batteries will die hard at some point.

I do think from my experience and statement by an area Interstate battery distributor the full time use of a some good battery tender system is idea for a seldom used lead acid battery.

This year I bought 4 of the AGM starting batteries so I will see how they worked out. One did develop a dead cell in the first 6 months but they gave me a new fresh dated AGM to replace it. My automatic chargers set in AGM mode will not Desulf or Equalize. My question about AGM technology will it make batteries are not maintained well last longer than a flooded lead acid battery in the same environment. No eaten up battery terminals would be a plus in my view.