Smart battery chargers with reconditioning modes

[ultrarunner]

I do have another to recommend besides my B-M 1500s (3 ). I didn't believer these were still available, as they're the older iron core powered type and strangely don't mention reconditioning structure/system, but they seem to have recovered batteries (5 YO in ZTR) that were thought hopeless. There may be a healthy pulse to one stage that isn't touted because after a few years use I wouldn't be surprised. Accumate 6v/12v is the first of many I bought and stays the busiest of five.

https://www.amazon.com/AccuMate-TM-08-ChargeMatic-Battery-charger-maintainer/dp/B0001V0A94
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=accumate...x=accumate,automotive,159&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_8

Said to be fragile, far from water resistant but, with daily restarts, we've brought back some real dogs within a week's time. I was searching for 'the best' years ago and stumbled onto this (still 6v, too :thumbsup on tips from more than one Gold Wing club and a handful of other British riders. I like the fuse and cap on the eyeleted pigtail. Buy Shumacher for either in pairs on ebay or Amazon, very econo to buy, same quality/polarity as all but one brand of charger (reviews complain loudly about that one).

One of the reviewers uses if on a Model A with 6 volts...

 

[the old grind]

Lucas...... Prince of Darkness........ Lucas..... Turning Ordinary Men into Electricians........ If the Brits like 'em :thumbsup: ...

Lucas ... I drove Triumphs while at Fort Devens in '70, parked a '64 TR4 in NH and left there in a sun-faded '62 TR3 (with a fresh valve grind and a new timing set) that just purred like a new car. I might to this day trade my ('pickled') '80 L82 Vette w/32k MI for a decent TR6 in similar shape with < 80k mi on it. (I know what risks I'd take at the Prince's beckon.) btw, for each its own reason, I push started both TRs for all but a week or so of either's term of operation. (Y'learn to park. )

This link (for now) should be to Tecmate's other, newer line that didn't turn up in my hasty search earlier. 'Optimate' ($$) vs my earlier 'Accumate' ( ~$50 and 5 star, IMO) Robot Check

"Pulsetec Xtreme XC100-P" is another one I like after using for a few years, 3a+ and I've learned that after topping up and an 'overnight soak' I can somewhat gauge a battery's o'all condition by what % it shows at next day's hookup, and how long it takes to work up to "100%" showing by which LED/time. Old pic here, these vetted for years, no regrets.

Robot Check

 

[daugen]

And the curtain came down on the big Battery Minder. Conked out again, would not charge. I will take it all apart to look for corrosion or
whatever, but time for something reliable. It's the one battery out on my trailer for the power hitch jack I can't get the charger under roof, should have put a tarp over it.
So operator error and time to go shopping.

Want something with higher amperage to recharge larger batteries faster, like my dead new
tractor yesterday. Thankfully I have conventional chargers but they always worry me about wrecking the battery by overcharging.
The word "automatic" on a battery charger doesn't tell you much. Automatic is usually dumb.
Smart is the way to go but always found you need both. You hook up that big charger and it starts buzzing and you know
some serious juice is going in. Little one goes about its business almost silently. Big one got the tractor going for sure, need to figure out
where the drain is. Will be checking that daily for awhile.

I was very satisfied with the performance of the Battery Minder until I ruined it.
I'm not up on those water intrusion standards, but I wonder if the competition makes one that can stay outside?
For forgetful people like me.
Water and electricity sure don't mix...all the connectors have to be watertight, like on boat power cords I suppose.

 

[daugen]

https://www.amazon.com/Ampeak-Batte...smart+charger&qid=1555239492&s=gateway&sr=8-4

this seems like a much less expensive alternative than my current 8amp Battery Minder, more powerful, but still has 2amp for the tiny motorcycle style battery on my DR pull behind power tiller. If I hooked 60amps up to that I think I'd better stand behind a tree...automatic or not.
Like Clint Eastwood asking if you're feeling lucky...2amp charger on a very small battery seems a smart thing to me.

Does anyone own one of these? do I need to spend a hundred bucks when sixty will do? We know where they all are made...
and for once a 7 dollar 5 year Amazon warranty might not be a bad idea on the cheaper one.
Well, at least I can buy from an American owned company. Where do you start there? Schumacher? ??
I really don't know.

 

[3930dave]

https://www.amazon.com/Ampeak-Batte...smart+charger&qid=1555239492&s=gateway&sr=8-4

this seems like a much less expensive alternative than my current 8amp Battery Minder, more powerful, but still has 2amp for the tiny motorcycle style battery on my DR pull behind power tiller. If I hooked 60amps up to that I think I'd better stand behind a tree...automatic or not.
Like Clint Eastwood asking if you're feeling lucky...2amp charger on a very small battery seems a smart thing to me.

Does anyone own one of these? do I need to spend a hundred bucks when sixty will do? We know where they all are made...
and for once a 7 dollar 5 year Amazon warranty might not be a bad idea on the cheaper one.
Well, at least I can buy from an American owned company. Where do you start there? Schumacher? ??
I really don't know.

Might be re-post, but what I bought a few months back:

https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-BC6BDW-Waterproof-Maintainer/dp/B00HWL4N08/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=BLACK%2BDECKER+BC6BDW&qid=1555256935&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

Seems fairly well sealed, but I take "waterproof" with a grain of salt...... and always try to provide some kind of cover..... when I use it on my trailer, I get it underneath, out of direct rain.

Not the latest bells etc, but a good price point vs rugged/Current capacity.

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

yes and it is reasonably waterproof, says it all over. Good choice Dave.
I have a bigger charger, might go a little smaller on this.
Quality of battery clips will be paid attention to this time.

 

[3930dave]

yes and it is reasonably waterproof, says it all over. Good choice Dave.
I have a bigger charger, might go a little smaller on this.
Quality of battery clips will be paid attention to this time.

I consider most consumer-level water rated products "splashproof". Many are better than that, but I like to be conservative with exposure, given the costs of vehicle electronics.... That 6A one seems reasonably well sealed against dust and moisture, IP67 IIRC.

"Waterproof" has different levels of certification....... right up to high-pressure/temperature washdown......

IP Code - Wikipedia

I think they had a 2A version, but for the slightly higher price I wanted the 6A one. It's still reasonably compact; I fit it easily under the closed hood of an old Civic this weekend.

Rgds, D.

 

[John_Mc]

And the curtain came down on the big Battery Minder. Conked out again, would not charge. I will take it all apart to look for corrosion or
whatever, but time for something reliable. It's the one battery out on my trailer for the power hitch jack I can't get the charger under roof, should have put a tarp over it.
So operator error and time to go shopping.

...

I was very satisfied with the performance of the Battery Minder until I ruined it.
I'm not up on those water intrusion standards, but I wonder if the competition makes one that can stay outside?
For forgetful people like me.
Water and electricity sure don't mix...all the connectors have to be watertight, like on boat power cords I suppose.

That's odd. If I remember correctly, you have the 128CEC1 BatteryMinder. One of my Batteryminders is that same model. I don't intentionally leave it out in the rain, but it has happened a couple of times. I've also had it outside under a tarp when it rained. When I pulled it out in the morning, it was covered in condensation. I've never had any problems with it.

The 128CEC1 is rated IP65: "Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects." So rain should not be an issue (as long as it did not sit immersed in a puddle). The model 2012 has the same rating. (Models 1500 and 1510 have an IP60 rating, which means no protection against water intrusion.)

 

[daugen]

John, the charger was sitting face up on a trailer hitch all night getting rained on. Not submerged but not happy.
It lights up but won't charge; thanks for info. Drew

 

[John_Mc]

John, the charger was sitting face up on a trailer hitch all night getting rained on. Not submerged but not happy.
It lights up but won't charge; thanks for info. Drew

Have you contacted VDC Electronics (manufacturer of BatteryMinder chargers) to see if they will repair or replace it? They've got a 5 year warranty, and they have a good reputation for standing behind it.