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There have been a lot of blanket statements regarding chargers and battery=
charging.=C2=A0 Unfortunately, life is never as simple as we wish it to be=
.=C2=A0 And most of that can be attributed to the wide variety of styles of=
chargers.=C2=A0 One of the things I do in my professional life is evaluate=
chargers and they do vary widely.=C2=A0=20
First off, any reasonably priced charger cannot harm a battery very quickly=
.=C2=A0 Using a charger intermittently is the best practice.=C2=A0 A lead-a=
cid battery will self-discharge at a rate as high as 10% per month so using=
a charger for a few hours each month is all that is required to keep up wi=
th a dormant battery.=C2=A0 If you want a set-and-forget charging regimen b=
uy a plug-in charger and set it up to run the charger for an hour a day. or=
15 minutes.=C2=A0 Or get a timer with week-to-week programming capabilitie=
s and set it up to run an hour a week.=C2=A0 Depending on the charger, of c=
ourse.
The class of so-called trickle chargers vary the most.=C2=A0 Some are inten=
ded to keep a charged battery charged.=C2=A0 If you hook these up to a disc=
harged battery they will burn up.=C2=A0 Some will regulate to 14 volts othe=
rs to 13.5 volts.=C2=A0 Some are designed not to draw any current back out =
of the battery when AC is not applied, others will drain the battery at a l=
ow rate if not plugged in.=C2=A0 These range from cheap to really cheap.
Smart chargers cost more but are worth the price.=C2=A0 Smart chargers will=
automatically detect when a battery is charged and switch to a "float" mod=
e.=C2=A0 Most have indicators to let you know when this happens.=C2=A0 Howe=
ver, not all smart chargers are the same.=C2=A0 Most can be left connected =
to the battery full time and will not draw current from the battery when no=
AC is applied.=C2=A0 Many of these will just start charging when power is =
switched on so using this type of charger with a timer will be fine.=C2=A0 =
But there are some that require user set-up each time power is applied.=C2=
=A0 These will not work with a timer but will be fine if you manually conne=
ct and charge your batteries.=C2=A0 I have a couple of these and they requi=
re that the user select the battery chemistry each time it is plugged in.=
=C2=A0 Great charger otherwise.
These chargers are designed to remain connected and powered up indefinitely=
and I've seen this done many times with no adverse effects.=C2=A0 However,=
doing so on a battery in a car that is down for the winter is unnecessary =
and a waste of electricity.=C2=A0 It is better connect it once a month or s=
o and top-up the battery and leave it be.=C2=A0=20
And it will give you peace of mind.
=20
Dave=20
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<div style="color:black;font: 12pt Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div> <font size="3">There have been a lot of blanket statements regarding
chargers and battery charging. Unfortunately, life is never as simple as
we wish it to be. And most of that can be attributed to the wide variety
of styles of chargers. One of the things I do in my professional life is
evaluate chargers and they do vary widely. <br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="3"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="3">First off, any reasonably priced charger cannot harm a
battery very quickly. Using a charger intermittently is the best
practice. A lead-acid battery will self-discharge at a rate as high as
10% per month so using a charger for a few hours each month is all that is
required to keep up with a dormant battery. If you want a set-and-forget
charging regimen buy a plug-in charger and set it up to run the charger for an
hour a day. or 15 minutes. Or get a timer with week-to-week programming
capabilities and set it up to run an hour a week. Depending on the
charger, of course.<br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="3"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="3">The class of so-called trickle chargers vary the
most. Some are intended to keep a charged battery charged. If you
hook these up to a discharged battery they will burn up. Some will
regulate to 14 volts others to 13.5 volts. Some are designed not
</font><font size="3"><font size="3">to </font>draw any current back out of the
battery when AC is not applied, others will drain the battery at a low rate if
not plugged in. These range from cheap to really cheap.</font></div>
<div><font size="3"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="3">Smart chargers cost more but are worth the price.
Smart chargers will automatically detect when a battery is charged and switch
to a "float" mode. Most have indicators to let you know when this
happens. However, not all smart chargers are the same. Most can be
left connected to the battery full time and will not draw current from the
battery when no AC is applied. Many of these will just start charging
when power is switched on so using this type of charger with a timer will be
fine. But there are some that require user set-up each time power is
applied. These will not work with a timer but will be fine if you
manually connect and charge your batteries. I have a couple of these and
they require that the user select the battery chemistry each time it is plugged
in. Great charger otherwise.</font></div>
<div><font size="3"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="3">These chargers are designed to remain connected and powered
up indefinitely and I've seen this done many times with no adverse
effects. However, doing so on a battery in a car that is down for the
winter is unnecessary and a waste of electricity. It is better connect it
once a month or so and top-up the battery and leave it be. <br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="3"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font size="3">And it will give you peace of mind.</font><br>
</div>
<div> <br>
</div>
<div style="clear:both"><font size="4">Dave </font><br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
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