[Shop-talk] Trickle Chargers

[Randall]

> They both claimed 
> that the HF units can eat your battery because the float 
> circuit doesn't work.

As I see it, they didn't have a "float" circuit at all.  Just a constant
(regulated) voltage.

>  A buddy had several and they all died 
> before eating any of his batteries.

So did mine.  But likely that was because I didn't fully charge the battery
first.  They apparently have no current-limiting circuitry in them; only the
output resistance of the wall wart.  Faced with the load of a discharged
battery, it eventually overheats and burns out.  When I tried upgrading the
wall wart, the electronics box melted.

> Battery Minders also desulphate, which seems to have helped 
> several of the batteries I've used them on, including a small 
> battery, once dead and then it sat in the shop for many years 
> uncharged.  Now it's fine.

Interesting.  I've got a few of those myself.  You're talking about the
units from VDC Electronics, right ?
http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_12117.htm

Randall