Float battery chargers

[don samborski]

Has anybody seen the automatic float battery chargers on studebaker ebay? They range from $5.50 to about $35.00. Is this some sort of scam?
They have listed 12 volt chargers from 12 to 35 dollars, just different year auto. I asked them a question about the difference, saying a 12 volt car battery is a 12 volt car battery so why the difference in price. They did not answer my question.

Don

[jclary]

If you have a nearby retailer that sells mostly motorcycle gear...get your charger from them. First of all, they will sell products worthy of "in-store" inventory. They count on repeat customers and, therefore, attempt to offer quality products. I have a charger that senses voltage, automatically charges, and maintains batteries for my motorcycle, lawn equipment, six and twelve volt vehicles. All you have to do is correctly connect it, and observe the indicator LED display.

For the motorcycle, I installed a "plug-in" connector. For other batteries, you install the "clip" leads and charge as needed.

[fiveftsix]

Harbor Freight has them around $10 some with the plug fly lead some without.

[63 R2 Hawk]

I prefer the Battery Minder brand float chargers. They have a pulse circuit that desulphtaes the plates and extends battery life. A little more expensive but then again, so are batteries these days. I would be leery of the cheap float chargers, a lot of engineering has been put into the brand name chargers to prevent battery damage due to overcharge and boiling electrolyte.

[Buzzard]

I have been successfully using the C-Tek various units from Sweden. They claim them to be the Smartest having an eight step charging process. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Bill

[StudeRich]

I have a couple of the cheap 6 to 10 Dollar Harbor Freight "Float" Chargers, but I am not convinced that they are as good as the Real Deal "Battery Tender" chargers that actually STOP charging when needed, as opposed to just boiling the Electrolyte away all the time.

More money, more quality and MAYBE made in USA?

[Skip Lackie]

Agree with above comments. Better to spend some extra money to ensure that your batteries don't get overcharged (or worse yet, explode). I have an old Battery Tender and a 10-year old Accumate that does both 6v and 12v. It runs almost continuously, as I move it from vehicle to vehicle, tractors, and the "dead" car batteries that I use to power my garage radios. I think it cost about $50.

[TrickyRick]

I have two Float chargers

One is Harley Davidson (re-branded Battery Tender) the other is a Shumacher Electric.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-XM1-5-Maintainer-1.5-Amp/15140193

I no longer use any of my other chargers.

These are both true automatic float chargers.

No true automatic float charger should boil electrolyte

A standard automatic charger will not shut down to prevent over charging, it just switches from high to low current Like 15A or 6A down to 1.2 or .5A trickle, voltage is not controlled.
Current is not the problem, if the voltage is driven too high after charging is complete the battery may be damaged.

A true automatic float charger shuts down after voltage peaks (battery fully charged) then just maintains that voltage with only enough current to float at that voltage level.

[wittsend]

I have a couple of the cheap 6 to 10 Dollar Harbor Freight "Float" Chargers, but I am not convinced that they are as good as the Real Deal "Battery Tender" chargers that actually STOP charging when needed, as opposed to just boiling the Electrolyte away all the time.

More money, more quality and MAYBE made in USA?

I've had the Harbor Freight float chargers on three of my "hobby" cars for well over three years now. Never once had an issue with them cooking a battery. My understanding is that the float chargers don't shut off as they are only designed to supply that which is naturally lost. That said, you need to make sure the battery it properly treated.

1. The electrolyte is replenished to the full mark, and checked every 3-4 months.

2.The terminals are clean.

3. Fully charge the battery before relying on a float charger.

4. Put the float charger on an unswitched outlet.

One of my batteries is 14 years old and still getting the job done. The others are 6 and 8 years old. These cars only get started 5-20 times a year.