[AT] Battery Charger recommendations

[Dean VP]

Spencer, 

 Thanks for the tips. One of the reasons I like the Sears DieHard Gold is
that it does have the desulfate mode.  I haven't found that feature in any
of the Schumacher chargers that I  have looked at so far.  I'd like one
charger around here that can handle any of my 6 or 12V  tractors and the 12V
gas or diesel vehicles if needed. But I suspect that I would get another
6/12V small unit just for quick and dirty little jobs. I have my 6/12V unit
from Sears for over 40 years  and probably would still be working if I
hadn't dropped it off the top of Tractor tires so often.  It received more
than its fair share of abuse over the 40 years or so. It didn't owe me a
thing when it finally died. I haven't had time to find out if it could even
be fixed. Spending the winter in AZ and then coming back to a 6 acre place
that has completely gone berserk due to unusually warm weather is not fun at
all, and I'm a cripple with a scheduled knee replacement on May 11th.  I've
got to get things under control here so my wife, family and friends can help
us out while I am recovering. Feeling the pressure.  I have had such poor
luck with Harbor Freight electrical products I shy away from their products
and will buy from them only as  a last resort. But time and  circumstance
will change all attitudes. 

Dean VP
Snohomish, WA 98290

It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. 

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Spencer Yost
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 8:33 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Battery Charger recommendations

I'll jump in here with an antique tractor reference.   I have a cheapie shoe
box sized harbor freight Chicago electric charger with automatic mode and
six volt setting.  Got it for antique tractors.  Cost me like 35$ if that
much . It also has a 55 AMP start setting. The 55 AMP start setting won't
start a big diesel but it will start an easy turning gas tractor engine if
you let it charge the battery for a little while first.  If you don't do
that the dead battery is too much of a load for a mere 55amps.

I have used and abused that thing for 15 years.    My wife completely
drained her car battery just a week or so ago and I used it then.  Still
works great.

I also bought my son a nice shoe box sized schmaucher (sp?) that had a
desulfate mode.   That mode saved at least one battery so it paid for
itself.  I will say that it did not save two others I assumed only had
sulfate shorts so maybe not as effective as one hopes.   But again - if
desulfate mode saves one battery getting that feature will pay for the
charger.

Spencer Yost



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