[AT] Battery Charger recommendations

[Spencer Yost]

If you have an antique tractor battery that is so dead and flat that it won't take a charge, try this(outside, and vented):  Put the charger on start mode for 30 seconds, rest the battery for two minutes, and repeat 2-3 times.   This has worked a number of times for me - once recently with my truck where the air conditioning switch went bad and the compressor clutch  stole every electron out of my battery.   Nothing would charge it.  Brought out this old trick and still using the battery today. 

If the battery still refuses to take a charge, put it on the desulfate mode. If that doesn't work, take it in to the auto parts stores.  Odds are you'll find structural issues such as a bad cell.

Spencer Yost

> On Apr 27, 2016, at 12:22 AM, Mogrits <mogrits at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> The little Schumaker smartchargers will not do anything on a dead battery.
> The tiny ones that are the size of KJV Bible nor the flat ones will even
> attempt to charge a flat battery in my experience, and i just threw away a
> briefcase sized one a couple weeks ago and have another Bible sized one I
> don't even bring out any more.
> 
> I wish they still made "dumb" chargers that put out about 13-14 volts at 10
> amps for as long as you set the timer.
> 
> In my experience of late- the heavier the charger, the best use you will
> get from it. I have thrown away three in the last month.
> 
> Warren
> 
>> On Tue, Apr 26, 2016 at 11:32 PM, Spencer Yost <yostsw at atis.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 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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